Ravens' Schedule Released, Games to Look Forward To

Okay, so it is April, and from now until at least the late-July swoon we will likely have our focus on the Orioles season, which has had unexpected drama and excitement. Until that time, we will have little Ravens’ reporting to do. Sure, there will be the NFL Draft next week, and even minicamps after that, but overall we will have to survive on the Orioles for the next few months. Today, however, we have been given a wonderful taste of the 2009 football season in the release of the Ravens schedule. Any analyst will tell you that trying to predict a record based on the schedule is a complete guess, but that won’t stop us from trying to find the best games of the bunch. Among them:

September 20th, at San Diego: The first Ravens’ cross-country trip of the season has them flying to the Qualcomm to face the AFC West Champion Chargers (sure they finished 8-8, but that doesn’t sound nearly as intriguing). This will be the first major test for the new Ravens’ defense, particularly up front in stopping LaDainian Tomlinson and the big-play ability of Darren Sproles. However, a bigger story might take place on the other side of the ball, where a rejuvenated Shawne Merriman will be matched on Jared Gaither. Despite his improvement last season, Gaither will need to be at the top of his game to keep Joe Flacco on his feet.

October 5th, at New England: Tom Brady should be fully recovered and have gotten back in rhythm with his receivers by this point, making this a huge test for a reassembled Ravens’ secondary. Not withstanding any additions in the draft, the Ravens should have two different starting cornerbacks (assuming Rolle is moved to nickelback) from the start of last season and have Dawan Landry back after missing 13 games last season. Teams have had success with a precision passing attack against the Ravens, and the last time these teams met in New England the Kyle Boller-led squad was thrashed 24-3 in 2004. Two years ago, a questionably called contest had the Ravens fall away late, the biggest test during the regular season for the team that went 18-0 before falling in the Super Bowl.

November 22nd, vs. Indianapolis: I don’t need to remind Ravens fans how the last few meetings between these teams have went. The Ravens have been completely stymied offensively in both the 15-6 Divisional Playoff loss in the 2006 season and the 31-3 blowout last season in Indy. This year Baltimore won’t have to contend with an exhausted Steve McNair or a wide-eyed and overmatched Joe Flacco. Likewise, the Ravens should be deeper at cornerback to counter the numerous pass-catching threats Indy can throw at the defense. Will the Colts continue to dominate the Ravens? This will be a critical late-season AFC game that could have major implications on the playoff picture.

December 27th, at Pittsburgh: This game will be taking place a little over a month after the first meeting between these two teams, and could decide the AFC North Champion. The Steelers swept three games against the Ravens last season, and Baltimore will have to learn to beat their biggest rival if they want to take hold of this division. The reigning Super Bowl Champ is incredible at home, particularly when taking on the equally physical play of Baltimore. This game could come down to which team has more energy and will to take over after a long and exhausting season for two hard-nosed clubs.

Free Kicks

With those burdening previews and ensuing vacation out of the way, Free Kicks is back! So far I have wavered on whether to make Free Kicks all about national issues or whether to keep the focus on the Maryland area sports world, but I think I will keep it focusing on whatever strikes my interest that week, Maryland or not. I know some of you might be expecting a brief Super Bowl preview, but I couldn’t possibly put one together- for one, I am not nearly unbiased enough to write one fairly. I want Kurt Warner to win so badly, and I just hate the Steelers. Either way, let’s line up for the kick…

King of the Hill
I love the idea of the Orioles going after the Cubs’ Rich Hill, especially if they can get him for a “player to be named later”. This is a win-win. If he succeeds, the O’s may give up a mid-level prospect but they get a solid starting pitcher in return, which as we know the Orioles desperately need. If he flames out, they dish out some cash to the Cubs and say “so long” to the enigmatic right hander. This team cannot have too many potential starters- as we saw last year, the bare minimum won’t cut it. Anyone concerned about the young pitchers not getting a chance should take a look at the number of starters who went down or just plain stunk last season. I don’t want to hand the ball off to Radhames Liz unless I have to- no harm intended, but the man just isn’t ready yet. I would rather trade or waive a veteran pitcher in July or August to make room for a young starter who is burning through the minors than bring up a young guy in May because we have to. Rich Hill could be a long-term answer for this rotation. Or he could stink. Either way, it is a low-risk, high-reward move by an increasingly active front office.

