Steelers' defender Troy Polamalu doesn't believe that having a week off provides teams with a mental advantage but says that it helps physically. "I think people may think there may be an advantage in a bye week, mentally," Polamalu said. "I don't think there is at all. I think physically there is."

The Steelers may rest quarterback Ben Roethlisberger after he suffered a concussion against the Browns on Sunday. The team isn't certain if Roethlisberger will practice this week. Pittsburgh has a bye in the first round of the playoffs and will not play until Jan. 11.

Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger left Sunday's game against the Browns on a cart after suffering a concussion. However, Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin claimed after the game that all tests looked good. "To this point, all the tests are negative, which, of course, is positive," Tomlin said during his postgame press conference. "We're optimistic about where he's going to be capable of being. Again, the bye is going to be helpful in regards to that. ... [Tests] are negative, which is encouraging."

Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger lay on the turf for nearly 15 minutes before being taken off on a stretcher in the second quarter of Sunday's against the Browns. As Roethlisberger delivered a 4-yard pass to tight end Heath Miller, he was leveled by two Browns' defenders, Willie McGinest at about shoulder level and D'Qwell Jackson at the quarterback's knees. Roethlisberger moved his arms and legs and was talking before being placed onto a stretcher. As he was being driven off the field, Roethlisberger lifted his left arm and raised his thumb to the fans.

NFL sources claims that the Browns remain the "odds-on" favorite to land former Steeler's coach Bill Cowher. Cowher played in Cleveland and began his coaching career there under Marty Schottenheimer. There have been rumors in New York that the Jets could be interested in Cowher if Eric Mangini is relieved of his duties this offseason.

Steelers' coach Mike Tomlin was reportedly not amused during a visit by Santa Claus to his weekly news conference on Tuesday. Bill DiFabio, a sports announcer from Pennsylvania, often dresses up as Santa for the pre-Christmas media gathering and often jokes with the Steelers' coach for a few moments, something former coach Bill Cowher often went along with. After playing along initially, Tomlin was heard sighing numerous times during DiFabio's bit. He finally agreed to toss a football to the fake Santa. "If that will get you out of here," Tomlin said. Afterward, the Steelers said there would be no future appearances from Santa at any of their news conferences.

Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher is okay with LenDale White and Keith Bulluck stomping on the Steelers' signature symbol, the Terrible Towel on Sunday. "Why would it be a big deal? That if we play [the Steelers] again, they'll play harder? I don't think so," Fisher said. "They always play hard. "I mean, I know we weren't happy to have 10,000 people in our stadium waving those yellow towels. It's a tremendous commentary on the great fan base the Steelers have, but I'm sure our guys didn't like it. They're a good football team. They have our respect, and I'm sure we have their respect. But this isn't a big deal to me."

The Titans clinched the top seed in the AFC on Sunday with a 31-14 win over the Steelers. In the process, Tennessee became the first team to accumulate 300 yards of offense against Pittsburgh this season. The Steelers turned the ball over four times while the Titans had zero miscues.

Titans running back LenDale White claims that he doesn't fear the Steelers, who his team will do battle against on Sunday for supremacy in the AFC. ESPN's Bob Holtzman has reported that White fears two people: his mother and God.

The NFL is backing referee Walt Coleman's decision to overturn a call on the field and rule Santonio Holmes' catch a touchdown that gave the Steelers a 13-9 victory against the Ravens on Sunday. "Walt Coleman determined via high-def video review that the receiver had possession and two feet down with the ball in the goal line, meaning it broke the plane," an NFL spokesman said via e-mail.