[Tommy]

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers is expected to start tonight as the defending Super Bowl champions travel south to face the Jacksonville Jaguars in this week's Monday Night Football matchup.

After undergoing a recent appendectomy, Roethlisberger is listed as questionable on Pittsburgh's official injury report but practiced with the club this week and - barring late-breaking misfortune - will take over from stand-in Charlie Batch at the helm of the Steelers.

Pittsburgh now sits as a 2.5-point road favorite against Jacksonville, with the total set at 37.

Despite Roethlisberger's absence, the Steelers didn't miss a beat in Week 1 as Batch threw for more than 200 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-17 romp over the Miami Dolphins at Heinz Field. Willie Parker turned in a solid rushing performance with 115 yards on 29 carries.

The Jags, meanwhile, will also have their sights set on a 2-0 start to the season after dumping Dallas 24-17 in Week 1 action. Quarterback Byron Leftwich had a decent outing while throwing for 237 passing yards, but the real story last week was the charged-up Jaguars' defense which kept the Cowboys in disarray for most of the game.

The Steelers and Jaguars, who have become bitter rivals over the years since Jacksonville began play as a surprisingly competitive expansion franchise back in 1995, met previously in October 2005 when Jacksonville secured a 23-17 overtime win in Pittsburgh as road dogs. Roethlisberger did not play in that game, and a Tommy Maddox pass attempt was intercepted in OT and run back for the game-winning major.

Back in December 2004, the black-and-gold failed to cover while posting a 17-16 victory in Jacksonville on a last-second field goal by Jeff Reed, following a clinical last-minute drive engineered by the rookie Roethlisberger.

The two teams have met 17 times in their history so far with the Jaguars holding a 9-8 lead in the series, straight up, including 6-3 in Jacksonville.

Here is the official Week 2 injury report for both teams.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger QB Questionable Week 2 (Appendectomy); Jerame Tuman TE Probable Week 2 (Hamstring); Troy Polamalu S Probable Week 2 (Shoulder); Max Starks T Probable Week 2 (Knee); Hines Ward WR Probable Week 2 (Hamstring); Nate Washington WR Probable Week 2 (Knee).

Jacksonville Jaguars: Marcedes Lewis TE Questionable Week 2 (Ankle); Mike Peterson LB Questionable Week 2 (Knee); Gerald Sensabaugh S Questionable Week 2 (Ankle); Paul Spicer DE Questionable Week 2 (Groin); Marcus Stroud DT Questionable Week 2 (Ankle).

Kickoff is slated for 8:30 pm ET, on ESPN.

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[QuickNick]

Tommy, I clicked on the link where you said click here for a free $100.00 bet and I DO NOT SEE qanything that says that!!!

[Tommy]

Originally Posted by QuickNick

Tommy, I clicked on the link where you said click here for a free $100.00 bet and I DO NOT SEE qanything that says that!!!

Press on the sports picture link and you'll see it in the promos.

[Tommy]

Damn, you know what. They already reached 1,000 people for it so it's off until next week. I already got in on it this week earlier and though it was still up. Sorry...

[Tommy]

My Pick for tonight is the Jags plus the 3. I think they win outright but I'll take the 3.

[naught33]

gl tonight tomminator, jags look solid so far but need some pts

[Luckym]

GO Jags. We got the hawks yesterday nice work