Let’s think about the questions we had coming into the game and how they would be answered.

Kara Henderson and Ty Law weigh in with some first-half observations from Heinz Field.

Earlier in the week, a Pittsburgh writer asked Chargers QB Philip Rivers what he thinks about the fact there are a lot of players and fans who just don’t like him. Rivers said he didn’t understand it because from his experience, he gets along with everyone and that people misunderstand him when they see him and don’t hear what he’s saying. I don’t have to hear what he just said to Steelers LB LaMarr Woodley after being sacked to know it wasn’t nice play.

Here’s a stat you will never use but was announced in the press box. Santonio Holmes‘ punt return for a touchdown was the first against the Chargers in a playoff game since the Bills’ Butch Bird took one 74 yards in the 1965 AFL Championship Game. Just in case you want to pull a Cliff Clavin on your friends.

NFL Network player correspondent Ty Law is making sure that I put in my blog that he told us Chargers RB Darren Sproles needed to get some screen passes so he could operate in space.

The Commissioner is in the building. I made sure to call Roger Goodell “Mr. Commissioner” this time. The first time I met him, he caught me off guard. He tapped me on the shoulder while I was texting someone on the sidelines, and I called him Roger. I was mortified and made fun of by my colleagues for weeks. I later apologized to him, to which his response was, “Don’t worry about it. People have definitely called me worse things.”

Ty Law, producer Ed O’Brien and I are on the field for pregame, and we’re amused by the Chargers’ linebackers, who are getting fired up by yelling at the Steelers’ fans. Shawne Merriman is acting like a player/coach, although you can tell it’s killing him to not be out there in a uniform. Shaun Phillips is ready to hit someone (I won’t use his exact words).