PITTSBURGH STEELERS Manning showing he's no Roethlisberger

The move to get Eli doesn't look as smart as it did on draft day.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Eight months ago, the New York Giants were patting themselves on the back after engineering a draft-day trade to get Eli Manning. No one seemed to care the Giants mortgaged the franchise in the deal with San Diego for the No. 1 overall pick.
"I think it's a once-in-a-generation opportunity to get somebody you feel that strongly about," general manager Ernie Accorsi said after sending the rights to quarterback Philip Rivers (the fourth choice overall), a first-round pick next year and two other draft choices to the Chargers for the rights to Manning.
It was a deal everyone loved. New coach Tom Coughlin and the Giants supposedly got a great quarterback for the future. Manning also got his wish, which was not to play for the Chargers.
The other offshoot was that it left Ben Roethlisberger on the board and the Steelers took him with the 11th choice overall.
Ben superb
With the NFL regular season winding down, the deal of the century isn't looking very good, especially with Manning and the Giants (5-8) prepared to meet Roethlisberger and the Steelers (12-1) at Giants Stadium on Saturday.
The Giants have lost six in a row and seven of eight in seeing their once promising playoff hopes nosedive. They could be eliminated this weekend with a loss and wins by two of three teams: Minnesota, Carolina and St. Louis.
Manning, who replaced two-time MVP Kurt Warner at quarterback after the ninth game, is winless in four starts. His last two starts have been pathetic. The brother of 2003 co-MVP Peyton Manning of the Colts has hit 16 of 43 passes for 140 yards and two interceptions. He has led New York to one touchdown in 44 offensive series since becoming a starter.
The story is much more positive in Pittsburgh and San Diego.
Roethlisberger has not lost a game since becoming the starter on Sept. 26 against Miami, a rookie record. Pittsburgh's current 11-game winning streak is one shy of a team record. A 13-1 start would be the Steelers' best. It would also move Bill Cowher's team closer to a first-round playoff bye.
Super Chargers
The Chargers (10-3) have been one of the NFL's biggest surprises. Without Manning waiting in the wings, San Diego's Drew Brees has 23 touchdown passes and a 102.7 quarterback rating, second in the AFC behind Peyton Manning and just ahead of Roethlisberger's 97.6.
Roethlisberger, who many thought would be taken by the Giants on draft day, has had the benefit of playing for a team with an outstanding offensive line, two strong running backs, three good receivers and one of the league's top-ranked defenses.
Manning has played behind a weak offensive line, with banged-up receivers, an underutilized weapon in tight end Jeremy Shockey and an overused Tiki Barber at halfback. The combination helps explain his 33.8 quarterback rating, the lowest among passers with 100 attempts.
Manning is smart enough not to second-guess himself, or his family, which is headed by former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning. They advised him to spurn San Diego.
The younger Manning knows winning is what determines the value of a quarterback.
Roethlisberger is doing that now, and he isn't.
"You have to try to take care of yourself, and right now I am just trying to get better and trying to improve this offense and make plays when they are there," Manning said.
"That is my concern right now and that is what I am trying to deal with."