Super Bowl Central

This Sunday, though, he doesn't quite know what to expect when he steps foot on the familiar synthetic turf. With the Bengals still a couple thousand tickets short of a sellout, the atmosphere could end up being somewhere between the two extremes. Even though the team will likely draw a close-to sellout crowd, the concern that the Bengals may be in jeopardy of having their first blackout of the year does exist. That's not something Whitworth and his teammates are proud of, but it's something they understand.

It's also a sign, that they think their work is not yet complete.

"It's tough, but it's what we're used to," Whitworth said. "We have to play football and continue to try to create that environment where people buy in and want to come and watch and be a part of it. That's all we can do."

Ahead of Sunday's game against the New York Jets, the Bengals are hoping their fans can do just a little bit more purchasing. A spokesman said Wednesday that the team was still working on getting enough tickets together to garner a fourth consecutive sellout and to avoid the dreaded blackout. The Bengals have until 4 p.m. ET Thursday to hit that magic number of seats.

On Monday, manager of ticket sales, Andrew Brown, issued a statement that said the organization was still about 2,000 tickets short. Three days before, with the Bengals still sitting at 4-2 and about 48 hours away from beating the Detroit Lions, he said they were 3,000 shy.

Some of you are confident the Bengals will end up doing whatever they need to in order to get the final few tickets sold. So am I.

But the thing is, you're also wondering why this is even a story; why is it worth writing about?

The Bengals are 5-2, two games ahead of any other team in the division and are on a three-game winning streak. They are poised for a long postseason run, have columnists and bloggers and writers and television analysts across the country singing their praises, and yet they're having a little difficulty selling tickets to their games. Why is that? Particularly when it was so easy for tickets to the first three games to get picked up so easily?

"Maybe it's a little cold?" receiver Marvin Jones said, smiling. "Maybe it's just starting to be that time of the year."

Well, it did get into the 30s Wednesday, and forecasts for the next four days are calling for lows in both the 20s and 30s. So maybe he has a point. Jones also was quick to point out the nearby locale of Pittsburgh and the allure of wanting to see Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady play earlier this season. Maybe he has another point.

Regardless, for the players themselves, there isn't a belief that the sluggish ticket sales ought to be questioned.

"We know we have great fans," he added. "Hopefully all the seats will be filled, but at the same time, we have to come and have that mindset that we've had the last few weeks and that's to put the hammer on the Jets."

Cincinnati certainly has done that to the other three teams it has faced at home this season. It beat Pittsburgh 20-10, got a timely fourth-down stop and subsequent fumble to knock off Green Bay 34-30, and eked out a 13-6 victory over the New England Patriots in a driving rainshower. Whitworth wishes the atmosphere's from those games would be replicated the rest of the season.

"In my career, these first couple of home games have been as loud and as great an environment as I've played in since I've been here," Whitworth said. "We've started to create that environment. Hopefully we can continue."

After finding it difficult to win at home the last three seasons, the Bengals are hoping to change the culture of their home gameday experience. They haven't had a winning record at home since 2009. That has been their only winning season at Paul Brown Stadium since 2005.

"A lot of the guys on this team weren't here then," said Whitworth, whose career began in 2006.

In his first three seasons as the Bengals' head coach, Marvin Lewis posted winning records before having just one in his next seven seasons. If he wants to make it two in eight, his team will have to continue forging through this year the way it already has, fans or no fans.

"There's going to be times, especially when you go on the road with the beating you take, traveling and all those things, where sometimes, that makes it harder," Whitworth said. "That's why having an environment that's tough for people to come in and play, where it's going to be loud and creating some energy and getting off to a good start is key."

Don't fret, Bengals. As long as you keep winning, that energy will come., date=Wed Oct 23 20:00:13 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-24T00:00:13 GMT, keywords=[Cincinnati Bengals, Andrew Whitworth, Marvin Lewis, Marvin Jones], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/75749/ticket-uncertainty-no-concern-to-bengals, photos=[{height=200, alt=Paul Brown Stadium, width=300, name=Crowd_Bengals 131023 [300x200], caption=The Bengals managed to sell out all of their home games so far this season., type=inline, credit=AP Photo/Scott Boehm, url=http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/1023/nfl_a_bengals1_dj_300x200.jpg}], byline=Coley Harvey, linkText=Ticket uncertainty no concern to Bengals, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/, blogname=afcnorth, showIndex=null}, {title=Steelers had interest in Terrelle Pryor, id=75748, story=PITTSBURGH -- A meeting between Terrelle Pryor and Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin in August 2011, could have resulted in Pryor living a boyhood dream and playing for his hometown team.

But Pryor said he took a pass on Tomlin’s offer to draft him because he wanted to get away from the kind of distractions that would hinder his development as an NFL quarterback.

Pryor still remembers what Tomlin told him after the two all but mutually agreed that the Steelers would not take the former Ohio State star in the NFL supplemental draft.

“He said ‘When the time comes and we play you I’m coming after you, I’m blitzing you,’ ” Pryor said.

That time comes Sunday, and Pryor said he and Tomlin are sure to share a laugh about that conversation before the game. After the opening kickoff, though, it is all business as Pryor tries to lead his team past the Steelers. The Raiders have beaten Steelers in their past two meetings in Oakland.

Pryor is in his first full season as a starter, and he has shown promise but also experienced growing pains for the perpetually rebuilding Raiders. He said playing against Pittsburgh will be “surreal” but that he won’t get too caught up in the moment since he has watched enough film to equal five games against the Steelers.

When asked who won those games, Pryor said, “I can’t tell you that. I always win in my mind though.”

That confidence as well as off-the-charts athleticism and limitless potential made Pryor one of the most intriguing prospects in years when it came to the supplemental draft. The Steelers knew about Pryor’s legend from when he starred in football and basketball at nearby Jeannette High School, and they hosted him for a visit shortly before the draft.

