On paper, no team’s offensive arsenal is as enviable as the Pittsburgh Steelers’. Running back Le’Veon Bell and receiver Antonio Brown are among the top two or three in their respective positions, and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger — he of the two Super Bowl titles — is still one of the best passers in the league, even at 34.
In the 11 games the trio took to the same field this season — Bell missed the first three games with suspension and Roethlisberger missed one start with injury — the Steelers are 8-3, including six straight wins to end the season (the Steelers also won in Week 17 while resting their starters against the hapless Cleveland Browns).
We saw the “three B’s” (Ben, Bell and Brown) in full form in Sunday’s AFC Wild Card win over the Miami Dolphins, a 30-12 rout that should put the rest of the play-off teams on notice.
The first two touchdowns were Brown specialities, a catch-and-run of 50 yards and a similar one of 64 yards, both in the first quarter to put the Steelers up by two scores early.
Miami managed a mere field goal in response, and Pittsburgh played conservatively from there, best exemplified by their third possession that saw Bell gut the Dolphins’ defence on seven straight called runs. The back-breaking drive was capped by a goal-line Bell touchdown.
Down 20-3, there was little that career-backup Matt Moore and the Dolphins could do to get back in it, and Pittsburgh cruised to the win. Brown finished with 124 yards receiving and both of Roethlisberger’s touchdowns, while Bell finished with 167 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Roethlisberger threw two inconsequential interceptions, but Miami could never capitalise.
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■ More: Seahawks, Texans fans should keep expectations in check
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It seems we forgot a bit about the Steelers this year. Early in the season they suffered a four-game losing streak that threatened to put them out of contention. In what would have been their most high-profile match-up, against the New England Patriots in Week 7, Roethlisberger sat out injured. The 21-16 loss might have ended differently if he had played and we might not be looking at the Patriots as the unstoppable juggernaut that makes the rest of the AFC cower.
We might yet get the chance to see a full-strength Steelers-Patriots battle, as each are one win away from the AFC title game. Pittsburgh still need to win at the Kansas City Chiefs next week, but in Week 4 the Steelers throttled the Chiefs 43-14. That was Bell’s first game of the year, and the first time the Ben-Bell-Brown trio played together.
No one needs to remind Kansas City of what Miami saw this Sunday — at full strength, no offence in the AFC is as fearsome as Pittsburgh’s.
Still running the table
The New York Giants won 11 games this season mostly on the back of their defence (which Football Outsiders ranked as the NFL's second best in DVOA). That combined with the expected subfreezing temperatures at Lambeau Field were supposed to provide the formula that could possibly slow down Aaron Rodgers and the red-hot Green Bay Packers.
Things did not work out that way.
The Packers cruised to a 38-13 win, the seventh in a row since Rodgers's now-famous "run the table" remark.
Green Bay are looking a lot like the same side that ran roughshod through the NFC play-offs and Super Bowl in 2011. That Rodgers-led team won in the second round against a surprising, 13-3 Atlanta Falcons team that came out of nowhere to clinch the top seed in the NFC.
Next up for the Packers? The second round against a surprising, 13-3 Dallas Cowboys team that came out of nowhere to clinch the top seed in the NFC.
History is looking awfully familiar right now.
What now?
Their seasons may have ended in blowout losses, but both the Dolphins and Giants exceeded expectations this year. Each made the play-offs with first-year head coaches, which is a nice sign for the future.
Miami may have found a gem in head coach Adam Gase, who completely turned the team around after a 1-4 start to finish 10-6 and clinch a play-off berth by Week 16. Gase’s biggest accomplishment was how he made Ryan Tannehill into a viable NFL quarterback, right as the fifth-year starter was starting to look like a lost cause. If the Dolphins had been able to field Tannehill instead of Moore against the Steelers on Sunday, the game might not have looked so ugly.
If the Dolphins can shore up the defence and continue strides made on offence, they can continue to compete in an AFC East long dominated by the Patriots.
As for the Giants, they need to turn their offence around the same way they did their defence. Ben McAdoo did a great job keeping a familiar unit playing cohesively after the firing of longtime coach Tom Coughlin, and did just as well making sure the defence’s bevy of free-agent signings played up to their new contracts.
But quarterback Eli Manning is now 35, and has looked like he is very near the end. He and his two Super Bowl titles have earned the benefit of the doubt, but it is tough to see New York fans putting up with another interception-filled year of mediocre quarterback play.
He needs some help, though. Adding skill-position players to complement Odell Beckham Jr — who was a non-factor against Green Bay — would be a nice start.
Manning deserves one more go-around, but he cannot do it alone.
kjeffers@thenational.ae
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
How it works
Booklava works on a subscription model. On signing up you receive a free book as part of a 30-day-trial period, after which you pay US$9.99 (Dh36.70) per month to gain access to a library of books and discounts of up to 30 per cent on selected titles. You can cancel your subscription at any time. For more details go to www.booklava.com
'The Predator'
Dir: Shane Black
Starring: Olivia Munn, Boyd Holbrook, Keegan-Michael Key
Two and a half stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
RESULT
Manchester City 5 Swansea City 0
Man City: D Silva (12'), Sterling (16'), De Bruyne (54' ), B Silva (64' minutes), Jesus (88')
Start-up hopes to end Japan's love affair with cash
Across most of Asia, people pay for taxi rides, restaurant meals and merchandise with smartphone-readable barcodes — except in Japan, where cash still rules. Now, as the country’s biggest web companies race to dominate the payments market, one Tokyo-based startup says it has a fighting chance to win with its QR app.
