On the NFL: Big Ben just keeps on ticking

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has to be added to the list of early frontrunners for MVP because what he's doing makes absolutely no sense.

The Steelers have a terrible offensive line, the 20th-ranked rushing attack and more injuries at running back than any other team in the league. They also rank next to last in sacks per pass play allowed (8.1), and the 18 sacks of Roethlisberger are the second most behind the 49ers' J.T. O'Sullivan (20).

Yet Roethlisberger ranks ninth in the league in passer rating (95.7) while completing 63.7 percent of his passes for a team that sure wouldn't be 4-1 without him.

"The kid, he's just a winner," said receiver Hines Ward, whose 8-yard touchdown reception with 1 minute, 53 seconds left gave the Steelers a 26-21 victory at Jacksonville last Sunday.

It was the second time in two games and the 15th time in his career that Roethlisberger led the Steelers to the winning score in the fourth quarter or overtime. And he did this despite having a bum shoulder that caused him to miss practice the week before the game.

The Steelers head into their much-needed bye with Roethlisberger's career regular-season record at 43-17 (.717). Only Tom Brady (.784) ranks higher among active quarterbacks with at least 40 starts.

The Giants won the Super Bowl last season while playing the no-respect card every step of the way. This year, they're loving life in the shadows of the Cowboys nationally and Brett Favre locally. Now comes a Monday night game against a pitiful 1-3 Browns team that's gotten more love than the Giants (4-0).

The Browns are making the first of three appearances on ''Monday Night Football.'' The Giants are making their one and only appearance.

The Browns sent six players to the Pro Bowl after missing the playoffs last season. The Giants sent one, Osi Umenyiora, who is out for the season because of a knee injury.

"There's nothing sexy about our team," Giants General Manager Jerry Reese said. "We have one Pro Bowler, and he's hurt. That gives us a little bit of edge. People didn't give us a lot of credit for being the champs. We're just kind of quietly going about our business."

"You stink!"

-- Normally mild-mannered Cowboys coach Wade Phillips as he reportedly stormed off the podium when a reporter suggested Dallas "pretty much stunk" for three quarters of its 31-22 victory over the Bengals.

Tampa Bay is 3-2 and ranked seventh in total offense. But that doesn't mean the Bucs offense is humming along. Some, in fact, have begun calling Jon Gruden's version of the West Coast offense the "horizontal offense."

Tampa Bay ranks 28th in yards per pass attempt (5.5). Only the Bengals, Chiefs and Browns -- a combined 2-12 -- rank lower. The Bucs also rank 29th in completions of 20 yards or more (five).

The Vikings' version of the West Coast offense ranks 11 spots behind the Bucs in total offense. But it is averaging more yards per pass play (6.02) and has 13 passes of 20 yards or more.

147 minutes, 53 seconds  The amount of time the Panthers defense has gone without giving up a touchdown. The last touchdown against Carolina's defense came when Gus Frerotte threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Visanthe Shiancoe early in the third quarter of the Vikings' 20-10 victory at the Metrodome on Sept. 21.

Mark Craig • mcraig@startribune.com