NFL Preview: Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Arch rivals face each other Sunday night when Pittsburgh Steelers take to the road to face Baltimore Ravens. The division rivals are fighting for the top spot in AFC North. The two teams are tied with a record of 8-3. Both have three match ups with team
that have less than .5 win percentage. The NFC North title comes down to three games. Pittsburgh Steelers VS New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens VS New Orleans Saints and this Sunday’s game.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. “This is a game that we gotta have,” Ravens' wide receiver Derrick Mason said. “and Pittsburgh's thinking the same thing.”
The two sides have clashed once before in this season. In week 4, Ravens defeated Steelers 17-14. But that was while Ben Roethlisberger was still serving a four game suspension. Now, Pittsburgh's starting quarterback is leading the Steelers and things would
be different. Roethlisberger had limited participation in practice due to a foot injury but is expected to start for the Steelers this Sunday. “We have our quarterback back and usually we have a lot of success when Ben starts against Baltimore,” wide receiver
Hines Ward said.
Roethlisberger isn’t the only star who missed the first Baltimore VS Ravens game of the season. Baltimore’s safety Ed Reed had to miss the first game but he would be back this Sunday. “Well, I guess we knew that Ben would be back, too. So maybe it evened
out,” Ravens’ coach John Harbaugh said. Roethlisberger too has a lot of respect for Reed. He said that Reed was one of the best players he had played against. “His instincts are just uncanny, it's unbelievable.”
Steelers’ defence, one of the strongest in the league, has come under the spotlight. The NFL levying a fine on Pittsburgh’s James Harrison almost feels like a weekly ritual. But that does not mean that the game is going to be any less than physical. “This
is definitely, hands down, the most physical game in the National Football League,” Suggs said. Suggs said that the two teams don’t like each other but have respect for each other. The sack-happy Suggs is looking forward to seeing Roethlisberger on the field.
Roethlisberger is not quite as enthusiastic. “You always have to have your head on a swivel when he's coming,” the quarterback said. Baltimore Coach Harbaugh admitted that Ravens did not have as many sacks in their previous game as they wanted to but Suggs
had still proved himself and put pressure on the offense.
The two sides are evenly matched. Statistically, Steelers have the slight upper hand. Their defence has allowed 16.5 points per game on average whereas Ravens have conceded 17.1 points. Steelers have the best defence against the rush. But Ravens have a few
tricks up their sleeves. The last time any running back rushed over a hundred yards in a game was last year when Steelers went up against Ravens. Baltimore’s running back Ray Rice rushed a whooping 141 yards. This Sunday, Rice would be a serious concern for
Pittsburgh’s defence. He has rushed over 800 yards this season and scored three touchdowns for Baltimore.
They will try to put pressure on Ravens’ quarterback Joe Flacco. Pittsburgh’s James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley share sixteen and half sacks between themselves. Ravens’ tackles Marshal Yanda and Michael Oher would have to be at their best to keep Flacco
protected and allow him the time he needs to connect with his receivers. The quarterback has a horrendous record against Steelers. In the past 6 games, Flacco has won only two games against Pittsburgh. Those two victories came when Roethlisberger was not playing.
But, this is a home game for Baltimore. Flacco has thrown 10 touchdown passes at home with just one interception. If the offensive line can hold it together, Flacco could make the difference this Sunday. Without an impressive offense, they have little chance
of success. Steelers are the favourites for this Sunday, though it all comes down to the offense.
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