Stand by Me
I am having trouble with this Gary Williams situation. For one, I simply cannot take the side of the athletic department- by nature, they are beancounters, concerned with how much it would cost to replace Williams more than whether he is a good coach. Secondly, it isn’t as though Gary is a new man than he was 20 years ago. Sure, perhaps he is a bit more grumpy than he was when he was winning titles, but he is still the same man. This conflict erupted when Kathy Worthington emailed the papers to challenge what Williams had said to the press. Yes, what Gary said was wrong- but as Head Coach, it isn’t his job to always be politically correct or watch out for his boss. Ms. Worthington was downright unprofessional when she chose to go over Coach Williams’ head to criticize him. Her statements were not made in the heat of a devastating loss; she sat down and had time to think it through. Have Williams’ teams been competitive over the last few years? Not particularly, but I have a tough time forcing him out, even after this season.

It reminds me quite a bit of Lloyd Carr, the former head football coach at Michigan. He had lost 5 straight times to Ohio State, hadn’t won a bowl game in years, and had just lost to Appalachian State (I’m sure you remember that part). The fans were tired of him, and they wanted his head. No mention of how he was a beloved coach who traced his roots to the glory days of Michigan football under Bo Schembechler, and no mention of his National Championship from 1997. When he was criticized for being “behind the times” or being “too old school for today’s recruits”, the athletic department stood by him. That way, when he did leave at the end of that season, he left with dignity and respect, honored by the fans and the school that booed him during the blowout loss to Oregon. If Gary leaves after this season, more eyes will be on Kathy Worthington and Debbie Yow than Coach Williams, and suspicion will reign. That is not the way he deserves to go.

Obligatory Super Bowl Thoughts
Okay, so I talked to Windsor and apparently I should say something about the Super Bowl beyond who I am rooting for. This looks to be a relatively high scoring game in my opinion, as the Steelers will be able to put up 24 or more against the Cardinals defense. Their defense hasn’t done a great job of pressuring the quarterback without a significant blitz, and Pittsburgh is just too creative not to have ideas of how to score on them- the Cards D has come through great in the postseason, but I still don’t buy it. The key in this game will be whether the Cardinals can keep a threat of a running game going- they had just enough against the Eagles and Panthers, but the Steelers are whole other story. I don’t think they will give James and Hightower any room to operate, and it will fall on the offensive line to protect Warner enough to let him find Steve Breaston in the slot- mark my words, Breaston is the wild card in this game. Fitzgerald will be doubled, and they will have tight coverage on Boldin as well. Breaston will be one-on-one and have to make plays against the linebackers they will foolishly line him up against. I believe this game will end with a combined score in the 50’s. Who will win? I want to say Cardinals, but this is the perfect moment for the Steelers to crush the nation’s collective Cinderella story.

The nod goes to the Steelers, 31-27

Playoff Report Card: Steelers 23, Ravens 14

The word of the game is... ugly. Even for the victors, this game was flat-out ugly. Players on both sides went down with injury and most simply played through the pain. Neither offense got much in rhythm (with the Ravens never getting in rhythm at all), and defenses ruled the day.

It was by far Joe Flacco’s worst game as a professional in my opinion, but he wasn’t alone. The lack of a true deep threat showed itself most clearly in this game, and the Ravens’ inability to beat single coverage deep and take advantage of Flacco’s big arm was a key determinant in the offense never getting started. The gadgetry and creativity of the resurgent Ravens offense during the regular season was nowhere to be found, and it felt like the Billick years all over again.

If nothing else comes out of this game, at least it has been recognized by the football community at large that the Ravens-Steelers rivalry is at or near the top in the NFL. The Steelers beat us up and beat us up badly this year, and hopefully that will help fuel the flame to return the favor next year.