How serious where they about drafting Pryor?

“Mike said, ‘Hey, I’ll draft you if you want to play here,’ ” Pryor recalled. “But he gave me a story about when he was in Tampa Bay about a quarterback and he ended up being in the same hometown as the NFL team and it was just hard for him because of all the distractions around him.

“I don’t know what the guys up top were thinking and whether they wanted to take me or not. [Tomlin] gave me an opportunity to say if I wanted to [play for the Steelers] or not and I ended up saying no because at a young age I didn’t want to be near home and have distractions around me.”

It turned out to be the right choice.

Pryor always made it clear that he wanted to play quarterback in the NFL, and he said the Steelers’ interest in him was “100 percent” at the position and not another one.

He never would have gotten the opportunity in Pittsburgh that he has in Oakland because of Ben Roethlisberger.

Pryor has not yet established himself as the kind of quarterback the Raiders can build around, but he at least gives the organization some hope at the position. He has completed 64.5 percent of his passes while throwing for 1,061 yards and five touchdowns and five interceptions. His 285 rushing yards not only leads the Raiders but also all AFC quarterbacks.

And coach Dennis Allen likes the maturity and mental fortitude Pryor has shown so early in his career as a starter.

“I think every time that he’s had a little bit of a setback he’s always responded,” Allen said. “The results will take care of themselves if he does the things that are necessary for him to play well.”, date=Wed Oct 23 18:25:45 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-23T22:25:45 GMT, keywords=[Pittsburgh Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger, Mike Tomlin, Terrelle Pryor, 2013 Week 8 PIT at OAK, Dennis Allen], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/75748/steelers-had-interest-in-terrelle-pryor, photos=[{height=200, alt=Terrelle Pryor, width=300, name=Pryor_Terrelle 131007 [300x200] - Copy, caption=Terrelle Pryor turned down Pittsburgh's offer to be drafted by the team., type=inline, credit=AP Photo/Ben Margot, url=http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/1007/grant_g_pryor_d1_300x200.jpg}], byline=Scott Brown, linkText=Steelers had interest in Terrelle Pryor, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/, blogname=afcnorth, showIndex=null}, {title=Bengals open week's practices down five, id=75747, story=CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Bengals opened this week's practices Wednesday afternoon down five players who participated in last Sunday's game at Detroit.

The headliner of that group, cornerback Leon Hall, was officially listed on the day's injury report, but he may not remain there for long. After tearing an Achilles tendon in the first quarter of the game against the Lions, Hall has been expected all week to be placed on injured reserved. It hasn't yet happened and may not necessarily happen in the next day or two. During his news conference early Wednesday, coach Marvin Lewis said he had no plans of placing Hall on IR at any point in the day.

It would appear the Bengals are still considering potential roster moves that might coincide with officially placing Hall on IR. Once those moves are able to be made, Hall's designation should come.

In an effort to follow injury report protocol, the Bengals listed Hall as out. They gave another player, defensive tackle Devon Still, an out designation, too. Still injured an elbow in the 27-24 win at Detroit.

Of the many Bengals who went down with injuries in the game, Hall's and Still's appeared to be the most significant. Hall's is an apparent season-ender, and Still's had Lewis thinking Sunday that he could miss some time. With his out designation, it's clear that Still will at least miss this week's game against the New York Jets.

Along with Still and Hall, two others who were banged up over the weekend, receiver Marvin Jones and linebacker Rey Maualuga, were held out of practice. Cornerback Terence Newman, who only practiced one day last week, also didn't go Wednesday. He was held out with an ankle injury. Last week, he was suffering from abdominal concerns. This is the third time this season the veteran Newman has missed practice time because of injuries. He hasn't missed a game, though.

Here is the full Bengals injury report for Wednesday:

OUT
CB Leon Hall (Achilles)
DT Devon Still (elbow)

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
WR Marvin Jones (shoulder)
LB Rey Maualuga (hamstring)
CB Terence Newman (ankle)

LIMITED PRACTICE PARTICIPATION
RB Rex Burkhead (calf), date=Wed Oct 23 16:40:47 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-23T20:40:47 GMT, keywords=[Cincinnati Bengals, Rey Maualuga, Leon Hall, Terence Newman, Devon Still, Marvin Jones, NFL injury wire], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/75747/bengals-open-weeks-practices-down-five, photos=[], byline=Coley Harvey, linkText=Bengals open week's practices down five, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/, blogname=afcnorth, showIndex=null}, {title=What a QB tale they've told, id=75746, story=The number 20 is special in many circles.

The 20th anniversary means a little more than the 16th, and a young man or woman who turns 20 feels a little more "adult."

So when the Browns name their 20th starting quarterback since 1999 -- the year the team returned from a three-year hiatus -- it's worth taking a trip down memory lane (the screams in the background are from Browns fans whose memories are being jogged ... feel free to offer appropriate sympathies).

1999

• Ty Detmer -- The plan to have him hold the fort lasted for one blowout loss, in the season opener against Pittsburgh.
• Tim Couch -- The original No. 1 choice, had a couple of good years but not enough.

2000

• Couch
• Spergon Wynn -- Chris Palmer was lobbied to play him by the front office, and he produced two first downs in one game.
• Doug Pederson -- Now Kansas City's offensive coordinator, started the Dennis Northcutt/Kevin Johnson quarterback game.

2001

• Couch -- The only season when one quarterback started every game.

2002

• Couch
• Kelly Holcomb -- The year of the Dwayne Rudd helmet-removal game and the blown playoff game in Pittsburgh.

2003

• Holcomb -- Incurred the "teeny-tiny break of a non-weight bearing bone in his leg."
• Couch -- Late this season, Butch Davis told Couch he was his quarterback for years to come; Couch was released in the offseason.

