The Steelers won't punish wide receiver Santonio Holmes anymore for being charged with a marijuana-related offense last week and plan to start him Monday night against the Rams. The NFL could punish Holmes once his case is resolved, but coach Mike Tomlin said there will be no additional action taken by the team. "As a football team and an organization, in terms of our view of the situation, we've laid it to bed," Tomlin said Tuesday. "Satisfactory action has been taken from our standpoint. ... For us, we're moving forward."

The scoreboard is where games are officially won and lost, but they are largely decided by the team that wins the battles of yards per pass, yards per carry, penalty yards lost, first downs, and turnovers. For this reason, RealGM executive editor Christopher Reina created the following formula called the ?Trench Counter? to look at which teams truly control the game: (2x Yards per pass) + (2x Yards per carry) + (.5 First downs) - (Penalty yards/10) - (2.5 Turnovers) - (Opposing Team's Trench Counter) Click here for more information on the Trench Counter For the 2008 season, our weekly team rankings will be based solely off this formula. 1. New York Giants: 9.4 The defending-champions stand alone with the NFL?s second-best record and have regained the lead spot. The Giants have topped this list in three of the last four weeks. 2. Philadelphia Eagles: 9.4 Even after their win against the Falcons, the Eagles still sit at the bottom of their division. The Dolphins, No. 6 on the list, are the only other last-place team in the top-fifteen. 3. Washington Redskins: 7.7 The Redskins hold the third spot and are also the third NFC East team on the list. After allowing the Lions to hang close for longer than expected, Washington hosts Pittsburgh in a primetime battle this Monday night. 4. Pittsburgh Steelers: 7.4 The Steelers, who held the top spot after Week 7, fall to fourth after losing to the Giants at Heinz Field on Sunday afternoon. 5. Tennessee Titans: 6.1 The Titans quieted a majority of their critics on Monday night with an impressive win over the Colts. Nearly midway through their season, they lead the AFC South by an astounding four games. 6. Miami Dolphins: 4.4 The Dolphins are one of only two teams, along with the Vikings, in the top-fifteen with a losing record. Miami can thank their Week 3 (26.6), Week 5 (15.3) and Week 8 (11.6) TC totals. 7. Carolina Panthers: 4.3 Carolina moved into first in the NFC South with a big win over the Cardinals and can now enjoy their bye-week before traveling to Oakland. 8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4.0 The Buccaneers moved down after a listless four-point loss to the Cowboys, but they could sky-rocket up the rankings with the Chiefs coming up. 9. Minnesota Vikings: 3.3 The Vikings needed a week off after their debacle against the Bears in Week Seven. 10. Baltimore Ravens: 2.6 Baltimore?s dismantling of the Raiders allowed them to move up three spots. They?ll have a chance to continue surging against the hot-and-cold Browns on Sunday. 11. Atlanta Falcons: 2.4 Matt Ryan didn?t back down to his hometown Eagles in Philadelphia, but the Falcons lost and slid down five spots. 12. Dallas Cowboys: 2.1 The Cowboys stay put thanks to a tough, but impressive, win over the Buccaneers. Is Tony Romo that good, or could Brad Johnson be that bad in Wade Phillips? downfield offense? 13. Chicago Bears: 1.7 The Bears actually moved up two spots on their bye-week. What more can you ask for? 14. New England Patriots: 1.4 Bill Belichick has figured out a way to win even when Matt Cassel struggles. That?s bad news for the rest of the AFC. 15. Buffalo Bills: 1.3 Buffalo looked bad against Miami, and will have no relief with the rival Jets on the docket. This isn?t a time for the Bills to stumble; the Patriots have rallied to tie for the AFC East lead. 16. Houston Texans: 0.6 The Texans feasted on the Bengals and have quietly won three-consecutive games. They?ll face the Vikings on Sunday, a matchup much tougher than Cincinnati. 17. Arizona Cardinals: 0.6 The Cardinals lost a tough one to the Panthers, but still have a two-game lead in the dreadful NFC West. 18. San Diego Chargers: 0.5 Philip Rivers still leads the NFL in quarterback rating, 107.8, but the San Diego defense simply can?t stop anyone. They are allowing nearly 25 points per game. 19. New York Jets: 0.5 The Jets were lucky to have escaped their game against the Chiefs will a win on Sunday. Brett Favre needs to make better decisions if this team is going to challenge for a playoff spot. 20. Green Bay Packers: 0.0 After some rest, the Packers will travel to Tennessee. 21. New Orleans Saints: -0.2 The Saints needed a victory in London badly, and got it in a shootout with the Chargers. Drew Brees (2,563) has almost 500 more yards than any other quarterback in the league. 22. Denver Broncos: -2.4 After their bye-week, the Broncos will host the surging Dolphins. We?ll have to see which Denver team shows up. 23. San Francisco 49ers: -2.6 Mike Singletary has brought his no-nonsense approach to the 49ers in just one short week. Can Shaun Hill help resurrect the team?s struggling offense? 24. Indianapolis Colts: -2.8 Peyton Manning?s sub par season continues. He threw a pair of interceptions against the Titans, one coming in the fourth quarter as he looked to drive the Colts down field and get back into the game. 25. Jacksonville Jaguars: -3.2 After a tough loss, the Jaguars have the horrid Bengals on the schedule. If Cincinnati?s porous defense and abysmal offense don?t cure Jacksonville, nothing will. 26. Cleveland Browns: -4.1 Cleveland?s win against the Jaguars in Jacksonville could help turn their season around, but they?ll have to knock off the Ravens this weekend to reach .500 and move up in these rankings. 27. Seattle Seahawks: -6.8 Seneca Wallace turned in a strong performance for the Seahawks against the struggling 49ers. Was it a sign of things to come in Seattle, or has San Francisco become that bad? 28. Oakland Raiders: -8.4 Oakland remains exactly where they were one week ago despite a demoralizing 29-10 loss to the Ravens in Baltimore. 29. Kansas City Chiefs: -9.1 Tyler Thigpen had his best start in Week Eight as the Chiefs almost upset the Jets. Their -0.3 TC was their second-best best of the year. 30. St. Louis Rams: -9.7 The Rams were close to beating the Patriots this weekend, but all they came away with was a -7 TC in a seven-point loss. 31. Detroit Lions: -10.5 Detroit was just a fraction of a point away from remaining last in back-to-back weeks. They?ll battle the Bears, who they posted their third-best TC of the season against (-8.8) in Week Five, at Solider Field on Sunday. 32. Cincinnati Bengals: -10.6 The Bengals move into the basement after the Rams and Lions took turns occupying it in recent weeks. They play the Jaguars this weekend with the chance to either slide up or pad their ?lead?.

