Cover-2: Steelers' Clark sidelined in Denver

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin called Ryan Clark into his office on Wednesday and told the safety he won't play in Denver's mile-high altitude.

Clark carries a sickle-cell trait that becomes aggravated - and is potentially deadly - at higher elevations. He nearly died the last time he played in Denver, when the then-undiagnosed condition flared up and he ended up having his gall bladder and spleen removed in addition to losing 30 pounds.

Pittsburgh (12-4) quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says he aggravated his sprained left ankle in the 13-9 win at Cleveland last weekend but expects to play in the wild-card game at Denver (8-8) on Sunday. Roethlisberger was limited in practice on Wednesday and walked into the trainer's room afterward with a noticeable limp.

Quarterback Andy Dalton missed practice on Wednesday with the flu, leaving backup Bruce Gradkowski to run Cincinnati's offense during another sub-freezing workout at Paul Brown Stadium. Coach Marvin Lewis said Dalton was expected to play at Houston (10-6) on Saturday when the Bengals (9-7) seek their first playoff win since the 1990 season.

After a season of waiting and hoping that their D-line would wake up, the Giants saw their front four go into high gear, recording 11 sacks against the Jets and Cowboys in the final two games as the Giants (9-7) made the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Ten of the sacks came from linemen Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck, Chris Canty, and Osi Umenyiora. New York hosts Atlanta (10-6) on Sunday.

Lions running back Kevin Smith and tight end Tony Scheffler collided violently during Wednesday's workout, but both finished practice and were unhurt.

"That's why they wear helmets," deadpanned coach Jim Schwartz said.

The Lions (10-6) need both key players to help them at New Orleans (13-3) in their first playoff appearance since the 1999 season.

Wide receiver Greg Jennings is back at practice for Green Bay (15-1) and appears on target to return for the playoffs. Jennings missed the last three games of the regular season with a torn left medial collateral ligament.

The regular-season NFL ratings on Fox this past season were the network's highest in 16 years.

Games averaged a 12.0 rating and 24 share, up 2 percent from last year's 11.8/24, according to Nielsen Media Research.

A ratings point equals 1 percent of the nation's television sets, or about 1.16 million. The share is the percentage of the sets in use that are tuned in to a particular program.

So, on the average Sunday, nearly one quarter of the entire national audience was glued to the Fox broadcasts.

Fox said Wednesday it was its best NFL rating since 1995 and it marked the first time since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger that the NFC package had an increase in ratings in three straight years.

Bill Polian, fired Monday from his longtime position as the Indianapolis Colts' vice chairman, said he made one major mistake in his tenure - failing to provide an adequate backup to four-time MVP Peyton Manning. When the QB missed the season after neck surgery, the Colts went a dismal 2-14.

Chicago special-teams coordinator Dave Toub completed a two-day interview for the Miami Dolphins' vacant coaching job. Toub was an assistant for the Eagles from 2001 to '03. He has been with the Bears since 2004.

Indianapolis fired special teams coordinator Ray Rychleski after the Colts ranked last in the league in kickoff return average (18.6 yards) and punt return average (3.4).  

Jacksonville officially transferred ownership from Wayne Weaver to Shahid Khan. Weaver had owned the Jaguars since they entered the league in 1993.