A true rivalry in any sport, especially between two successful NFL franchises, should be characterized by intense, close games. They battle deep into the fourth quarter, where one play, one decision, one missed tackle can tip the scales. Two of the game’s greatest rivals in the modern era will meet Sunday afternoon at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh when the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens (3-3) visit the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-4).
Exactly just how close has this matchup been in recent years? Since 2003, the series is tied 11-11, and it is tied 9-9 since 2005. In those last 18, 14 were decided by nine points or less. More recently, the Ravens have won five of the last nine games since Pittsburgh won the AFC Championship against them on January 18, 2009. The Steelers, of course, went on to win Super Bowl XLIII, leaving a bad taste in the mouths of the Ravens. Now, several years later, the bad taste is in the mouths of the Steelers, who sat home last season watching the Ravens march through the playoffs to a victory in Super Bowl XLVII.
Seven of the last nine Steelers-Ravens clashes have been decided by just three points, with the Ravens taking four of those. A turnover, an ill-timed penalty, or failure to wrap up a tackle in the open field may end up being the difference Sunday. The Steelers will attempt to build on last week’s win at New York and claw their way back into contention for the AFC North, while the Ravens seek to bounce back from a 19-17 loss at home to Green Bay. Baltimore has followed each of its other two losses this season with a victory.
The Ravens are led again by QB Joe Flacco, though his performance has often not been close to the level he was playing at last winter during the Ravens run to the Super Bowl. He has completed just 58 percent of his passes and has thrown one more interception (8) than touchdowns (7). Baltimore’s top two running backs, Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce, have 71 and 73 carries, respectively, and they have each averaged only 2.8 yards per carry. Torrey Smith is the team’s top receiver with 28 receptions for 568 yards, but just one touchdown. Rookie Marlon Brown is the only Ravens receiver with multiple trips to the end zone. Defensively, Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers will prepare to play against a unit lacking the likes of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed for the first time in years. However, Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata, and a new young corps of grit and talent continue to pose a formidable challenge for offenses.
Veteran Ravens WR Brandon Stokley (thigh) is doubtful for Sunday’s game, LB Jameel McClain (back) is out, and CB Lardarius Webb (thigh) was questionable as of Friday afternoon. For the Steelers, rookie LB Jarvis Jones is questionable with a possible concussion. Also at LB, LaMarr Woodley was questionable earlier this week, but is now listed as probable and expected to play. The Steelers will also be without tackle Levi Brown, acquired during the bye week via trade, for the rest of the season after he tore his biceps in pregame warm-ups prior to the game against the Jets.
This matchup will feature two teams that attack often through the air, two struggling ground games (Baltimore ranks 27th in the NFL, Pittsburgh ranks 31st). The difference could be in proficiency against the pass, where Pittsburgh ranks 4th, but Baltimore only ranks 18th. That ranking could be skewed, though, by the astronomical numbers Denver QB Peyton Manning put up against the Ravens in Week One. They were somewhat successful in holding Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense in last week’s loss, allowing just one passing touchdown despite 315 yards allowed through the air.
To get back toward respectability and, more importantly, contention within the division, the Steelers need to win the turnover battle for a second straight week. Tomlin must continue to preach discipline, as the Steelers are the fourth least-penalized team in the NFL and will need to stay out of trouble against a quality opponent. Finally, and perhaps most key, any sign of a running game for the Steelers could help to open up the passing game against a defense that has been victimized at times this season. If Pittsburgh can channel whatever it was that Charlie Batch had going for him last season in Baltimore while replacing an injured Roethlisberger, they may just be able to pull off this much-needed victory against their hated rival.
