What the Steelers will do: Charlie Batch will start in place of Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback. The Steelers are 3-3 in games in which Roethlisberger hasn't started, but coach Bill Cowher said Batch is coming off his best training camp since joining the club. Offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt will lean a little more heavily on the running game, particularly Willie Parker, and will try to get TE Heath Miller more involved in the passing game. On defense, look for the Steelers to isolate CB Ike Taylor on Pro Bowl WR Chris Chambers.

What the Dolphins will do: Miami's four-man front is aging but good, led by end Jason Taylor, who is 32. The Dolphins allowed an average of 86.8 yards rushing in the final five games last season. The addition of QB Daunte Culpepper, acquired in a trade with the Vikings, should improve the deep passing game, something the Dolphins have lacked since the days of Dan Marino. RB Ronnie Brown, who had the NFL's second highest rushing total (907) for a rookie in 2005, has to prove he can be a feature back.

To win, the Steelers must ...

1. Not let Batch get hatched. LT Marvel Smith will have to contain Taylor, who had 12 sacks in 2005.

2. Pepper Daunte with blitzes. The Dolphins' quarterback is coming off knee surgery, raising questions about his mobility.

3. Get Brown on the ground. The Steelers allowed just one 100-yard rusher in 20 games last season -- Edgerrin James in Week 11.

To win, the Dolphins must ...

1. Park Willie. That will force the Steelers to use Batch in passing sitiuations, something they'll want to limit.

2. Have L.J. control the LB. Left tackle L.J. Shelton was brought in to help with pass protection, but Joey Porter is a tough opening assignment.

3. Send Ike to the Chambers. The Dolphins will have to make big plays with their Pro Bowl receiver, who had 11 touchdowns last season.

Dolphins TE Randy McMichael: He caught 60 passes for 582 yards in '05, but those numbers should rise with Culpepper, who has a high career completion percentage (64.4) and likes to throw to the tight end. The Steelers counter with two-time Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu, who can run with McMichael.

The Dolphins finished the 2005 regular season with six consecutive victories and are hoping to parlay that momentum to add to their 23-16-1 record in season openers. Coordinators Dom Capers and Mike Mularkey worked in the same capacity with the Steelers. In their past three season openers at home, the Steelers are 3-0, averaging 30.6 points.