(Sports Network) - Not that long ago, it might have been the segue to an AFC title game. . But, these days ... not so much. While the Pittsburgh Steelers stayed in the thick of the conferences muddled playoff chase last week, the San Diego Chargers have done nearly everything to ensure theyll not be playing next month. And with Ben Roethlisberger ready for a timely return, its easy to choose whose arc is higher this weekend. You can watch all the action on TSN2 today beginning at 1pm et/10am pt. The always gutty "Big Ben" is ready to return against the Chargers after a three-week respite with a sprained right shoulder and an accompanying rib injury. He rejoins a team tied for the final wild card postseason position and two games out of the top spot in the AFCs North Division. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin -- who subbed in Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch during Roethlisbergers absence -- confirmed the No. 1 mans presence at Heinz Field this weekend on Thursday after practice. "Really, the only question we cant answer is taking a hit," Tomlin said. "Obviously that will be answered in the stadium on Sunday. I am extremely comfortable with his ability to work the field both vertically and horizontally. He has great velocity on his ball. Were ready to go." Tomlin, however, was very appreciative of Batchs play in Baltimore during Week 13. "Ben is our quarterback and if hes capable of playing then were going to play him," Tomlin said earlier in the week. "But we appreciate the efforts of Charlie and all the other men that step up when given an opportunity due to injury." Batch and Co. headed into Charm City last week and reeled in the Ravens, whod not lost at home since 2010. But theyll need some more help to make up a two- game deficit with four games remaining. If not, they can at least lean on the fact that wild cards have won three of the last seven Super Bowls. "Weve just got to get a ticket," linebacker Larry Foote said. "The last few years, the Giants have done it, and Green Bay has done it." Pittsburgh did, too, while winning its most recent title in February 2009. While the current defense went a long way to help the irregular offense to last weeks win, itll be without a mainstay this week when cornerback Ike Taylors streak of 135 straight games played officially ends after he fractured an ankle in Baltimore. Taylor had made 119 starts since 2003. Still, the remnants retain top billing among NFL pass defenses, limiting opponents to just 166.7 yards per game. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was never permitted to get comfortable while completing only 16 of 34 passes for 188 yards and being sacked three times. The Steelers are tied for third in opposition completion percentage at 55.2 and the 13 pass touchdowns theyve allowed trail only San Francisco (12), Seattle (12), Atlanta (11) and Baltimore (10) among the leagues stingiest. Coming in as Taylor exits will be safety Troy Polamalu, whod been out since Oct. 7 with a strained calf before making cameo appearances against the Ravens. Also likely to grab more responsibility in the altered lineup are Cortez Allen and Curtis Brown. "Theyre both talented young guys who are continuing to improve and prove that the stage isnt too big for them," Tomlin said. "Obviously, we need them to answer the bell as we continue to push into a territory that we havent been in." The Chargers are on the verge of some unfamiliar ground as well, in the form of the first losing record on the six-season watch of coach Norv Turner. The loss to the Bengals was their fourth in a row and second straight in which a fourth-quarter lead became a final-gun deficit. Quarterback Philip Rivers has been a significant minus during the prolonged recent skid, fumbling five times and throwing five interceptions compared to just six TD passes. The offensive line hasnt helped its backfield colleagues at all while permitting 14 sacks in three games and helping generate a paltry average of 63.3 rushing yards. Add to it the iffy injury status of guard Tyronne Green and tackles Mike Harris and Jeromey Clary, and Turner has a sizable job-saving task in front of him. "If we go in there with three new starting offensive linemen, guys that I havent met yet, and were playing the Steelers in Pittsburgh," he said, "it will be a challenge." San Diego scored 31 points in a thrashing of Kansas City that got it to 4-4 on Nov. 1, but the points have since plunged to 24, 23, 13 and 13 in the last four games -- marking the first time since 2007 the Chargers failed to reach 20 in two straight games. Their 18.3 points per game are 25th-best in the league. Their 320 total yards are 26th. San Diego hasnt lost more than its won since going 4-12 in 2003. "Were fighting like crazy to score," Rivers said. "Were in a rut and all we can do is keep playing." The Steelers lead the all-time series, 21-6, and have won seven of the last eight games. In fact, San Diego has never won in the Steel City. Meanwhile, Pittsburghs Tomlin is 3-0 against San Diego in his career, while the Chargers Turner is winless against the Steelers in six previous coaching tries. [url=http://www.cowboysofficialteamstore.com/autographed-sean-lissemore-jersey-r... Lissemore Jersey . -- Long before Jim Leyland became a big league manager, and well before Miguel Cabrera was even born, the Tigers skipper hit . . Wilhelmsen retired Albert Pujols and Mark Trumbo with the tying runs on second and third in the eighth inning and Seattle went on to beat the Los Angeles Angels 8-6 Monday night. [url=http://www.cowboysofficialteamstore.com/autographed-justin-durant-jersey-de... . When it comes to clutch hitting, the Marlins flunk too many tests. They batted .127 (8 for 63) with runners in scoring position during a dismal homestand, which is the primary reason the Marlins went 1-8. [url=http://www.cowboysofficialteamstore.com/autographed-daryl-johnston-jersey-n... Johnston Jersey . The Blue Jays (70-89) will need a sweep of the Twins (66-93) to stave off 90 losses for the first time since 2004, when Toronto went 67-94. Aaron Laffey will get the ball for Toronto. . MORITZ, Switzerland -- Tina Maze of Slovenia won her third race of the season by finishing first in both runs of a World Cup super-combined event Friday to extend her lead in the overall standings.DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies have recalled left-hander Drew Pomeranz from Triple-A to start Sunday against San Diego. This is Pomeranzs second stint with the Rockies this season. He was 0-2 with a 4.70 ERA in five starts after being recalled April 15. He was optioned to Colorado Springs on May 11, where he was 4-4 with a 2.51 ERA in nine starts for the Sky Sox. Pomeranz was the centterpiece of last years trade that sent Ubaldo Jimenez to Cleveland. [url=http://www.cowboysofficialteamstore.com/autographed-gerald-sensabaugh-jerse... Sensabaugh Jersey. He made his major league debut last Sept. 11. The Rockies sent down right-handed reliever Guillermo Moscoso. Acquired from Oakland in the off-season, Moscoso is 0-1 with an 8.23 ERA in 10 appearances -- two starts -- with the Rockies. The Rockies have 39 players on their 40-man roster. ' ' '