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Now we know how much Ben Roethlisberger is worth to Pittsburgh: five points, according to the folks in Vegas.

That was what the Steelers were favoured by over the Dolphins when the line was established for the Thursday night NFL opener at Heinz Field. Then Roethlisberger underwent an appendectomy, the game came off the board, and when it reappeared it was a pick 'em.

So now it's Charlie Batch for the Steelers against Daunte Culpepper and the Dolphins. Culpepper demonstrated during the exhibition season that he's recovered well from the knee injury that cut short his season with Minnesota.

Batch is no slouch — he was 2-0 as a starter for Pittsburgh last season — and he was Detroit's starter for the better part of four seasons, from 1998-2001. But he's from Pittsburgh and he says he'll be a little nervous starting before the home folks.

"I've got to calm myself down because I'm excited, and to be able to start at home and do this in front of family and friends is great," Batch said. "I haven't had too many opportunities to play at Heinz Field and that's why I'm excited, but my mom is probably more excited than me so I'll have to calm her down."

Even with Roethlisberger, this was no gimme for the defending Super Bowl champions.

Miami won its last six games last year in Nick Saban's first season as coach and has a legitimate shot at ending New England's domination of the AFC East. A lot depends on Culpepper. Before he got hurt last fall with the Vikings, he was having the worst season of his career.

Batch is a competent backup and Culpepper needs to get back on track.

STEELERS 17-15

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Indianapolis (minus 3) at New York Giants (Sunday night): The Manning bowl with the party line (set by Archie?): Peyton and Eli aren't playing against each other, their playing against the other team's defence.

Eli wants to show big brother something. The Colts want to be lower profile than the last two seasons — they started 13-0 last season, and in 2004 Peyton was breaking a bunch of records.

Hunch: Giants pass rush gets in Peyton's face, just as the Steelers and Chargers did last year.

GIANTS 24-20

Dallas (plus 2-1/2) at Jacksonville: T.O. or not T.O? Look to defence.

COWBOYS, 13-7

Atlanta (plus 4-1/2) at Carolina: The Panthers, who may be the NFC's best team, beat the Falcons twice last season by a combined 68-17.

PANTHERS, 28-10.

Minnesota (plus 5) at Washington (Monday night): The Redskins and their fans are a little too confident. Still . . .

REDSKINS, 18-7

San Diego (minus 3) at Oakland (Monday night): Philip Rivers can win his debut by handing off to LaDainian Tomlinson.

CHARGERS, 27-26

Baltimore (plus 3) at Tampa Bay: Tough place to start for Steve McNair, who gives the Ravens the QB they've never had.

BUCS, 13-12

Buffalo (plus 8-1/2) at New England: The Patriots keep scouring the waiver wire for receivers. But Tom Brady is still one of the top two QBs in football.

PATRIOTS, 23-8

Cincinnati (plus 3) at Kansas City: Assuming Carson Palmer is as good as he was in preseason, the KC defence gets exposed. As usual.

BENGALS 34-27

Seattle (minus 3-1/2) at Detroit: Only 3-1/2? Rod Marinelli has made Lions tougher.

SEAHAWKS, 27-19

Chicago (minus 3) at Green Bay: Long, long, long, long year for Brett.

BEARS, 20-3

Denver (minus 3-1/2) at St. Louis: Pining for the old days in St. Louis.

BRONCOS, 31-20

Philadelphia (minus 3-1/2) at Houston: The Texans picked up five guys off the waiver wire the day after the final cuts. Sign of a bad team.

Would they rather have Ron Dayne or Reggie Bush?

EAGLES, 27-20

San Francisco (plus 7) at Arizona: Imagine a full stadium (63,400) yelling loudly for the Cardinals.

CARDINALS, 27-12

New York Jets (plus 3) at Tennessee: Two more waiver wire teams. Neither will win much this year, so get the wins when you can.

JETS, 12-10

New Orleans (plus 3) at Cleveland: And more waiver wire.

BROWNS, 28-24

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Last season: 117-132-7 (spread) 173-83 (straight up).