PITTSBURGH – Baltimore coach John Harbaugh stood just inside the locker room, looking more drained than some of his players from the latest Ravens-Steelers brawl disguised as a football game.

Like his players, Harbaugh was almost too tired to shed his game outfit and head to the shower. One after another, he greeted his player with a hug or handshake of appreciation as they walked by, knowing full well that his squad was battered even before this game began. So it's somewhat odd that against this backdrop of brutality, Harbaugh remarked that the biggest play of the game was a timeout. Yeah, that's overstating it, but not by much. As the 8-2 Ravens eked out a 13-10 win over 6-4 Pittsburgh and pushed their lead in the AFC North to two games, the end of this game became just as much about subtlety as substance.

Jacoby Jones returns a punt 63 yards for the Ravens' only TD. (AP)With 2:04 remaining and Baltimore facing a third-and-6 play, Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin elected to use his final timeout. It's a common mistake even by coaches

Will Peyton Manning and Tom Brady face off in the playoffs one more time?

Although the 8-2 Baltimore Ravens still have something of an edge in the battle for the No. 2 spot in the AFC, it's going to be tough for them to hold on to that spot for the remainder of the season because of their remaining schedule. By contrast, the New England Patriots and Denver – both 7-3 after victories Sunday – each has only two games remaining against teams with winning records.

Tom Brady throws the ball as Colts DE Cory Redding tries to defend in the first quarter. (AP)In short, it's not hard to paint a scenario in which Manning and Brady will be battling for the No. 2 and 3 seeds (New England has the upper hand having defeated Denver earlier this season). More important, it's a chance for two of the most dominant quarterbacks in NFL history to meet for the 14th time in their careers, but

[Related: Cutler's status in air | Smith's too]

"It's not about you," said Trent Dilfer, the quarterback-turned-analyst, who helped guide the 2000 Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl title but spent most of the rest of his career as a backup with Seattle, Cleveland and San Francisco. "It's a completely unique situation that requires a disciplined approach."

And that's not an easy task, as Dilfer knows.

Niners potential Week 11 starter Colin Kaepernick talks with head coach Jim Harbaugh last Sunday. (AP)"First of all, it's not the job you want," Dilfer said. "Nobody wants to be a backup quarterback. We all feel like we should be starting and leading the team or we wouldn't be out there at all. But you can't approach it as if it's a chance to win the starting job. You are there to do whatever it takes to just win the

Two sources indicated that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suffered a separated shoulder in Pittsburgh's Monday night's 13-10 overtime win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Roethlisberger was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital for an MRI exam, according to his agent, Ryan Tollner. In addition, one source indicated that the injury is "unusual," although it's unclear if that is good or bad news.

Ben Roethlisberger is sacked by Chiefs OLB Tamba Hali in the third quarter. (AP) "There's a lot to be figured out and we probably won't know anything definitive until the morning, but that's what the [Steelers] team doctor said," a source said.

Steelers spokesman Burt Lauten said there is no official word on the injury.

It's unclear how long Roethlisberger could be out, but he left the field in the third quarter holding his right arm close to his body and was still holding it that way when he was wheeled out of the stadium on a golf cart before being taken to the hospital.

[More: Michael Vick may be 'rested' remainder of year | Gallery of injured QBs]

The

As Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick was being driven home by his wife Sunday after suffering a concussion against the Dallas Cowboys, there were plenty of people theorizing that Vick was done for the season, regardless of how quickly he might pass medical evaluations.

Some of that speculation was whether coach Andy Reid might use the occasion to his benefit.

Rookie Nick Foles throws a pass Jay Ratliff defends the play Sunday. (Getty Images)Two sources said Monday morning that it's a pretty strong bet that, barring an odd change in circumstances, Vick will be "rested" for the remainder of the season by Reid and the coaching staff. In place of Vick, rookie Nick Foles will start, and the sources believe Reid will use the development of Foles as a springboard to keep his job as the Eagles' coach.

"I'm 99 percent sure that's exactly what you're going to see happen," a source said Monday morning. "Andy is going to go to [owner] Jeff [Lurie] and [general manager] Howie [Roseman] and say, 'Let's go with Foles and make the transition to the

For all of you who were wondering if Nick Foles would make a difference for the Philadelphia Eagles, you got your resounding answer.

While the rookie's play Sunday validates Eagles coach Andy Reid's decision to stick with Michael Vick even when members of his coaching staff apparently were pushing for Foles earlier this season, it does nothing to aid his job security. The 14-year run by Reid took another step toward its conclusion when the Eagles lost to the Dallas Cowboys at home, 38-23, and lost quarterback Vick to an apparent concussion in the process.

Nick Foles is sacked by Dallas' Victor Butler. (Getty Images)The only question remaining is whether owner Jeff Lurie pulls the plug on Reid sooner than later. At least one source said Sunday night that he expects Lurie to let Reid have every opportunity to turn the season around, even if that means that Reid coaches the remainder of the year.

"Don't see it before we're eliminated. [Probably] not till the season is over," an Eagles source conveyed via text message Sunday night.

Luck, 6-foot-4 and 234 pounds, is a man who can impose his will on a game even when things aren't going well. Griffin, 6-2, 217, is a man you're afraid will be imposed upon.

This is the fundamental, physical element to the game. Where Luck is built along the lines of a linebacker, Griffin is a sprinter. Sure, both can work, but the odds are that the linebacker is going to last longer.

Andrew Luck emphatically celebrates one of his two second-quarter TD runs. (AP)Luck showed that time and again in Indianapolis' most dominating win of its improbable season. The Colts improved to 6-3 on Thursday night at Everbank Field primarily because at the key moments of a 27-10 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, Luck was willing to stick his nose where most quarterbacks fear to go.

Even more, some places where teammates prefer the quarterback not go.

Luck rushed for two

And the only thing resting on whether Belichick can rehabilitate Aqib Talib, who had his share of disciplinary issues in four-plus seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is another Super Bowl title. While the Patriots won't get a chance to unveil Talib – described by one NFC executive as "a $10-$12 million-a-year talent" – for another week as he serves the remainder of an NFL-mandated suspension for using Adderall, the fact is that Belichick hasn't had a cornerback this physically gifted since Ty Law.

CB Aqib Talib recorded 18 INTs in his career with the Buccaneers. (AP)That gives Belichick a chance to turn the deal for Talib – acquired for a fourth-rounder – into one of his greatest trades, which is no easy feat. During Belichick's 13 years with New England, he has pulled off some of the most lopsided deals in NFL history. While not all of his deals have worked (the