Offense - Overall Grade: D-
Quarterbacks: D-
Flacco looked overwhelmed and confused for large stretches of the game. He had difficulty going through his progression and looked like a rookie for one of the few times this season. He threw three interceptions, one of which returned for a touchdown to seal the game. This grade isn’t all on him however; the coaches did a terrible job of giving him manageable throws to get into a rhythm. Flacco needs a true deep threat for this offense to be effective, and I’ll be repeating this ad nauseam until one is acquired in the offseason.
Running Backs: C+
Actually if you really look at how he ran, Willis McGahee ran pretty well when given the opportunity. The Ravens would have been far better served to let him carry more of the load early in the game, and mix in Ray Rice more than they did. Le’Ron McClain was hurt, so there can be no expectation that he run up to his usual standard.
Wide Receivers: D-
They couldn’t get open consistently, and couldn’t make plays for their young quarterback. Joe Flacco needed some help, and didn’t get much. The dropped passes early in the game absolutely killed any chance for their quarterback getting into a rhythm.
Tight Ends: D
Todd Heap should have been more involved in the offense than he was, and that was one of many mistakes made by the offensive coaching staff. He made one big play late in the game but very little else.
Offensive Line: D
The run blocking was generally poor, and Joe Flacco made the pass protection look better than it really was. Jared Gaither was absolutely taken to school by James Harrison, and it resulted in a few very costly penalties. Success of the offense is built around the success of the line, and in this game they saw little success.

Defense - Overall Grade: B+
Defensive Line: B+
The running game was controlled, contrary to Willie Parker’s pregame comments expressing an expectation of a big game against the Baltimore defense. Haloti Ngata played a huge game (no pun intended), and for most of the game Ben Roethlisberger was kept in the pocket.
Linebackers: B+
The discipline and overall play of this unit went up as the game progressed. Willie Parker was a non-factor, and Roethlisberger was harried just enough to keep the offense off-balance. It was a good final game for the free agent trio of Ray Lewis, Bart Scott, and Terrell Suggs. And a quick note about Suggs: two sacks with one arm? He is the consummate warrior.
Defensive Backs: B-
Not as bad a game as most pundits thought it would be for this group. Frank Walker and Fabian Washington both played solid games, and Corey Ivy actually made a couple of positive plays for the defense. Yes, they were burned for a couple of very long completions, but other than that the performance was acceptable. Ed Reed being a non-factor was more a function of Ben throwing away from him than Ed doing anything wrong.

Special Teams - Overall Grade: B+
Kicker: C
Or more accurately, Stover gets an A, Hauschka gets an F. I don’t know if it was nerves or what, but Hauschka’s kickoffs were abysmal and were a large part in setting the field position game in favor of the Steelers from the very beginning of the game. Stover did all he was asked to do, so he shouldn’t have to be part of the bad grade.
Punter: B+
Sam Koch didn’t do anything spectacular to change field position, but he did his job consistently well and was called on far more often than any punter should. He didn’t slip up under pressure and that’s worth something in my book.
Returners: B+
Boy, it’s the AFC Championship game and the Ravens are still shuffling kick returners. Figurs is going to be in a dogfight to get his job back heading into next season. But you know who won’t? Jim Leonhard. His work yesterday (and for the last several weeks in fact) has been nothing short of game-changing, and it looks like he has more than secured a spot on this team next season, whatever the capacity.
Coverage: B-
Not terrible, but certainly not very good by any stretch of the imagination. They blocked well for Jim Leonhard, but had difficulty stopping Russell on the short kickoffs and nearly let Santonio Holmes go for a long punt return touchdown.

Coaching - Overall Grade: C+
Offensive: F
Absolutely terrible, terrible game plan and execution by Cam Cameron and his staff. The coaches never put Flacco in a position to get into a rhythm early in the game, never tried out the run early to build a foundation for their passing game, and didn’t use enough of the playbook. When this offense is successful, Cam Cameron is letting out all of the weapons at his disposal, most notably including Troy Smith in his single-wing formation. For some reason the playbook closed back up in this game, and Pittsburgh feasted on a vanilla Ravens attack. Trickery can work in big games, just ask the Steelers: they won a Super Bowl with it.
Defensive: A
Considering all of the circumstances, the Ravens defense was brilliant in this game. After a rough first quarter, the defense rallied to make the Steelers offense just as anemic as their Ravens counterparts. Kudos to Rex Ryan and his staff for an excellent game, and we wish all the best of luck to Rex in his new job.