The Steelers claim they knew the Giants were going to run with Brandon Jacobs on fourth-and-1 at the goal line early in the second quarter. The goal-line stand, during which Jacobs failed on three successive plays to get in from the 1, temporarily preserved Pittsburgh's 7-3 lead, and several Steelers are crediting the lips of Giants' quarterback Eli Manning. "I was watching Eli's lips the whole time, and I saw him say, '32,' so I went over and tried to tell everyone, 'It's right here,' and we stopped it," defensive end Brett Keisel said. "That was a big play in the game." In hearing "32," Keisel figured the Giants would run the ball behind right guard Chris Snee. "I'm guessing it's the 2-drop, which is right off center-guard," Keisel said. "And that's the play they ran and we stopped them. I'm proud of our defense. Our defense played their tails off." New York challenged the call on fourth down, believing that Jacobs had scored, but the ruling was upheld. "I was in," Jacobs said. "I guess they didn't get the right [TV] angle [on the replay]. We were playing against 11 people and -- what -- 16 people to be honest with you," a reference to the officiating crew.

Pittsburgh wide receiver Santonio Holmes apologized Monday for being involved in a marijuana-related case that prompted Coach Mike Tomlin to sit him against the Giants on Sunday. "I would like to apologize to my teammates, the Steelers' organization, my family, and the fans for my actions that caused me to miss Sunday's game," Holmes said in a statement issued by the team. "I recognize that I made a mistake and understand the significance of my actions and will not make any excuse for my behavior. I look forward to putting this behind me and being accepted by my teammates and the fans as part of this team." Holmes was charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana after a traffic stop Thursday in which police smelled burning marijuana and found marijuana-filled cigars in his car.

Steelers' wide receiver Santonio Holmes will not play on Sunday against the Giants because of his latest legal incident. Pittsburgh police pulled over Holmes, who was driving his sport utility vehicle, on Thursday near Mellon Arena and found three marijuana-filled cigars. "At this point we've chosen to name him as inactive," coach Mike Tomlin said Friday. "His situation has created somewhat of a distraction and we want to minimize that as much as we can and remain focused on the task at hand."

