<strong><span class="subhead">3 who need big games</span></strong></p><p>&bull;<strong>Broncos second-year OT Tyler Polumbus</strong> will make his first career start on Monday night against Pittsburgh and will have to handle linebacker James Harrison, last year&rsquo;s NFL Defensive Player of the Year.</p><p>&bull;<strong>Giants QB Eli Manning</strong> has struggled during his team&rsquo;s three-game losing streak, throwing six INTs and just three TDs. </p><p>&bull;<strong>The Patriots&rsquo; kickoff coverage</strong> ranks 20th, so special teams coach Scott O&rsquo;Brien better have a kick-coverage plan for Miami&rsquo;s Ted Ginn, who last week became the first player in NFL history with two touchdowns of 100 yards or more in the same game. </p><p><strong><span class="subhead">3 bold predictions</span></strong></p><p>&bull;<strong>Raiders coach Tom </strong><strong>Cable&rsquo;s</strong> deficiencies as a coach won&rsquo;t cost him his job, but his alleged off-field conduct will &mdash; perhaps before his team resumes play next week against the Chiefs.</p><p>&bull;While we&rsquo;re on the subject, <strong>former Chiefs offensive coordinator Paul Hackett</strong>, in his second year on the Oakland staff, will finish out the season as the Raiders&rsquo; interim head coach.</p><p>&bull;We&rsquo;re not going to buy the prediction by <strong>Titans RB Chris Johnson (left)</strong> that his team will run the table and go 10-6, even if he continues to average 7 yards a carry.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">3 questions with</span></strong></p><p><strong><span class="infobox-head">NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith </span></strong><br /> &bull;<strong>How would you characterize negotiations with the league on the new labor agreement?</strong></p><p>&ldquo;The last meeting was good. We addressed some issues. We got some firm proposals. We responded to those proposals, and that is a very good process when we can trade information, trade proposals, respond to them and move forward.&rdquo;</p><p>&bull;<strong>How important is it to get the NFL to open its books?</strong></p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s important for people to make decisions based on the full amount of relevant information. You&rsquo;re more likely to get the answer right. I&rsquo;ll let you know when I get those financial statements.&rdquo;</p><p>&bull;<strong>Do you anticipate a work stoppage after the 2010 uncapped year?</strong></p><p>&ldquo;Our players want to play football. I&rsquo;m against any lockout. I&rsquo;d love to have a deal before the uncapped year. If we don&rsquo;t have a deal by mid-January (2010), it seems to me the right thing to do at that point is to commit ourselves to five days of concentrated meetings where we promise ourselves that we will emerge with a deal. We will do everything to make sure we have a deal before the uncapped year. I just need a little help from the other side.&rdquo;</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Inside the AFC</span></strong></p><p>Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin will take a 4-0 record on Monday Night Football into this week&rsquo;s game at Denver. His predecessor, Bill Cowher, was 18-8 on Monday nights. </p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Inside the NFC</span></strong></p><p>When Vikings guard Steve Hutchinson was called for holding last Sunday against Green Bay, it was the first time in 98 starts that he had been flagged for a hold, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.</p><p><hr class="infobox-hr-separator" /> <div class="infobox"> <strong><span class="infobox-head">NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith </span></strong><br /> </div>