And for my MVP/LVP...
MVP (Most Valuable Player) –Jim Leonhard– Leonhard was offense and defense for the Ravens, as he not only set up the first Ravens touchdown with a big punt return, he recovered a fumble and played solid defense throughout the game. A great day for the young safety from Wisconsin.
LVP (Least Valuable Player) –Jared Gaither– Gaither was overmatched by James Harrison, and in trying to compensate committed drive-killing penalties. Gaither has had a sensational year on the whole, but this was arguably his worst game.

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Ravens Season Reaches an Abrupt Finish

The Ravens just got finished off by the Steelers tonight, in a tough and hard-fought battle sealed by a late Polamalu interception for a touchdown. Don't tell me this doesn't hurt, and don't tell me that the silver lining is the most important thing. We have all offseason to try to be positive on this season. I'm not going to write on here that 'well, we should be happy with our season' and 'there will be brighter days ahead'. Let's paint this situation for what it is. It stinks, it hurts, and that hurt won't be lessened by forced positivism.

The fact is the city of Baltimore had their hopes pinned on this team, and now those hopes have been dashed by the Ravens' most hated rival. What do us Baltimoreans have to look to now Around the Harbor? Terps basketball. Lacrosse. The Orioles.

On a last remark, our thoughts and prayers here at Around the Harbor go out to Willis McGahee. He battled hard and was certainly NOT the reason the Ravens lost.

Postgame will go up sometime tomorrow. (sneak peek : Jared Gaither is LVP)

Ravens-Steelers Preview, Part 4: The Rundown

Well, the pundits are all right about one of their cliché’s, this will be like a heavyweight boxing match. Unfortunately, the Ravens have already fought for 8 rounds against a powerful opponent when a fresh-faced Steelers team steps into the ring. They are both tough and both talented, but the Ravens are exhausted. With the way the offense dominated time of possession, last week was all but a bye week for the Steelers defense, while the Ravens clung on to victory by the skin of their teeth in game that in retrospect they won because they got the right bounces.

If Baltimore goes to the Super Bowl, it will be because of their ability to overcome a couple key elements. One, their injuries and fatigue will not have to be a factor. The replacements on defense will have to play as though they were starters, and Le’Ron McClain and others will have to play as though they were not hurt. The Ravens will have to be able to tackle underneath and keep up with the deceptively fast Steelers receiving corps (not to mention a rejuvenated Willie Parker), and run inside to wear down the Steelers defense. Secondly, Joe Flacco will have to go out and win this game. So far he has been able to get by “not losing” games; this one he will have to win. Whether it is driving the ball down the field through the air or delivering that perfect pass for a 54 yard strike, the Ravens rookie will have to overcome his inexperience and not only avoid mistakes, but make plays.

However, I don’t know if this will happen. The Ravens have gotten by with bounces going their way, with a fumbles falling into their laps, with little fortuitous events that has kept this Cinderella season alive. I can’t see that happening in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are the team that dashes hopes, that get you to the brink of victory before snatching it away. This year, the Steelers have gotten all the bounces- be it against the Ravens, San Diego, Dallas, or any other opponent. When you break down the numbers, the Steelers are the clear favorite. They will play the Ravens close for the first quarter and a half or so, and then bust it out with a few big plays as the Ravens D starts to get fatigued. The Ravens offense will be forced out of their comfort zone and “Joe Cool” will make that mistake. He has had too much hype about him not making mistakes for it not to happen.

I want to say that the Ravens have a psychological advantage, but that will be muted by the rabid crowd of fans in Heinz Field. I want to say that the Ravens have all the intangibles to win this game, but the Steelers have the personnel. I want to say the Ravens are going to win today, but I can’t.

The nod goes to the Steelers, 27-13

As for my compatriots:
Windsor gives it to the Ravens, 20-14
Falco gives it to the Steelers, 17-10

Ravens-Steelers Preview, Part 3: Ravens Offense vs. Steelers Defense

Programming note: This is ATH's 250th post! Hoorah!