2004

• Jeff Garcia -- He never quite fit in, though he thinks he does now.
• Holcomb
• Luke McCown -- Interim coach Terry Robiskie admitted when McCown played, it was men against boys.

2005

• Trent Dilfer -- Good guy, but chewed up by the Cleveland system always looking for the next guy.
• Charlie Frye -- Had moments as a rookie until the Christmas Eve massacre against Pittsburgh.

2006

• Frye -- The season when Braylon Edwards grabbed him on the sidelines.
• Derek Anderson -- Former seventh-round pick of Baltimore

2007

• Frye -- Traded after the Browns lost the season opener.
• Anderson -- Had the best season of a Browns QB since 1999, won 10 games, but didn't win the game needed to make the playoffs.

2008

• Anderson.
• Brady Quinn -- The town was jubliant after Phil Savage traded up to get him and Joe Thomas in the first round.
• Ken Dorsey -- At this point hopes were dimmed.
• Bruce Gradkowski -- Signed to start the last game when everyone else was hurt.

2009

• Quinn and Anderson -- Yo-yoed back and forth by Eric Mangini.

2010

• Jake Delhomme -- Mike Holmgren's interim solution.
• Seneca Wallace -- Holmgren's backup solution.
• Colt McCoy -- Holmgren's drafted solution.

2011

• McCoy -- The year he was put back in the game with a concussion in Pittsburgh.
• Wallace

2012

• Brandon Weeden -- Holmgren's first-round draft solution.
• Thad Lewis -- Now playing reasonably well for Buffalo.

2013

• Weeden
• Brian Hoyer -- Showed promise before unfortunate injury.
• Campbell -- Passed over twice, now starting.

, date=Wed Oct 23 16:36:18 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-23T20:36:18 GMT, keywords=[Cleveland Browns, Kelly Holcomb, Derek Anderson, Brian Hoyer, Tim Couch, Charlie Frye, Jason Campbell, Brady Quinn, Jeff Garcia, Colt McCoy, Jake Delhomme, Brandon Weeden], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/75746/what-a-qb-tale-theyve-told, photos=[{height=300, alt=Jason Campbell, width=200, name=Campbell_Jason 131023 [200x300], caption=Jason Campbell is set to become the 20th quarterback to start a game for the Browns since the team's return to the NFL in 1999., type=inline, credit=Mitch Stringer/USA TODAY Sports, url=http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/1023/nfl_u_jcampbell_jh_200x300.jpg}], byline=Pat McManamon, linkText=What a QB tale they've told, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/, blogname=afcnorth, showIndex=null}, {title=Jarvis Jones returns to practice, id=75745, story=PITTSBURGH -- Jarvis Jones practiced for the first time since sustaining a concussion, and the rookie outside linebacker will play Sunday at Oakland, barring a setback.

The Steelers held Jones out of their 19-16 win against the Ravens even though he passed an ImPACT test late last week. Jones hasn’t experienced any symptoms from what he said was his first concussion.

“Clearly I’m fine,” Jones said. “I’m just going to continue to do what they ask me to do and just be ready when my opportunity comes.”

The Steelers did not play Jones against the Ravens after Dr. Micky Collins advised them to err on the side of caution following a check-up of Jones the day before the game.

A handful of Steelers who are battling through injuries were also full participants in the team’s first practice in preparation for the Raiders, including inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons, who is nursing a broken left hand.

Timmons is wearing a cast, and the injury isn’t expected to limit him against the Raiders or in the practices leading up to the 4:05 p.m. game on Sunday. Also practicing fully on Wednesday were outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley (knee), defensive end Cameron Heyward (illness) and wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery (abdomen).

Left tackle Kelvin Beachum (ribs), right tackle Marcus Gilbert (quadriceps), defensive end Brett Keisel (ribs) and tight end Heath Miller (coach's decision) were limited on Wednesday but all are expected to play against the Raiders.

Tight end Richard Gordon (toe) was also limited and he is questionable for Sunday.

Wide receiver Markus Wheaton (finger) already has been ruled out for Sunday., date=Wed Oct 23 16:35:13 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-23T20:35:13 GMT, keywords=[Pittsburgh Steelers, LaMarr Woodley, Lawrence Timmons, Heath Miller, Brett Keisel, Marcus Gilbert, Jerricho Cotchery, Jarvis Jones, Kelvin Beachum, Markus Wheaton, NFL injury wire, Richard Gordon], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/75745/jarvis-jones-returns-to-practice, photos=[], byline=Scott Brown, linkText=Jarvis Jones returns to practice, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/, blogname=afcnorth, showIndex=null}, {title=Bengals WR Hawkins returns to practice, id=75744, story=CINCINNATI -- After spending the last two months going through rehab and conditioning exercises following a preseason ankle injury, Cincinnati Bengals receiver Andrew Hawkins finally returned to practice Wednesday afternoon.

It was the first time since Aug. 1 that he went through a workout with the rest of the team. He went through the full session.

"He looked fine," offensive coordinator Jay Gruden said. "He's chomping at the bit to get back, but it's going to take him some time to get back from a stamina, in-shape standpoint. Hopefully when it's time, when the trainers decide and when [coach] Marvin [Lewis] decides, he'll be ready to roll."

Hawkins was placed on the injured reserve/designated to return list five days before the season opener. Per IR rules, he was permitted to return to practice as early as last week, but he won't be cleared to play in a game until next week.

While Wednesday was the first day he officially practiced with the team, Hawkins participated in a limited capacity with other receivers during Sunday's pregame passing drills. Just before the Bengals took on the Detroit Lions, he was out running routes and catching passes along with the rest of the receiving line. It seemed he was focused on sticking his cuts and making sure his ankle was responding to the near-live-speed movements.

