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Steelers’ Bettis Listed as Questionable

Associated Press

Pittsburgh Steeler Coach Bill Cowher said running back Jerome Bettis, still limping on a sore right ankle he initially hurt a month ago, probably won’t practice this week and is questionable for the Steelers’ divisional playoff game Sunday at New England.

“His health comes first,” Cowher said Tuesday. “After that, we’ll go from there.”

By the NFL’s definition, questionable means a 50-50 chance of playing. Bettis’ terminology differs; he estimates his chances of taking part in the Steelers’ first road playoff game since the 1993 season as 100%.

“I’m playing,” Bettis said after rushing for 102 yards in the Steelers’ 42-14 victory Sunday over Indianapolis. “This is too much fun. I’m having a ball. This is why you play the game . . . to get into the playoffs, when the whole country is watching.”

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As the Denver Broncos held their first full-scale practice Tuesday in preparation for Saturday’s divisional playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, quarterback John Elway feared his team would suffer from turning up the emotional dial too high.

The Broncos haven’t played a meaningful game since they clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs by beating Seattle on Dec. 1--nearly five weeks ago.

“It’s not a question of whether we’ll be able to turn it on this week,” Elway said. “Everybody will be able to turn it on. We’ll probably have to turn it down a little bit once the game starts.”

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Elway conceded his team might not be as sharp as it would have been if it had to win down the stretch to reach the playoffs, as the Jaguars have done, winning six consecutive games.

“When you take that much time off, there’s always a concern you’re not as sharp as you would have been if you had been in three meaningful games,” he said. “It might take us a little time to get into the game.”

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