The Atlanta Falcons swooped over Heinz Field just prior to the 1 p.m. kick-off on Sunday looking for carrion but ending up becoming food for the crows themselves.

The Falcons came into the season ranked 7th and the Steelers were 18th on the NFL ladder (at least according to espn.com), but rankings, prognostications and theories are only as good as the last chalkboard they were drawn on.

The Steelers beat the Falcons 15-9 in an overtime thriller but one could have very easily assumed that Atlanta would have had an easier time with a team that was 11 rungs lower on the NFL rankings ladder armed only with an inexperienced quarterback and an aging defense (well at least until last Sunday).

PITTSBURGH (AP)—Ben Roethlisberger is no longer a Pittsburgh Steelers captain. Dennis Dixon is the new Steelers quarterback, at least for the time being.

Roethlisberger, suspended by the NFL for the first four games of the season, was not chosen a Steelers captain in a vote by his teammates. He has been selected the previous two seasons. Wide receiver Hines Ward and tight end Heath Miller will be the offensive captains.

STARTING QB—Dennis Dixon, who has played well in the preseason, was named starting quarterback for the opener against the Atlanta Falcons.

In a different vote regarding the quarterbacks, Dixon got the one that counted—by coach Mike Tomlin. Dixon was selected over longtime backup Charlie Batch to start Sunday’s opener against Atlanta, although he has started only one NFL game.

The old adage that football teams improve most between game one and game two rang true Saturday at the “Rally at the Wolvarena” as the WPIAL went 1-3 against some of the nation’s top teams. Ohio’s Steubenville Big Red and Akron Buchtel; and Florida’s Cocoa and Manatee, all rode into Turtle Creek with one game in their holster and took advantage of the inexperience of the WPIAL opening weekend teams.

McKeesport, Thomas Jefferson and Woodland Hills all went down to defeat but the Vikings of Central Catholic served notice to all WPIAL teams that they expect to win a championship by blowing out Ohio powerhouse Buchtel, 35-6.

ANTHONY NIXON, DAMIAN JONES-MOORE

PITTSBURGH (AP)—When Pirates second baseman Neil Walker takes the field at PNC Park, he needs only to glance over his shoulder at the 21-foot Roberto Clemente Wall in right field for inspiration.

Walker, one of the majors’ top rookies, grew up in Pittsburgh hearing countless stories about one of baseball’s greatest outfielders and a man whose influence in his native Puerto Rico extends far beyond the diamond.

TOP ROOKIE—Pittsburgh Pirate Neil Walker rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs in the third inning during a baseball game in Chicago, Sept. 1.