Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers preview: defensive battle shapes up
The Baltimore Ravens take their high octane defence into Pittsburgh and put the Steelers' perfect record to the test. The Steelers are looking to go 4-0 without the services of their starting quarterback,
Ben Roethlisberger, and the Ravens will be determined not to let that happen in a crucial AFC North Division match up.
How they match up
This is pegged as the battle between two defences. Over the last decade the Ravens have become synonymous with the concept of great defence putting up incredible numbers year after year. It's been their
formula for success ever since they won the Super Bowl in 2000. Then, as now, the inspirational leader of their defence has been their outspoken, and hard hitting, middle linebacker Ray Lewis who, now in his fifteenth season, is still a force on defence and
a shoe-in for the hall of fame.
The Steelers, once known for their "Steel Curtain", have the reputation for playing great defence as well, and has been one of the major reasons why they have won more Super Bowls than any other franchise
with six, including as recently as 2008 and 2005. So far this season no team has surrendered fewer points than the Steelers ,who have only given up 33 points and are led by their flashy defensive back Troy Polamalu. The Ravens are fourth on that list with
a mere 41 points and have conceded fewer total yards on defence than any other team.
Given how the teams lineup on defence, this game could well come down to which side's offence can come up with the better game plan designed to break down the other's defence. Amazingly, being without
their starting quarterback Roethlisberger, suspended for the first four games of the season, has not stopped the Steelers from winning football games.
They began the season with youngster Dennis Dixon, but have since deferred the duties under center to veteran Charlie Batch who is also expected to get the start on Sunday. The Steelers ground game holds
the current edge over the Ravens, but Ray Rice, who was one of only two running backs with over 2000 total yards from scrimmage (Tennessee Titans' Chris Johnson being the other) last year, is still a major threat running the football - though he may not be
in the lineup due to a knee injury. There has also been a shift in the Ravens' offensive system where third-year quarterback Joe Flacco now not only has Derrick Mason and Todd Heap to throw to, but has Anquan Boldin and T.J Houshmandzadeh as well.
Despite their 15-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in week two the Ravens are still the best all-around team in the AFC North, if not the entire NFL.
What to expect
It's never easy to walk into Heinz field and come away with a win, but if the Ravens hope to prove to the rest of the AFC that they are contenders they will have to do just that. It's going to be hard
for each to team to move the football with a low scoring affair likely to be in the cards. The Ravens just have a few extra weapons to work with and if they can eke out a few first downs courtesy of their possession receivers, they will win the battle for
field position which will likely decide the game.
Ravens win 17-13.
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