The wideout initially suffered his injury on Aug. 1, when he was hurt during a practice drill.

Whenever Hawkins returns, whether next week at Miami or sometime after, he will be joining an already deep Bengals receiving corps. The combination of A.J. Green, Mohamed Sanu, Marvin Jones, tight ends Tyler Eifert and Jermaine Gresham and running back Giovani Bernard comprise a group that could boast five or six 500-yard receivers.

Last season, Hawkins ranked third in receptions and receiving yards, hauling in 51 passes for 533 yards., date=Wed Oct 23 16:20:44 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-23T20:20:44 GMT, keywords=[Cincinnati Bengals, Jay Gruden, Andrew Hawkins, NFL injury wire], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/75744/bengals-wr-hawkins-returns-to-practice, photos=[], byline=Coley Harvey, linkText=Bengals WR Hawkins returns to practice, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/, blogname=afcnorth, showIndex=null}, {title=Burfict confident in Bengals run D vs. Jets, id=75742, story=CINCINNATI -- If the New York Jets have plans to run the football Sunday, Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict has this simple message: scrap them.

"They're going to figure out probably in the first 15, 20 snaps that running's going to be pretty hard against our front seven," Burfict said Wednesday.

The second-year linebacker, one who clearly isn't short on confidence in his eighth-ranked run defense, had just been asked about the Jets' proclivity for running the football this season. Just last week against the New England Patriots, the Jets ran the ball 52 times. On average, they are averaging 31.3 rushes per game, the fifth-highest average of any team this season.

Part of the Jets' desire to run the football has to do with the teams they've faced. The Bills and Patriots had gaps in defense the Jets felt they could exploit. In last week's overtime win over New England, running back Chris Ivory ran the ball 34 times. Against Buffalo in Week 3, Bilal Powell carried it 27 times.

As prolific as that running back duo can be, they also feature contrasting styles. Ivory is more of a power back; Powell looks to get to the edge more often and break free on longer runs in wider pace. Regardless how they run, though, Burfict sees them as one challenge he looks forward to shutting down.

"They're regular running backs," Burfict said. "One has speed and one has power. So whoever it is [with the ball], you just have to wrap up and all 11 get to the ball."

In that sense, preparation for the Ivory-Powell combination will be similar to preparing for Buffalo. Along with trying to stop Fred Jackson, Cincinnati had to game-plan for C.J. Spiller and even third-string back Tashard Choice. The Bills also had a mobile quarterback in former practice squad player Thad Lewis. Early in that game, he ran the read-option and gained key yards.

By halftime, though, the Bengals realized that they didn't have to focus on the run and the read-option. With the lead, they felt they could sit back and focus on remaining firm in their pass defense instead.

Buffalo gained 130 yards on the ground, but only 44 of them came in the second half.

Last weekend, the Bengals held the Detroit Lions' running game, headed by Reggie Bush, in check. Between Bush and a hobbled Joique Bell, they only allowed 77 yards on 25 carries. In addition to Burfict's play, Cincinnati was supported against the run by linebackers Rey Maualuga and James Harrison.

"The run was a piece of cake," Burfict said. "I felt like the way me and Rey are taking care of the run this year, we're leaving the offense to be one-dimensional, which is passing. And passing on our D-line and our secondary is tough."

He is right about that. The Bengals rank 13th in the league in pass defense, allowing 236.4 yards per game in the air. Until Detroit's Matthew Stafford threw for 357 yards Sunday, they had not allowed a 300-yard passer for 20 consecutive games. It had been the NFL's longest active streak., date=Wed Oct 23 15:25:29 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-23T19:25:29 GMT, keywords=[Cincinnati Bengals, Rey Maualuga, Vontaze Burfict], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/75742/burfict-confident-in-bengals-run-d-vs-jets, photos=[{height=300, alt=Vontaze Burfict, width=200, name=Burfict_Vontaze 130917 [200x300] - Copy, caption=The Bengals' Vontaze Burfict leads the league with 74 tackles., type=inline, credit=Greg Bartram/USA TODAY Sports, url=http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/0917/nfl_u_burfict_v_200x300.jpg}], byline=Coley Harvey, linkText=Burfict confident in Bengals run D vs. Jets, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/, blogname=afcnorth, showIndex=null}, {title=Injury update: Ravens may add RB depth, id=75740, story=OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens could address depth at running back during their bye week.

While starting running back Ray Rice says he has fully recovered from a hip injury, the same cannot be said about backup Bernard Pierce. He is dealing with a hamstring injury and didn't practice Wednesday, the last workout before the players receive four days off.

The Ravens didn't have Pierce toward the end of Sunday's game in Pittsburgh, which is why fullback Vonta Leach spelled Rice at times. Free agent Beanie Wells had a tryout with the Ravens on Tuesday, but the team isn't expected to sign him. Former Cincinnati Bengals running back Bernard Scott worked out for the Ravens last week.

The Ravens have a roster spot open after trading offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie to the Miami Dolphins.

"We're still working ourselves through that," coach John Harbaugh said. "It could be a practice-squad promotion. It could be somebody off a practice-squad roster or somebody who's available right now as a free agent."

Pierce has shown some flashes during his two seasons with the Ravens, but he tends to get banged-up. The Ravens are averaging 2.8 yards per rush, which is last in the NFL.

Here are some other injury updates:

• Inside linebacker Josh Bynes, who missed his first game with a finger infection, said he expects to return for the Nov. 3 game at the Cleveland Browns. "I don't if 'expected' is the right word," Harbaugh said. "I guess I probably feel that way, but I don't want to speak, because you never know with an infection. But there's a good chance that he would be [ready]."
• Left guard Kelechi Osemele confirmed he will have surgery on his back this offseason. He didn't practice Wednesday and said the back acts up on him "off and on" throughout the year. "They feel like I'm the best chance to win games at my position. So, I'm going to deal with it," Osemele said. "How much affected? The back is a big thing. It's connected to your legs and everything from that point down. It's affected my power. I'm an offensive lineman. I need to have strong legs. Obviously, it's affecting me."

