Altoona Mirror, January 8, 2017

The temperature won't even approach the freezing mark today at Heinz Field, yet the heat is on the Steelers.
They've won exactly one playoff game in the last five seasons, and that only happened because the Cincinnati Bengals saved their most knuckleheaded behavior for precisely the wrong time and self-destructed.
This postseason is another chance for the Steelers, and they seemed to be poised for a successful run.
They ended the regular season with a seven-game winning streak. They have all their major offensive weapons healthy and rested. They get this game at home. Their opponent, the Miami Dolphins, has major injury issues that begin with their starting quarterback.
The betting line has the Steelers as 10-point favorites. That isn't a prediction on the outcome, but rather a projection of what point spread will produce an equal amount of wagers on both sides.
Still, it's not hard to imagine the Steelers putting up 30 points against a depleted Dolphins secondary. It is hard to fathom a scenario in which running back Jay Ajayi comes close to matching the 204 yards he gained against the Steelers in the October game.
There's no reason to expect the Steelers won't be in Kansas City next week.
If they're not? It's going to be a long and bitter winter, regardless of the temperature.
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--BONUS ROUND
There are millions of dollars riding on today's outcome, and not just those that go to the Steelers.
January is a dead time for most businesses. The exception is when the Steelers go deep into the playoffs. Even if the games are on the road, people stick to their game-day routines and have parties. A lot of food and beverages are sold that otherwise wouldn't be.
One food purveyor said he prays for just one playoff game, because it generates enough business to help him through a slow January.
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--BYE, BOOMER
ESPN made it official last week that Chris Berman will be taking a reduced role at the network.
Actually, he will be disappearing from ESPN, which should come as a relief to a lot of viewers.
There was a time when Berman's act was fresh, a frat boy sensibility applied to sports highlights with nicknames, Howard Cosell impressions and over-the-top reactions to outstanding plays.
The problem was he never advanced beyond any of that, even as he passed 60. So it was constantly "back-back-back-back" and "George 'Taco' Bell" and "he....could....go....all....the...way." It was like being stuck in junior high.
His fans outgrew the silliness and new viewers wondered why the old guy was acting so goofy when they just wanted to see the highlights.
Berman never showed much self awareness. He simultaneously did commercials for Weight Watchers and Applebee's.
The upset isn't that he's leaving. It's that he lasted as long as he did without ever changing.
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--FROZEN FISH
The Dolphins maintained all week the weather wouldn't be a factor in today's game.
It may not be. But it would have been fun to watch them step off the buses at their hotel Saturday afternoon and feel that first blast of western Pennsylvania January.
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--ON THE MENU
Meanwhile, Primanti's announced it wouldn't sell fish sandwiches over the weekend because the Dolphins were the Steelers' opponent.
Oh, if their food could be as good as their publicity machine.