Kordell Stewart has completed 65.5 percent of his passes the last two weeks.

Anticipating Atlanta's enthusiasm, the Rams ran a lot of misdirection plays early in the game. The Falcons' defenders overpursued, losing their gap responsibilities and allowing Marshall Faulk to break some big runs off misdirection and inside traps. Atlanta's secondary was solid against the Rams, but committing to St. Louis' passing attack left them vulnerable to Faulk and the Rams' ground game.

The Falcons will play eight men in the box against Pittsburgh and Jerome Bettis because the Steelers' passing game, while quietly effective the last two weeks, isn't as prolific as the Rams.

The Steelers are somewhat of an enigma. When I look at their roster, I see a better team than one with a 3-3 record. Their offense is improving and their defense has been solid, although they have experienced some individual breakdowns from players like cornerback Chad Scott.

Because the Steelers are playing better, I expect them to challenge for a playoff spot. If Jacksonville falters in the AFC Central, I think the Steelers will be waiting for them.

Turnovers are always important, but perhaps more so for the Falcons and the Steelers, who have been uneven in terms of turnovers. The Falcons have a turnover margin of minus-11, tied for worst in the league, and the Steelers just seem to sink or get down when they turn the ball over.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

The Bus runs on Monday: Jerome Bettis has more 100-yard games on Monday Night Football than anyone except the Cowboys' Emmitt Smith. If Bettis reaches the century mark Monday, he will tie Smith with nine 100-yard games. Dropping the ball: In 1998, the Falcons fumbled 24 times and lost nine of them. This season, the Dirty Birds have already lost 10 of their 13 fumbles. Bad days and good days: The Falcons last won a Monday night road game in 1979, and they've lost their last nine MNF appearances. By contrast, the Steelers have not lost a MNF home game since 1991, and Bill Cowher is 7-0 in Three Rivers Stadium on Mondays.

Here are the keys to Monday night's game for both teams:

Atlanta Falcons
1. Improved offensive line: The Falcons' running game, averaging only 2.9 yards per attempt, is not close to being the same as it was last season. People will point to Jamal Anderson's absence as the reason, but I don't think their offensive line is playing as well as last year. The line will have to play much better against the Steelers' front seven. The Falcons haven't been getting as much production out of tight end O.J. Santiago, which I think is critical. With no Tony Martin around to stretch the field, Santiago's role becomes more important. The Falcons must get the tight end more involved in the passing game.

2. Tuggle in the middle: Having linebackers Jessie Tuggle and Keith Brooking out with injuries hurt the Falcons last week. Tuggle is expected back this week, but Brooking will be out longer. It's key for them to get Tuggle back because he is the heartbeat of the defense. If he's back, the Falcons are a much better defensive team. Atlanta had a choice last week -- commit eight to the box and stop the run, or commit only seven and keep four people back in the secondary. After what happened in Week 1 against the Rams, they decided to stop the pass, and that's why the Rams' running game was there. Tuggle and the Falcons have to maintain their discipline on defense to slow down Bettis.

3. A healthy Chris Chandler: Chandler has had a nagging hamstring problem, and he sat out part of last week's game with the flu. He has been a question mark for the Falcons. But when he is in the game, the Falcons offense shows some consistency. When he is out, they really struggle. Chandler must play four quarters.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Falcons RBs Ken Oxendine and Byron Hanspard: One of Atlanta's backs must improve on the club's pitiful 2.9 yards per-carry average if the Falcons hope to buy any time for their beleaguered quarterbacks. Falcons WR Tim Dwight: A special teams' daredevil, Dwight will make his first start at wide receiver. Falcons CB Ray Buchanan: The Pro Bowl cornerback will try to laser-lock on Kordell Stewart's eyes. Steelers RB Jerome Bettis: The Bus got his first 100-yard game last week since fullback Tim Lester opted for free agency. Can Bettis follow Jon Whitman for another 100 this week? Steelers C Dermontti Dawson: The perennial Pro Bowler has started every game at center for the Steelers in the 1990s. However, a bad hamstring threatens his consecutive games streak at 170. Steelers CB Dewayne Washington: With three interceptions already, he's on pace to surpass his career high of five, which he recorded last year.

Pittsburgh Steelers
1. Hop on the Bus: The Steelers need to get Bettis running hard again. Although Bettis had a much better game last week, gaining more than 100 yards for the first time this season, I don't see the same Bettis I saw the first half of last year or two years ago. He doesn't seem to be running with the giddyup he has had in the past. He seems a little tentative hitting the hole, and the offensive line isn't what it was two years ago, either. The Bus must pick up his tempo.

2. A Magnificent Seven: The Steelers' strength is their defensive front seven. They are difficult to run against if they get typical performances from linebackers Levon Kirkland and Earl Holmes. The defense, ranked third in the league, is starting to come together. Scott was out all of last year, but now he's starting to get his legs back, and he's playing much better. That helps in the secondary. But up front, if their defense is playing their aggressive, physical style, that fuels the whole team.

3. Stewart from the pocket: Kordell Stewart has played solid football the past couple of weeks. I think offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride has done a good job of playing to Stewart's strength. Contrary to what most people think, Stewart is not an accurate passer out of the pocket. Because he can run, people think he should be throwing on the move. That is 100 percent incorrect. He is better when he stays in the pocket. The last two weeks Gilbride has used, at the most, three plays in which Stewart left the pocket to make plays. He has been staying in the pocket, keeping his feet under him and delivering the football.

Three weeks ago against Jacksonville, the Steelers moved Stewart around, and on the run he was bouncing the ball to receivers. The Steelers are starting to realize that throwing on the run isn't his strength. To be consistently successful in the NFL, the quarterback must play from the pocket. Last week, in particular, he was outstanding as far as making his reads, delivering the football on time and looking down the gun barrel and taking a hit. So I think Stewart is starting to come on, and that's a good sign for the Steelers.

Former NFL quarterback Ron Jaworski appears each week on ESPN's Monday Night Countdown and Edge NFL Matchup. He breaks down the Monday Night Football matchup each week on ESPN.com.