, date=Wed Oct 23 14:00:13 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-23T18:00:13 GMT, keywords=[Baltimore Ravens, Bernard Pierce, Kelechi Osemele, Josh Bynes, NFL injury wire], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/75740/injury-update-ravens-may-add-rb-depth, photos=[], byline=Jamison Hensley, linkText=Injury update: Ravens may add RB depth, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/, blogname=afcnorth, showIndex=null}, {title=Past slights drive Le'Veon Bell, id=75733, story=PITTSBURGH -- Mike Tomlin worried that criticism of the Pittsburgh Steelers' running attack might have an adverse effect on Le'Veon Bell.

Instead of giving the rookie running back a public pat on the back, as Tomlin did last week, maybe the seventh-year coach should have taped any negative story about the Steelers’ ground game inside of Bell’s locker.

Critics are a first cousin of doubters, and Bell has used the latter to fuel his rise from overlooked high school recruit to his status as the Steelers’ feature back.

Bell has drawn early comparisons with Eddie George because of his build and his running style. The irony of that is Ohio State never offered him a scholarship even though Bell grew up in the shadow of the Buckeyes’ campus.

“They recruited me, brought to all of the games, they just never offered me,” Bell said. “I don’t know why I was overlooked.”

Ohio State is far from the only school that passed on Bell.

Michigan State and Colorado were the only BCS schools to offer him a scholarship, and Bell said part of the reason for that is because he committed right after his senior season at Groveport High School outside of Columbus so he could graduate early.

Still, Bell said, the relative lack of attention he received sometimes caused him to question what he was doing wrong.

It didn’t take him long to prove that many others had been wrong about him. Bell rushed for 141 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Michigan State’s 2010 season opener against Western Michigan.

He became the first player in school history to rush for 100 yards in his first game as a freshman, and Bell never looked back on the way to a storied career in East Lansing.

But he never forgot how many schools had underestimated him coming out high school. And he can still tell you that so-called recruiting experts rated him as just a two-star prospect not too long ago.

“I always kept this chip on my shoulder because of that,” Bell said. “I’ve still got it from going in the second round of the draft.”

That edge has been a healthy thing for Bell, the second running back taken in the 2013 NFL draft.

It helped drive him after he sustained knee and foot injuries in the preseason, and it is reflected in a running style that is a blend of patience and power.

There is a fine line between patience and indecision, particularly in the NFL where the games are played at warp speed. Bell has straddled it adroitly three games into his career, and he only figures to get better as the 6-foot-1, 244-pounder gains more experience.

“Being patient is the way I’ve been running ever since I was little,” Bell said.

But, he added, “If it’s third-and-1 you ain’t got time to be patient, you’ve just got to go get it. I switch up my run styles during the game.”

The one thing he doesn't change: the mindset that he still has to prove himself to those who doubted him., date=Wed Oct 23 11:00:47 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-23T15:00:47 GMT, keywords=[Pittsburgh Steelers, Le'veon Bell], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/75733/past-slights-drive-leveon-bell, photos=[{height=300, alt=Le'Veon Bell, width=200, name=Bell_Le'Veon 131023 [200x300], caption="I always kept this chip on my shoulder because of [being rated a two-star prospect]," Le'Veon Bell said., type=inline, credit=Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports, url=http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/1023/nfl_u_lbell_jh_200x300.jpg}], byline=Scott Brown, linkText=Past slights drive Le'Veon Bell, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/, blogname=afcnorth, showIndex=null}, {title=QB Watch: Browns' Brandon Weeden, id=75715, story=A weekly analysis of the Browns’ quarterback play.

Rewind: Brandon Weeden earned extra scrutiny of his play after his poor performance in Green Bay. Weeden's 17-of-42 day was as bad as it sounds; no NFL quarterback can survive completing 40.4 percent against a team missing three of its four starting linebackers. Weeden was wild high, indecisive and slow to get rid of the ball. He also averaged a pitifully low 3.5 yards per attempt.

Fast-forward: Weeden has been sacked 21 times, as many as Ben Roethlisberger and five fewer than Ryan Tannehill. But Weeden has played in five games compared to six for the other two. Weeden's reward: He gets to face the best pass-rush team in the league. The Chiefs use power inside and speed outside and have 35 sacks in seven games. The past two weeks have been tough, as Weeden has faced Ndamukong Suh and then the Packers. As good as those two teams are, the Chiefs are better at rushing the passer.

Short leash: Coach Rob Chudzinski did not give his full backing to Weeden on Monday. The day after the loss to Detroit, Chudzinski didn't hesitate to say Weeden would start in Green Bay. The day after Green Bay, Chudzinski said he'd have to evaluate. The Browns' problem is there is no magical solution. Another quarterback is not going to drop into their laps the way Brian Hoyer did. If Weeden struggles, the Browns could turn to Jason Campbell. But after passing over Campbell three times, it's tough to see what he could provide or why they'd believe he could be any better. This is a rather classic quarterback quandary.