Steelers' wide receiver Santonio Holmes was arrested on charges of drug possession on Thursday. Holmes was arrested by Pittsburgh police on Thursday afternoon after being found with a small amount of marijuana. The details of his arrest were not immediately available.

The NFL is looking into whether the Ravens had a "bounty" on Steelers' rookie running back Rashard Mendenhall and receiver Hines Ward when they battled in Week Four. During the '2 Live Stews' syndicated radio show on Oct. 17, when Baltimore's Terrell Suggs was asked, "Did you all put a bounty out on that young man [Mendenhall]," Suggs replied, "Definitely. The bounty was out on him, and the bounty was out on [Ward] -- we just didn't get him between the whistles." Ray Anderson, the NFL's executive vice president of football operations, said the league is looking into the comments. "That 'bounty' notion is completely against the rules," Anderson said. "To the extent that someone is engaged in that activity, we will look into it and address it. Yes, we've seen the comments, and we're trying to determine the completeness of the circumstances."

Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger believes that wide receiver Plaxico Burress, whom he played one season with, helped make him the player he is today. "Plax really helped kind of mold me and make me who I am," Roethlisberger said. "He made me a better quarterback. It was a privilege and an honor to play with Plax." In their one season together Burress caught five touchdowns even though he played only 11 games because of a hamstring injury. "I have always thought he was one of the elites in this leagu,e and it was hard for him to leave," Roethlisberger said. "I didn't want him to go. But he had to do what was best for him. And he is doing a great job. I love watching him play when I watch the Giants play. It is just awesome." The Steelers will battle the Giants, Plaxico's current team, this Sunday.

