Line »  Steelers by 6

TV »  CBS

Why you should watch »  To see which Chargers show up. Will it be the one that can’t execute because of an groin injury — ouch !– to running back LaDanian Tomlinson (1,110 yards 11 TDs)? Or will it be the one riding a five-game winning streak behind quarterback Philip Rivers (4,009 yards, 34 TDs, 11 INTs) and running back Darren Sproles (672 total yards, 6 TDs).

Battling the head cases from the West Coast are the Steelers and their top-ranked defense, allows just 14 points and 237 yards per game. Pittsburgh linebacker and Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison (101 tackles, 16 sacks, 7 forced fumbles) leads an attack that contained San Diego in an 11-10 win during the regular season. The Steelers also feature a talented quarterback and running back duo — Ben Roethlisberger (3,301 yards, 17 TDs, 15 INTs) and Willie Parker (791 yards, 5 TDs).

Best San Diego win »  Oct. 12, vs. New England, 30-10. The Chargers avenged a loss in the conference title game last year by drilling the defending AFC champions. The Patriots gained just 299 yards as Rivers threw for 306 yards and three touchdowns.

Worst San Diego loss »  Oct. 19, at Buffalo, 23-14. Coming off the huge win against New England, the Chargers laid an egg in Orchard Park, N.Y., when they amassed just 263 yards and turned the ball over three times. Tomlinson had just 41 yards on 14 carries.

Best Pittsburgh win »  Dec. 7, vs. Dallas, 20-13. The Steelers had trouble generating offense for much of the game, but rallied from a 13-3 fourth-quarter deficit for the victory. The defense punctuated the victory by forcing five turnovers, including a game-winning 25-yard interception return for a touchdown with fewer than two minutes remaining.

Worst Pittsburgh loss »  Dec. 21 at Tennessee, 31-14. With the No. 1 seed in the AFC on the line, the Steelers had just 73 rushing yards and commmitted four turnovers. The Titans outscored the Steelers, 14-0, in the fourth quarter.

Who would win if the mascots fought to the death »  Boltman against Steely McBeam. Steeley has the advantage of a hard hat and wields a large steel girder. But last time I checked, metal was a great conductor of electricity, meaning McBeam is going to get McFried.

Game comes down to »  Chargers are a team of destiny. It took a last-second field goal for the Steelers to win in the teams’ last meeting. This time, Sproles continues his march toward a monstrous free-agent deal by breaking several huge plays, including a long screen pass for a score.

Carey predicts »  Chargers 20, Steelers 17

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