Prediction: Five sacks minimum. The Chiefs are too good and too fast on defense for a stone-footed quarterback to avoid sacks. That doesn't mean Weeden can't make plays, but to expect a lot from a guy struggling with performance and confidence against this defense is expecting too much. Weeden will be fortunate if he's still in the game in the third quarter. If he is, he'll be fortunate to top 200 yard and avoid two interceptions., date=Wed Oct 23 09:00:04 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-23T13:00:04 GMT, keywords=[Cleveland Browns, Rob Chudzinski, Jason Campbell, Brandon Weeden, 2013 Week 7 QB Watch, 2013 Week 7 QB Watch AFC], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/75715/qb-watch-browns-brandon-weeden, photos=[], byline=Pat McManamon, linkText=QB Watch: Browns' Brandon Weeden, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/, blogname=afcnorth, showIndex=null}, {title=Wake-up caw: Pitta returning next month?, id=75723, story=Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta is not expected to return until mid- to late-November, according to ESPN's Ed Werder.

This would be an extremely positive development for the Ravens, who have never publicly guaranteed that Pitta would play this season. It's previously been estimated that Pitta would come back in December at the earliest.

Pitta, the Ravens' top returning pass catcher, is on the injured reserve-designated for return list after having hip surgery early in training camp. He made his first appearance on the practice field on Oct. 4, catching passes from the JUGS machine.

"I've got to be honest with you, I’m pretty impressed," coach John Harbaugh said at the time. "That’s a ways away time-wise."

Pitta was eligible to return to practice on Oct. 21 and, under the designated for return rules, he could play in the Week 9 game at the Cleveland Browns. But no one expects him to be ready by that point.

For Pitta, who was once considered out for the season, it's remarkable that there is even a chance of him catching passes from Joe Flacco this season.

Here's the rest of your Wake-up caw ...

• Inside linebacker Josh Bynes told Comcast SportsNet that he expects to return after the bye and play in the Ravens' next game, a Nov. 3 matchup at the Cleveland Browns. Bynes had surgery on his infected finger last week, which sidelined him last Sunday. “I should be able to play the next game,” Bynes said. “If I had a choice, I would’ve played Sunday. Watching the game was horrible. You never watch your guys go out to battle without you. I’m getting better, it’s healing up kind of fast.” Bynes may not return as a starter because Jameel McClain reclaimed his starting spot last Sunday.

• Jeromy Miles took responsibility for going offsides on the team's onside attempt. Even if the Ravens had recovered the ball, it wouldn't have mattered because of the penalty on Miles. “I put the whole thing on my back,” Miles told the team's official website. “I didn’t do my job.”

• Elvis Dumervil's former agent, Marty Magid, has been disciplined by the NFL Players Association for his part in the fax snafu that led to the Denver Broncos releasing the pass-rusher in March. Dumervil later signed with the Ravens. In a statement Tuesday, the NFLPA said Magid was fined $25,000 and suspended as a certified contract adviser for six months. The NFLPA also left the door ajar for any future action against the Broncos. Here's the full article on ESPN.com.

• Michael Huff, who was benched as a starting safety in the season opener, is adjusting to life as a backup for the first time in his career. "Obviously, the competitor in you wants to play," Huff told The Baltimore Sun. "For me, the day I signed, it's been team first. It's all about the team. It's never been about me. "I got to run down on punts, run down on kickoffs. That's what I'll do. Whatever it takes for us to win, get to the playoffs, defend the Super Bowl, that's what I'll do."

, date=Wed Oct 23 07:00:11 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-23T11:00:11 GMT, keywords=[Baltimore Ravens, Dennis Pitta], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/75723/wake-up-caw-pitta-returning-next-month, photos=[], byline=Jamison Hensley, linkText=Wake-up caw: Pitta returning next month?, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/, blogname=afcnorth, showIndex=null}, {title=Big Ben not wild about Wildcat attack, id=75718, story=PITTSBURGH -- Mike Tomlin remains open -- at least publicly -- to keeping the Wildcat in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive repertoire.

But Ben Roethlisberger sounds like he wouldn’t mind if the Steelers shelved the gimmick out of which they ran four plays in their 19-16 win against the Baltimore Ravens.

“I don’t like to go over and just be split out wide and take a chance that a (defensive back) is going to come up,” Roethlisberger told 93.7 The Fan Tuesday during his weekly radio show. “I don’t think we’ll see a lot of it.”

Tomlin is keeping his options open with the Wildcat if only to keep the Oakland Raiders guessing. Another reason he isn’t ready to ditch the attack: it is relatively easy to install during game preparations.

Tomlin said the three runs that Le'Veon Bell made after taking a direct snap from center and his hand-off to wideout Antonio Brown are in the Steelers’ base offense.

“The play themselves aren’t new. The window dressing is,” Tomlin said. “It doesn’t require a bunch of work from a practice standpoint in that regard. Some of the formations and pre-snap movements is walk-through, classroom-type work so it’s not as intensive of an endeavor as it appears to be.”

Roethlisberger, for his part, isn’t just leery about getting leveled by an opposing defensive back when the Steelers are in the Wildcat. He also has concerns about Bell taking direct snaps even though the rookie running back handled all of his ball exchanges flawlessly against the Ravens.

"To take a shotgun snap, even as a quarterback, there’s a chance of fumbles and things happening and we do it all the time,” Roethlisberger said. “So I think your chances of something bad happening goes up when you do that Wildcat stuff because it’s just unnatural, things that (running backs) are just not used to doing. It makes you nervous but it did good things for us.”

Roethlisberger is considerably more excited about the shovel pass, which the Steelers installed last week and resulted in their only touchdown against the Ravens.

How that play evolved showed how much more in sync Roethlisberger and offensive coordinator Todd Haley are in their second season together.

Roethlisberger said he suggested to quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner last Wednesday that the Steelers bring back the shovel pass, which had also been retired after Hines Ward called it a career.

Fichtner told him it was already in the game plan, and Roethlisberger suggested the Steelers make tight end Heath Miller the recipient of the pass instead of a wide receiver.

“It was kind of crazy that we were all on the same page and we just tweaked it and got Heath to do it,” Roethlisberger said. “It worked out good because we can run some other plays off that formation.”