Much attention has been paid so far to the dominance of the Ravens’ defense during these playoffs, and it is much-deserved. Despite the yardage given up, they have only allowed 9.5 points per game in their two contests this season. While the Steelers weren’t quite so stingy last weekend, allowing 24 points on 3 Chargers passing touchdowns, this defense is still arguably the best in the NFL. Remember, this team has had almost the exact same schedule as the Ravens, yet their defense leads in all significant statistical categories over the Ravens. This may be partially aided by a better offense than the Ravens, but nevertheless it is impressive. They have not forced as many turnovers, but that is about it. It will take a very innovative attack to neutralize this pressure and allow Flacco the time he needs to deliver the deep balls that have become the staple of the Ravens scoring offense.

However, I do not like the over-reliance on the deep pass that Cam Cameron has instilled in his young quarterback. At the risk of being repetitive, it bothers me a great deal that Flacco has very few short routes to take advantage of on passing plays aside from a delayed dump-off to the running back for minimal gain. About midway through the season, Mark Clayton began hitting his stride and taking the short slants he was accustomed to catching to the house, burning secondaries along the way. Cameron took that and began to have Clayton go deep more often. Granted, this has been effective and has allowed the Ravens to get some big plays, but it has also made them unable to convert critical first downs. When the shortest route is a 15 yard out pattern to the sideline by Mason, that leaves the quarterback in the pocket for far too long and forces him to throw it away. Even Todd Heap is being used on deep routes over the middle of the field- he is good at it, but it is overworked to the point of taking away the types of throws that keep drives alive. As a result, the Ravens have gotten away somewhat from their ball-control offense and have limited their passing game to the point of predictability.

As anyone who watched the Dolphins and Titans game can attest to, the short passing game can complement a running attack that goes south to the point of extending time of possession and getting key first downs. Sometimes, on 3rd and 5 it is okay to run a 7 yard route. Unfortunately for the Ravens, Cameron has been calling 15 or 20 yard routes on those plays and exposing his quarterback to undue pressure. Some would counter that by citing Flacco’s relative inaccuracy with the football on shorter routes as the reason why Cameron has stuck with the deep throws he can make. Flacco’s problem is that he throws it too high on short routes, he puts a little too much on it and lays his receivers out. This is not too much that it should be taken out of the playbook. The Steelers defense will be watching the deep routes, and Troy Palomalu will be looking for an interception. Throwing in some short slants or out routes will play keep-away with the better DBs on the Steelers and extend time of possession for the Ravens. The Ravens won’t get past this contest with 9 first downs like they did against the Titans.

Keeping the Steelers defense on the field will be critical. As has been generously documented, the Ravens D is exhausted and if it is put in a normal contest between these two teams, they will break first. That is no slight to Baltimore, but they have fewer bodies to go around and have been playing for 18 straight weeks. Moreover, with Le’Ron McClain banged up and Willis McGahee struggling this season, the Ravens will need another option to come through big, possibly in the form of a rejuvenated Ray Rice. Rice has not played since Week 14 against the Redskins, and apparently could have carried the football for the last two weeks but the coaching staff elected not to. Prior to the Steelers taking the football and not giving it back to the Chargers, Darren Sproles had a surprising level of success against the Steelers through the air, with 5 catches for 91 yards and a touchdown. However, on the ground the entire Chargers team only managed 15 yards on 12 carries. The Ravens must establish a presence in the middle of that Steelers defensive line, and if Le’Ron McClain is not 100% that will be incredibly difficult. Assuming he can run with his normal level of power, he should be able to duplicate his success from the last time these two teams met, when he ran for 87 yards on 23 carries. After he establishes himself with a couple solid runs, the Ravens would be wise to swing Rice out or run a screen to draw the defense in and spread them out. Pittsburgh will be putting 8 in the box and daring Joe Flacco to throw. That doesn’t mean he has to throw deep or has to do anything miraculous. Sometimes the easy throw is the right one. If Rice is successful on one or two screen passes, the defense will be forced to check for it on every play, and it may add just an instant of hesitation, which will be all McClain needs to find the hole and make a play.