Origami had a head start when it introduced a QR-code payment service in late 2015 and has since signed up fast-food chain KFC, Tokyo’s largest cab company Nihon Kotsu and convenience store operator Lawson. The company raised $66 million in September to expand nationwide and plans to more than double its staff of about 100 employees, says founder Yoshiki Yasui.
Origami is betting that stores, which until now relied on direct mail and email newsletters, will pay for the ability to reach customers on their smartphones. For example, a hair salon using Origami’s payment app would be able to send a message to past customers with a coupon for their next haircut.
Quick Response codes, the dotted squares that can be read by smartphone cameras, were invented in the 1990s by a unit of Toyota Motor to track automotive parts. But when the Japanese pioneered digital payments almost two decades ago with contactless cards for train fares, they chose the so-called near-field communications technology. The high cost of rolling out NFC payments, convenient ATMs and a culture where lost wallets are often returned have all been cited as reasons why cash remains king in the archipelago. In China, however, QR codes dominate.
Cashless payments, which includes credit cards, accounted for just 20 per cent of total consumer spending in Japan during 2016, compared with 60 per cent in China and 89 per cent in South Korea, according to a report by the Bank of Japan.
Liverpool 4-1 Shrewsbury
Liverpool
Gordon (34'), Fabinho (44' pen, 90' 3), Firmino (78')
Shrewsbury
Udoh (27'minutes)
Man of the Match: Kaide Gordon (Liverpool)
Squad for first two ODIs
Kohli (c), Rohit, Dhawan, Rayudu, Pandey, Dhoni (wk), Pant, Jadeja, Chahal, Kuldeep, Khaleel, Shami, Thakur, Rahul.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The 10 Questions
- Is there a God?
- How did it all begin?
- What is inside a black hole?
- Can we predict the future?
- Is time travel possible?
- Will we survive on Earth?
- Is there other intelligent life in the universe?
- Should we colonise space?
- Will artificial intelligence outsmart us?
- How do we shape the future?
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Four-day collections of TOH
Day Indian Rs (Dh)
Thursday 500.75 million (25.23m)
Friday 280.25m (14.12m)
Saturday 220.75m (11.21m)
Sunday 170.25m (8.58m)
Total 1.19bn (59.15m)
(Figures in millions, approximate)
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 3 (Silva 8' &15, Foden 33')
Birmginahm City 0
Man of the match Bernado Silva (Manchester City)
The five types of long-term residential visas
Obed Suhail of ServiceMarket, an online home services marketplace, outlines the five types of long-term residential visas:
Investors:
A 10-year residency visa can be obtained by investors who invest Dh10 million, out of which 60 per cent should not be in real estate. It can be a public investment through a deposit or in a business. Those who invest Dh5 million or more in property are eligible for a five-year residency visa. The invested amount should be completely owned by the investors, not loaned, and retained for at least three years.
Entrepreneurs:
A five-year multiple entry visa is available to entrepreneurs with a previous project worth Dh0.5m or those with the approval of an accredited business incubator in the UAE.
Specialists
Expats with specialised talents, including doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, and creative individuals working in the field of culture and art are eligible for a 10-year visa, given that they have a valid employment contract in one of these fields in the country.
Outstanding students:
A five-year visa will be granted to outstanding students who have a grade of 95 per cent or higher in a secondary school, or those who graduate with a GPA of 3.75 from a university.
Retirees:
Expats who are at least 55 years old can obtain a five-year retirement visa if they invest Dh2m in property, have savings of Dh1m or more, or have a monthly income of at least Dh20,000.
((Disclaimer))
The Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG (“Bank”) assumes no liability or guarantee for the accuracy, balance, or completeness of the information in this publication. The content may change at any time due to given circumstances, and the Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG is under no obligation to update information once it has been published. This publication is intended for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer, a recommendation or an invitation by, or on behalf of, Liechtensteinische Landesbank (DIFC Branch), Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG, or any of its group affiliates to make any investments or obtain services. This publication has not been reviewed, disapproved or approved by the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”) Central Bank, Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”) or any other relevant licensing authorities in the UAE. It may not be relied upon by or distributed to retail clients. Liechtensteinische Landesbank (DIFC Branch) is regulated by the DFSA and this advertorial is intended for Professional Clients (as defined by the DFSA) who have sufficient financial experience and understanding of financial markets, products or transactions and any associated risks.
Saturday's schedule at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 race, 12:30pm
Formula 1 final practice, 2pm
Formula 1 qualifying, 5pm
Formula 2 race, 6:40pm
Performance: Sam Smith
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final
Kashima Antlers 3 (Nagaki 49’, Serginho 69’, Abe 84’)
Guadalajara 2 (Zaldivar 03’, Pulido 90')
Six pitfalls to avoid when trading company stocks
Following fashion
Investing is cyclical, buying last year's winners often means holding this year's losers.
Losing your balance
You end up with too much exposure to an individual company or sector that has taken your fancy.
Being over active
If you chop and change your portfolio too often, dealing charges will eat up your gains.
Running your losers
Investors hate admitting mistakes and hold onto bad stocks hoping they will come good.
Selling in a panic
If you sell up when the market drops, you have locked yourself out of the recovery.
Timing the market
Even the best investor in the world cannot consistently call market movements.
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