The collaboration on the play, Roethlisberger said, is a marker of how far he and Haley have come in their oft-analyzed working relationship.

“What’s different this year is the ability and willingness to be open to change. For all of us,” Roethlisberger said. “If Randy or I go to Todd and say 'I think we should tweak this or change this' he’s open to changing it, and same thing when he comes to me and say, ‘Hey Ben on this play let’s do it like this.'", date=Tue Oct 22 17:00:49 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-22T21:00:49 GMT, keywords=[Pittsburgh Steelers, Heath Miller, Todd Haley, Randy Fichtner, Mike Tomlin. Ben Roethlisberger], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/75718/big-ben-not-wild-about-wildcat-attack, photos=[{height=300, alt=Le'Veon Bell, width=300, name=Bell_Le'Veon 131022 [300x300], caption=Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell takes a direct snap against the Ravens during the second half at Heinz Field., type=inline, credit=Jason Bridge/USA TODAY Sports, url=http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/1022/nfl_u_bell_ap_300x300.jpg}], byline=Scott Brown, linkText=Big Ben not wild about Wildcat attack, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/, blogname=afcnorth, showIndex=null}, {title=Canty admits illegal pushing on FG attempt, id=75716, story=OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens defensive end Chris Canty acknowledged he pushed a teammate on a last-minute field-goal attempt in Miami two weeks ago, which apparently led to the unsportsmanlike penalty in the New England Patriots-New York Jets game last Sunday.

"Wow, I can take credit for that?," Canty told The Baltimore Sun on Tuesday.

According to the NFL Network, the Miami Dolphins filed a complaint after Canty shoved teammate Arthur Jones in an effort to block kicker Caleb Sturgis' potential game-tying 57-yard attempt, which sailed wide left in the Ravens' 26-23 win. The NFL reportedly told the Dolphins that the correct call was missed and that the league would make it a point of emphasis going forward.

If the Ravens had been penalized 15 yards for illegal pushing, the Dolphins would have had a chance to tie the game with a 42-yard field goal. The Miami game has been the Ravens' only win since Sept. 22.

"You're trying to knock back the line of scrimmage and use a guy to get a hand up," Canty said. "Maybe if you can't block the kick, you can get in the kicker's eyesight and maybe alter his kick."

On Sunday, the New England Patriots' Chris Jones drew a critical 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty for pushing a teammate on Nick Folk's 56-yard field goal miss in overtime. Four plays later, Folk capitalized on his second chance with a 42-yard winning field goal for Jets' 30-27 victory.

"Yeah, it’s a bigger deal," Canty said. "They didn’t call it [in Miami]. Obviously, we got the result that we wanted. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out for New England.”

Ravens special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg was unaware that the Dolphins had filed a complaint against the Ravens and declined comment on the play.

Asked if the Ravens have been trying to emphasize that rule more, Rosburg said, "We're just trying to follow the rules, certainly. We don't want any fouls. That and all the other rules we're trying to follow.", date=Tue Oct 22 14:55:26 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-22T18:55:26 GMT, keywords=[Baltimore Ravens, Chris Canty, Baltimore Sun], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/75716/canty-admits-illegal-pushing-on-fg-attempt, photos=[], byline=Jamison Hensley, linkText=Canty admits illegal pushing on FG attempt, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/, blogname=afcnorth, showIndex=null}, {title=Power Rankings: No. 25 Pittsburgh Steelers, id=75709, story=A weekly examination of the Steelers' ESPN.com Power Ranking:

Preseason: 16 | Last week: 27 | ESPN.com Power Ranking since 2002

The Steelers continued their modest climb following a 19-16 win over the Ravens at Heinz Field. The players dismissed any notion that they are back after their second consecutive victory, and that sentiment is reflected in the rankings. Here is a breakdown of the voting:

Ashley Fox: 27

Mike Sando: 23

Kevin Seifert: 24

John Clayton: 21

Dan Graziano: 26

Jamison Hensley: 22

For the second week in a row, I think the Steelers are a tad low. They are still the lowest-ranked team in the AFC North, coming in three spots behind the Browns. The Steelers have a great opportunity to win their third in a row -- and continue to move up the rankings -- as they visit No. 28 Oakland on Sunday.

There is no chance the Steelers will look past the struggling Raiders, even with a game at New England next on the schedule. The Steelers have lost three of their past four games against the Raiders, and they haven't won in Oakland since 1995. The Raiders beat the visiting Steelers in a 34-31 shootout last year, and Pittsburgh's defense will want to make amends after it got torched by then-Oakland quarterback Carson Palmer., date=Tue Oct 22 14:00:57 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-22T18:00:57 GMT, keywords=[Pittsburgh Steelers, 2013 NFL Week 8 Power Rankings], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/75709/power-rankings-no-25-pittsburgh-steelers-2, photos=[{height=80, alt=null, width=80, name=null, caption=null, type=inline, credit=null, url=http://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/500/pit.png}], byline=Scott Brown, linkText=Power Rankings: No. 25 Pittsburgh Steelers, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/, blogname=afcnorth, showIndex=null}, {title=Power Rankings: No. 22 Cleveland Browns, id=75706, story=A weekly examination of the Browns' ESPN.com Power Ranking:

Preseason: 28 | Last Week: 18 | ESPN.com Power Ranking since 2002

Cleveland Browns stock is plummeting. From a season high of 16 two weeks ago, the Browns have dropped to 22nd in the ESPN Power Rankings. That’s their lowest point since they were 24th following Week 4. Consecutive losses have seen the Browns drop from 16 to 18 to 22. Giants reporter Dan Graziano continues to show the Browns a lot of love; he has them at 17. But national writer Kevin Seifert has them at 27.

