The Patriots continue to draw big TV ratings.

On Sunday, they faced the Steelers, considered a team that could derail their march toward an undefeated record. The 4:15 ET game on CBS — which was Pittsburgh-New England in most of the country — earned an 18.4 overnight rating and a 33 share in the nation’s 55 largest markets.

The comparable time slot at this time last year on CBS received a 13.7.

The rating is the percentage of all homes with televisions watching the game, while the share is the percentage of TVs in use at the time that are tuned in to it. National ratings are expected Tuesday.

The three games that have earned the highest overnight ratings this season all involved the Patriots: a win over the Indianapolis Colts drew a 22.5, and a victory over the Dallas Cowboys received an 18.5, all on CBS.

Panthers: The quarterback looked like the 44-year-old that he is. The running back fumbled again. The star receiver again couldn’t get involved.

While the offense has been downright offensive since Jake Delhomme was lost for the season, Sunday’s 37-6 loss to Jacksonville set new highs for Carolina ineptitude.

With Vinny Testaverde missing open receivers and having an interception returned for a touchdown, DeShaun Foster losing his fifth fumble and Steve Smith mostly a non-factor, the Panthers (5-8) virtually ended their already-slim playoff hopes.

And it left embattled coach John Fox with a decision to make at quarterback. With high-priced David Carr so far down the depth chart he’s out of the equation, does Fox stick with Testaverde or go with rookie Matt Moore for the final three games

For Fox, it’s deciding between the second-oldest starting QB in NFL history with a 65.8 passer rating, and an undrafted rookie, signed in September, with a 21.1 rating.

“We weren’t as consistent throwing the ball as we needed to be,” Fox said. “When we have been, we’ve been in games. When we haven’t been, we’ve not.”

49ers: Quarterback Trent Dilfer is unlikely to play against Cincinnati on Saturday after incurring a concussion.

Dilfer, the 14th-year pro running the 49ers’ offense while Alex Smith sits out with an injured shoulder, was taken to a hospital after a hard hit from Minnesota’s Charles Gordon shortly before halftime Sunday in the Vikings’ 27-7 victory.

Dilfer was released from the hospital later in the day, but coach Mike Nolan declared him doubtful for the Bengals.

Shaun Hill is likely to start for San Francisco (3-10), but Nolan also hopes to sign a veteran quarterback. Practice squad member Drew Olson, who joined the team just two weeks ago, is the only other quarterback on the roster.

Hill, a six-year veteran backup who had never thrown a pass before Sunday, went 22-of-28 for 181 yards against Minnesota, leading a touchdown drive despite playing with a bandage on the index finger of his throwing hand.

“He’s very much like Trent,” Nolan said of Hill. “It’s pretty similar. We didn’t have to get out of our game plan yesterday in any way.”

Nolan still insists the 49ers haven’t decided whether Smith will undergo surgery on his shoulder, keeping him out for the season.

“If Alex was cleared to play, I’d say he would be helpful,” Nolan said. “He could help you win.”

Texans: Here’s something new: Vince Young and Reggie Bush criticized, while Mario Williams flies happily under the radar.

The almost universally panned top pick in 2006 has shaken off a rookie year marked by a painful foot ailment, constant criticism and disappointing statistics to quietly emerge as a force on Houston’s young defense this season.

Last year, many declared Houston’s decision to draft Williams a huge mistake and believed the team would be better off with Bush or Young, who were drafted second and third. Now, while people complain about Young’s touchdown to interception ratio (7 to 16) and Bush’s questionable on field decision-making and lack of big plays, Williams is evading critics with increasingly solid performances.

“I’m just playing,” Williams said. “I’m just more comfortable. It’s getting later on in the year and just settling down finally.”

Williams was strong early, but has been better than ever in the four games since Houston’s bye. He had a sack in Sunday’s win over Tampa Bay; his fourth straight game with at least one sack tied a team record.

He also has 46 tackles and has forced two fumbles, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

He’s had 51⁄2 sacks in the last four games to push his season total to 91⁄2, a single-season team record and fourth in the AFC.

Williams isn’t sure what has been the difference since the bye.

“I feel like I’m doing pretty much the same thing,” he said. “I can honestly say that after our break I felt a lot more rejuvenated ... I’ve just been feeling fresh and been able to go 100 percent the whole game.”

Titans: Quarterback Vince Young had sore ribs Monday following his collision with San Diego linebacker Shawne Merriman that may limit him in practice. Coach Jeff Fisher said the injury should not keep him out of Sunday’s game with Kansas City.

Young had just handed off to Chris Brown and turned away Sunday, finishing off a fake, when he collided with Merriman and went to the ground. He was tended to by trainers and a team doctor and left for a play, returning on the next series and finishing the game.

Fisher said he didn’t believe there was any malice on Merriman’s part, who was being partially blocked upfield.

“Vince didn’t expect it. He was carrying out his fake and looking back. That’s the last time you expect to have a collision. I think it shocked (him) and took the wind. But he’s got some minor rib issues that we’ll deal with,” Fisher said.

Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth’s right hamstring, which kept him out of three games, was much better Monday than a week ago, according to the coach.

Left guard Jacob Bell had a burner from the neck to the arm. Fisher said he was much better Monday. Bell’s replacement, Eugene Amano, had a mild knee sprain.

Browns: “Playoffs” Browns coach Romeo Crennel said, playfully mimicking Jim Mora’s infamous rant without the high-pitched whine or razor-edged sarcasm. “Playoffs I don’t know anything about playoffs.”

Might be time to start brushing up, coach.

With three games left, the never-do-it-the-easy way Browns (8-5), who had to survive three onside kicks in the final three minutes before holding off the New York Jets 24-18 on Sunday, control their playoff fate.

Hang on. Playoff fate The Browns C’mon.

No kidding. As the snow starts falling, it’s beginning to look a lot like the playoffs in Cleveland.

And Crennel, who began this season with his job in serious jeopardy, is having a hard time grasping the concept.

“We play the Buffalo Bills on Sunday and we have to improve in order to be ready for Buffalo,” Crennel said, again stiff-arming the playoff talk. “That’s our focus. That’s been the focus all year, to try and get ready for the next game.

“We’re not the New England Patriots. We know that we can improve and we have been working every week trying to improve. Sometimes, that improvement is more evident than other times. If we keep working, then we give ourselves the best chance. That’s what we’re going to do.”

Crennel’s coolness on the subject aside, there’s a very real possibility the Browns could be ticketed for the postseason by this time next week. Cleveland, which currently holds a one-game lead for the AFC’s second wild-card berth, can lock up a playoff spot with a win over the Bills (7-6) combined with a loss by Tennessee (7-6) at Kansas City and a loss or tie by Denver (6-7), which visits Houston on Thursday.

With their final two games against Cincinnati (5-8) and San Francisco (3-10), it’s conceivable the Browns could run the table, finish 11-5, and not need to rely on others to get them in.

Cardinals:Coach Ken Whisenhunt was asked how much time he spends puzzling over the NFC wild-card picture.

“None at this point,” Whisenhunt said on Monday. “I know this: If we don’t win this week, we don’t have a chance.”

The Cardinals’ upcoming trip to New Orleans became a must-win after their 42-21 wipeout at Seattle on Sunday. The Cardinals (6-7) did not look as if they belonged in any playoff discussion on a day they committed five turnovers and seven penalties and gave up five sacks.

They are a game behind Minnesota for the NFC’s second wild-card berth, and they likely need to sweep their final three games — at New Orleans and against NFC bottom-feeders Atlanta and St. Louis — to have a shot at reaching the postseason for the second time since they moved to the desert in 1988.