Falcons (1-5) at Steelers (3-3)
9 p.m. ET, ABC
Line: Steelers by 6
Preview | Baxter's Bits | War Room Preview
Ron Jaworski's Monday night breakdown
Inside the Playbook: The Steelers' zone blitz

Why to watch:
If the Steelers think their 3-3 start is a bit disappointing, all they need to do is look on the other sideline Monday night. The defending NFC champion Falcons are enduring a nightmare campaign that has been plagued by injuries and lopsided losses. Atlanta, which has been reduced to playing out the string before November has even set in, will try to salvage some pride for this appearance in the national spotlight.

Pittsburgh, which has a long track record of success on Monday Night Football under coach Bill Cowher, will try to climb above the .500 mark for the first time since its 2-0 start. The Steelers have looked good against inferior competition, easily defeating the Browns, Ravens and Bengals. But Pittsburgh has struggled against playoff contenders, dropping games to Seattle, Jacksonville and Buffalo. Plus, the Steelers have been awful at Three Rivers Stadium, where they seek their first home win of the season after dropping their first two.

	MORE COVERAGE
	ABC MNF Online MNF Scouting Report

Who to watch:
The Steelers say RB Jerome Bettis is finally healthy, and the Bus certainly looked it last week, when he topped the 100-yard mark for the first time this season by rushing for 111 yards and two TDs at Cincinnati. Bettis could thrive against a banged-up Falcons run defense, which played last week without LBs Jesse Tuggle (quad) and Keith Brooking (knee). Steelers QB Kordell Stewart has been better the last two weeks (38-for-58 for 350 yards, two TDs, one INT), but he has been awful in the two '99 home games (four INTs, no TDs). Still, the Falcons' pass defense ranks 29th in the league, so Stewart might finally please the home folks. Steelers rookie WR Troy Edwards leads the team in all major receiving categories.

Falcons QB Chris Chandler has missed time with a variety of ailments this season, including leaving last week's loss to the Rams because of flu symptoms. Atlanta could really use a healthy Chandler, and because the QB hasn't played on a Monday night since his rookie season of 1988, he probably will try to give it a go. Falcons RB Ken Oxendine remains the featured back, but Byron Hanspard could see more carries this week. Falcons WR Terance Mathis is averaging 12.4 yards per reception. Falcons DTs Travis Hall and Shane Dronett will try to cut off the Bus' route through the middle.

INJURY REPORT

Falcons: DOUBTFUL: LB Keith Brooking (knee); S Johndale Carty (hamstring); LB Jessie Tuggle (quadricep). QUESTONABLE: DT Ed Jasper (knee); LB Whit Marshall (knee); T Ephraim Salaam (knee-ankle). PROBABLE: LB Henri Crockett (knee). Steelers: OUT: DE Nolan Harrison (pectoral). QUESTONABLE: C Dermontti Dawson (hamstring). PROBABLE: WR Will Blackwell (hamstring); WR Courtney Hawkins (knee); LB Mike Vrabel (arm); WR Hines Ward (hamstring).

Falcons' numbers to know:
After not appearing on Monday Night Football for 11 seasons, Atlanta makes its second appearance in five weeks. The Falcons have not won a Monday night game since 1981.

Steelers' numbers to know:
While the Dirty Birds might be strangers to the MNF spotlight, the Steelers are quite comfortable in prime time. Pittsburgh is 12-4 on Monday night under Cowher, including a perfect 7-0 at Three Rivers Stadium. In addition, the Steelers have won 10 of 11 all-time meetings with the Falcons.

What it means:
For the Falcons, it doesn't really mean much -- other than the chance to salvage some pride and avoid another loss in front of a national audience. For the Steelers, it's an opportunity to head into their bye week with a two-game winning streak. And don't rule out Pittsburgh making some type of run at an AFC wild-card spot. The Steelers have five of their final eight games at home and face only four more teams with winning records.

Sean Salisbury's breakdown
Falcons' game plan:
Atlanta has struggled on offense. Chris Chandler is good quarterback, but he needs good players around him to be successful. Look for the Falcons to move the pocket some, especially against the Steelers defense. But I don't expect Atlanta to score much against Pittsburgh.

The Falcons will have trouble establishing the run, and with their lack of outside speed, they'll have trouble passing the football. It might take some kind of a big special teams play for the Falcons to get many points on the board. Their game plan will have to try to be to confuse the Steelers. They will run on throwing downs and pass on running downs. That might be the only way Atlanta can get any offense going. If they just let Chandler sit back there, he will be a sitting duck.

Atlanta's defense will have to focus on the Bus. Pittsburgh doesn't have wide receivers that will worry Atlanta that much, but you always have to be careful of Kordell Stewart's running ability.

One advantage in stopping Jerome Bettis is that he is pretty much a straight-ahead runner. However, you have to keep containment. The two rush ends, Chuck Smith and Lester Archambeau, will look to stop the rush first, but they also have to stay at home.

Steelers' game plan:
Pittsburgh's plan on offense will be to get Bettis going again. The big variable is what the Steelers can get out of Kordell Stewart. They aren't going to need very many points to win the game. If they get to 20, I think they win. Stewart has to manage the offense. I don't think that he has to do anything special.

If Kordell is playing well, then Atlanta's defense will be at a disadvantage. If the Steelers run the ball well, then the defense will have to try to pinch inside to stop the Bus. If the Falcons guard inside to stop Bettis, that will open up the passing game for Stewart. I expect to see a lot of misdirection plays to get Stewart out of the pocket. I also expect the Steelers to have pretty good field position for most of the game, which will make it a lot easier for their offense.

I'm not sold on Pittsburgh. The Steelers have been extremely inconsistent. But the one thing you can be sure of is that their defense will come to play. They'll play hard, and they will hit you. They are going to come after Chandler hard and try to hammer him. The whole goal will be to beat up the quarterback and keep him confused. Pittsburgh's linebackers are so big and fast. The Steelers don't believe Atlanta can beat them with a big play.

Pivotal Player:
Stewart. He needs to play a smart game and not make any costly mistakes. If the Steelers can get any kind of passing game going, it will open up the middle for Bettis to run wild.