When Joe Gibbs surprised Dan Snyder by retiring on Jan. 8, the Redskins' owner denied that he had talked to Cowher about succeeding the Hall of Famer. Evidently, Snyder called Cowher soon thereafter before beginning a month-long process that included interviews with eight candidates.

"We talked," Cowher told The Washington Times. "It was a good talk. I was very flattered, but I expressed that it wasn't the right time."

Cowher, who was 161-99 with a Super Bowl championship and 10 playoff berths in 14 years in Pittsburgh, said he has no plans to leave the CBS studio and return to the sidelines. Of course, since Zorn has the Redskins at 6-2, if the 51-year-old Cowher comes back to the NFL, it won't be in Washington.

--Clinton Portis was named the NFC's Offensive Player of the Month. Portis, the NFL's rushing leader with 944 yards, ran for 575 yards in four October games, averaging 144 yards a game and 5.7 per carry. He also scored four touchdowns.

--Santana Moss certainly made the most of just his second punt return in three years. His 80-yard touchdown sealed Washington's 25-17 victory at Detroit and now has earned Moss NFC Special Teams Player of the Week acclaim.

"Santana proves to be an amazing athlete," said coach Jim Zorn. "He had one opportunity and not only scored, but made the key play for the win."

Moss was honored twice as the NFC's top offensive player in 2005 and once in 2006. He won the AFC's Special Teams award in 2002 with the New York Jets.

BY THE NUMBERS: 8 -- Years since the Redskins were 6-2 at midseason. The ballyhooed 2000 team lost six of its last eight games costing coaches Norv Turner and Terry Robiskie their jobs and Washington its seemingly sure playoff spot.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "You have an opportunity to know where you're at. We know it's going to be a physical game. The only showdown we have is to come out with one more point than they have. If it's a 3-2 game and we win, we're fine with that." -- RB Clinton Portis on Redskins' second-ranked running attack going against the Steelers' third-ranked run defense.