The Browns' 3-4 record is far better than the quality of play produced since Brandon Weeden returned to the starting lineup. Things have gone south, as the offense has scored 13 points the past six quarters and the defense has given up 31 the past two games.

If things don’t change quickly, the Browns are headed back to where they’ve resided in the Power Ranking since they were instituted in 2002: near the bottom., date=Tue Oct 22 14:00:55 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-22T18:00:55 GMT, keywords=[Cleveland Browns, 2013 NFL Week 8 Power Rankings], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/75706/power-rankings-no-22-cleveland-browns, photos=[{height=80, alt=null, width=80, name=null, caption=null, type=inline, credit=null, url=http://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/500/cle.png}], byline=Pat McManamon, linkText=Power Rankings: No. 22 Cleveland Browns, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/, blogname=afcnorth, showIndex=null}]} result2: {blogName=NFC West, posts=[{title=Cards prepare for Douglas as primary target, id=109918, story=null, date=Wed Oct 23 20:15:42 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-24T00:15:42 GMT, keywords=[], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/109918/cards-prepare-for-douglas-as-primary-target, photos=[], byline=Josh Weinfuss, linkText=Cards prepare for Douglas as primary target, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/, blogname=nfcwest, showIndex=null}, {title=London an 'oasis' for San Francisco 49ers, id=109911, story=null, date=Wed Oct 23 17:05:45 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-23T21:05:45 GMT, keywords=[], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/109911/london-an-oasis-for-san-francisco-49ers, photos=[], byline=Bill Williamson, linkText=London an 'oasis' for San Francisco 49ers, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/, blogname=nfcwest, showIndex=null}, {title=Rams hand the reins to Clemens, id=109899, story=null, date=Wed Oct 23 14:30:01 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-23T18:30:01 GMT, keywords=[], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/109899/rams-hand-the-reins-to-clemens, photos=[], byline=Nick Wagoner, linkText=Rams hand the reins to Clemens, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/, blogname=nfcwest, showIndex=null}, {title=QB Watch: Seahawks' Russell Wilson, id=109877, story=null, date=Wed Oct 23 09:00:08 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-23T13:00:08 GMT, keywords=[], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/109877/qb-watch-seahawks-russell-wilson-5, photos=[], byline=Terry Blount, linkText=QB Watch: Seahawks' Russell Wilson, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/, blogname=nfcwest, showIndex=null}, {title=Morning Ram-blings: Missin' on Griffin?, id=109895, story=null, date=Wed Oct 23 08:00:57 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-23T12:00:57 GMT, keywords=[], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/109895/morning-ram-blings-missin-on-griffin, photos=[], byline=Nick Wagoner, linkText=Morning Ram-blings: Missin' on Griffin?, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/, blogname=nfcwest, showIndex=null}, {title=Flush the Pocket: Arians sticks with Palmer, id=109896, story=null, date=Wed Oct 23 08:00:49 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-23T12:00:49 GMT, keywords=[], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/109896/flush-the-pocket-arians-sticks-with-palmer, photos=[], byline=Josh Weinfuss, linkText=Flush the Pocket: Arians sticks with Palmer, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/, blogname=nfcwest, showIndex=null}, {title=Seahawks still waiting on tackles to return , id=109894, story=null, date=Wed Oct 23 08:00:39 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-23T12:00:39 GMT, keywords=[], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/109894/seahawks-still-waiting-on-tackles-to-return, photos=[], byline=Terry Blount, linkText=Seahawks still waiting on tackles to return , logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/, blogname=nfcwest, showIndex=null}, {title=Arians: Larry Fitzgerald played at 80 percent, id=109893, story=null, date=Tue Oct 22 22:49:25 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-23T02:49:25 GMT, keywords=[], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/109893/arians-larry-fitzgerald-played-at-80-percent, photos=[], byline=Josh Weinfuss, linkText=Arians: Larry Fitzgerald played at 80 percent, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/, blogname=nfcwest, showIndex=null}, {title=Rams-Panthers study session: Defense, id=109892, story=null, date=Tue Oct 22 22:00:37 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-23T02:00:37 GMT, keywords=[], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/109892/rams-panthers-study-session-defense, photos=[], byline=Nick Wagoner, linkText=Rams-Panthers study session: Defense, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/, blogname=nfcwest, showIndex=null}, {title=Power Rankings: No. 4 Seattle Seahawks, id=109887, story=null, date=Tue Oct 22 14:00:21 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-22T18:00:21 GMT, keywords=[], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/109887/power-rankings-no-4-seattle-seahawks-2, photos=[], byline=Terry Blount, linkText=Power Rankings: No. 4 Seattle Seahawks, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/, blogname=nfcwest, showIndex=null}, {title=Power Rankings: No. 6 San Francisco 49ers, id=109880, story=null, date=Tue Oct 22 14:00:18 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-22T18:00:18 GMT, keywords=[], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/109880/power-rankings-no-6-san-francisco-49ers, photos=[], byline=Bill Williamson, linkText=Power Rankings: No. 6 San Francisco 49ers, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/, blogname=nfcwest, showIndex=null}, {title=Power Rankings: No. 24 Arizona Cardinals, id=109882, story=null, date=Tue Oct 22 14:00:09 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-22T18:00:09 GMT, keywords=[], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/109882/power-rankings-no-24-arizona-cardinals, photos=[], byline=Josh 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showIndex=null}, {title=Inside Kaepernick's big QBR game, id=109853, story=null, date=Mon Oct 21 14:00:17 PDT 2013, dateString=2013-10-21T18:00:17 GMT, keywords=[], premium=false, link=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/109853/inside-kaepernicks-big-qbr-game, photos=[], byline=Bill Williamson, linkText=Inside Kaepernick's big QBR game, logo=null, blogURL=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/, blogname=nfcwest, showIndex=null}]}-->