The scoreboard is where games are officially won and lost, but they are largely decided by the team that wins the battles of yards per pass, yards per carry, penalty yards lost, first downs, and turnovers. For this reason, RealGM executive editor Christopher Reina created the following formula called the ?Trench Counter? to look at which team truly controls the game: (2x Yards per pass) + (2x Yards per carry) + (.5 First downs) - (Penalty yards/10) - (2.5 Turnovers) - (Opposing Team's Trench Counter) Click here for more information on the Trench Counter For the 2008 season, our weekly team rankings will be based solely off this formula. 1. Pittsburgh Steelers: 10.0 An absolute drubbing of the lowly Bengals on Sunday allowed the Steelers to leapfrog the Giants and idle Eagles to take over the top spot. 2. New York Giants: 9.7 At times the Giants looked flustered against the 49ers, and even though they still won soundly, it wasn?t enough to hold off the surging Steelers. 3. Philadelphia Eagles: 8.8 The Eagles dropped a spot as they sat at home and watched the action from home. A win over the Falcons this weekend could launch them into the top spot with Pittsburgh and New York facing off. 4. Washington Redskins: 7.3 For the second-straight week there are three NFC East teams in the top four. Washington?s win over Cleveland wasn?t pretty (14-11), but they got the job done and continue to impress. 5. Tennessee Titans: 6.7 The undefeated Titans have entered the top-five, but their yards per completion average of 6.28 is among the league?s worst. Kerry Collins manages a great game for Jeff Fisher, but they?ll eventually need more out of his arm. 6. Atlanta Falcons: 5.0 If the Falcons want to move up in the rankings next week they?ll have to beat the Eagles in Philadelphia and continue dominating on the ground. 7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4.9 The Bucs are the sixth-straight NFC team in this week?s rankings thanks to their dominant, but ugly, win over the Seahawks on Sunday night. Their +4 takeaway differential has been the key to their success. 8. Carolina Panthers: 3.9 The Panthers moved up four spots, thanks to their impressive victory over the division rival Saints. Carolina dominated on the ground, and Jake Delhomme had one of his best passing games of the season. 9. Buffalo Bills: 3.5 The Bills, just the second AFC team in the top-ten, cut down the high-powered Chargers in Buffalo this past weekend. They collected a number of turnovers, three by Philip Rivers, and moved up six spots because of it. 10. Minnesota Vikings: 3.3 Both the Vikings and Bears should be embarrassed after their 48-41 shootout. Neither team played well, but Minnesota probably would have won (despite Gus Frerotte?s four picks) if they hadn?t messed up on special teams. 11. Miami Dolphins: 3.2 The wildcat formation is no longer a secret in Miami, and with Buffalo on the schedule this weekend, the Dolphins could slide down further. 12. Dallas Cowboys: 2.1 The Cowboys dropped five spots and saw their average trench counter fall from 4.8 to 2.1, thanks to a listless performance against the Rams. With Tony Romo on the sideline they can still win games, but will their statistics suffer? 13. Baltimore Ravens: 1.9 Joe Flacco will need to cut down on the interceptions if the Ravens are going to challenge in the AFC North. 14. Arizona Cardinals: 1.9 The idle Cardinals sit exactly where they did after Week 6, but in order to improve heading into the season?s midpoint, they?ll need to play extremely well against the tough Panthers. 15. Chicago Bears: 1.7 I already mentioned that horrific Chicago/Minnesota game, so I?ll focus on what the Bears need to do in order to move up this list. Getting more than 3.6 yards per carry would be a start? 16. San Diego Chargers: 1.4 The Chargers came unglued in Buffalo posting their second negative TC in three weeks. If Rivers is more careful with the football, they should see the top-ten in a few weeks. 17. New York Jets: 0.5 The honeymoon is over for Brett Favre and the Jets. The quarterback has one touchdown and four interceptions in the team?s last two games. 18. New England Patriots: 0.4 A little Monday night magic launched the Patriots from -4.2 to 0.4 in just a week?s time. Matt Cassel won?t have another game like the one he did against the Broncos, but Bill Belichick now knows what his quarterback can handle. 19. Green Bay Packers: 0.0 Seven weeks into the season and the Packers have absolutely nothing to show for it. Actually, that?s far from the truth. They are just a very average football team right now. 20. New Orleans Saints: -1.0 The Saints will struggle on offense without Reggie Bush, but they should be able to get out of the red if Drew Brees rekindles his relationship with Marques Colston down field. 21. San Francisco 49ers: -2.3 Mike Singletary says that this team has something special, but can the new coach unearth their supposed excellence? 22. Houston Texans: -2.4 The Texans narrowly held off the Lions after jumping out to a huge lead on Sunday. Look for another early lead with the winless Bengals are coming to town in Week Eight. 23. Denver Broncos: -2.4 The Broncos have dropped six spots, thanks to their performance in New England. A loss is one thing, but the injured finger of Jay Cutler could be another. 24. Jacksonville Jaguars: -2.8 Who would have thought that the Jaguars would be in the bottom half of the league in yards per carry? 25. Indianapolis Colts: -2.8 Things are about as bad in Indianapolis as they ever have been since Peyton Manning arrived in town. Their horrid run game, compounded by a weak offensive line, will need to improve ? fast. 26. Cleveland Browns: -5.6 I hate to say it just six games into the season, but the Browns are officially the league?s biggest bust. They are horrible in most facets of the game, but Derek Anderson?s 62.9 quarterback rating is the most glaring disappointment. 27. Seattle Seahawks: -8.7 To be completely honest, I?m very surprised that the Seahawks have an average trench counter as high as -8.7. They look, to steal words from Mike Holmgren, like a high school football team. 28. Oakland Raiders: -8.8 Tom Cable got the Raiders a win on Sunday, and JaMarcus Russell looks ready to handle more of the offense. If Cable trusts his quarterback, Oakland?s below-average passing attack could thrive. 29. Cincinnati Bengals: -9.5 The Bengals are absolutely horrific on offense right now, but more carries for Cedric Benson could keep Marvin Lewis in town a little longer. 30. St. Louis Rams: -10.1 Back-to-back wins over NFC East opponents have lifted the Rams out of last place and up a few rungs on the basement steps. If the Patriots remain hot, St. Louis could be back at the bottom next week. 31. Kansas City Chiefs: -10.5 Herm Edwards? quarterbacks have a 58.6 combined QB rating and are averaging just 5.10 yards per pass. 32. Detroit Lions: -10.6 The Lions have played better in the last two weeks, but their early-season struggles are still plaguing their trench counter ranking.

Steelers' running back Willie Parker is expected to miss his third straight game on Sunday when the team takes on the Bengals. He has been battling a sprained left knee for the last month. Parker has 263 yards and three touchdowns in three games for Pittsburgh this season.