Unfortunately, the Ravens signal caller had a career-low 22.2 passer rating during the Ravens 13-9 loss to the Steelers in their second matchup of the season, in which Flacco threw 2 interceptions and completed only 11 passes for 115 yards, the second-lowest number of completions and the lowest yards this season. All this despite his being sacked only twice all game. “Joe Cool” will have to bounce back, as Pittsburgh clearly saw something that they could exploit. Going into the game, the Ravens had scored 36, 34, and 24 points in their previous 3 games. Against the Steelers, they mustered only 9 points and while they came painfully close to the endzone 3 times, each time they had to settle for chip-shot field goals. If any of those field goals is converted into a touchdown, they have a whole other ball game. The Ravens will not win this game on field goals alone, as the Steelers know how to put the ball in the end zone when they have to. Baltimore runs the ball an astonishing 80% of the time in goal-to-go situations (that is, 1st and Goal, 2nd and Goal, etc.). This week they will have to put some faith in their quarterback to make the throw at the goalline, because I doubt the Steelers will be relaxing on the run game. Play action passing has been very good to the Ravens in completing deep passes downfield, why not at the goalline?

The Steelers defense is menacing. They will apply pressure at any opportunity (the team is 2nd in the NFL in sacks with 51 on the season) and stack up against the run. They don’t care what people have said about Joe Flacco’s calm demeanor and easygoing state of mind, they want to rattle him and make him realize the gravity of the game he is playing in. They won’t rattle him, but they could force him into throwing the ball away or not having enough time to recognize the coverage. Flacco has been incredibly diligent these playoffs in holding onto the football and not throwing interceptions- but unless he has time in the pocket, he may not spot that trailing safety before he lets go of the ball. Moreover, unless the Ravens have a legitimate threat of a rush, the Steelers will ignore a gimpy McClain and go after Flacco. The Ravens offensive line has been adequate this year, but they won’t be able to stop a pass rush with reckless abandon for the run. The key for the Ravens will be to establish a variety of offensive approaches- short routes, screen passes, etc. that avoid the biggest threats of the Pittsburgh defense and can neutralize their ability to react quickly to the play. Then, only then, can Flacco air it out and hit big.

Ravens-Steelers Preview, Part 2: Steelers Offense vs Ravens Defense

Okay Ravens fans, this could be rough. Excuse me for possibly overreacting here… but did you see the Steelers on Sunday? Perhaps it was exhaustion from a grueling stretch of 5 straight “must wins” for the Chargers, but my eyes told me they came to play. They were simply beaten at the line and overcome from the first snap. Watching that football game, there was never a doubt in my mind who was the better team after seeing the physicality that the Steelers came out with. Ben Roethlisberger held onto the ball for a long time as always, but he could afford it with the protection he was getting. Nothing was penetrating that line, and Ron Rivera knew it. So by the time he held back his blitzers, Ben was already in a rhythm. San Diego’s corners were outmatched against the rested and aggressive receivers, and Big Ben did not fall into a trap of relying on one or even two receivers primarily. 6 players had receptions, and all had at least 2 catches- he completed passes to his tight end, running backs, and of course the detestable Hines Ward. It was a scary-efficient offense.

What does this mean for this weekend? A lot. No, San Diego is not as physical as Baltimore, but the ability of the Steelers to keep drives alive and extend time of possession most certainly is. Even with Chris Johnson, the Titans consistently were able to convert critical third downs, and were it not for a few timely turnovers would have finished with points every time. I don’t care how effective the Ravens have been in forcing turnovers, we shouldn’t expect the same out of Pittsburgh. Tennessee held the ball for almost 35 minutes, roughly the same as Pittsburgh did against San Diego. The Ravens cannot afford to allow the Steelers to hold onto the ball that long or they will get gauged- and this home team knows how to finish with points, having found an excellent short yardage back in Gary Russell.

But it isn’t Gary Russell who poses the greatest threat for the Ravens. After struggling with injuries for much of the season (conveniently at moments that he was playing the Ravens), Willie Parker looked like his old self on Sunday, rushing 27 times for 146 yards. He wasn’t all that effective early in the game, but as the contest went into the second quarter, Parker started to go wild, and it wound up opening gaping holes in coverage downfield. The offensive line, too, looked like it did before the loss of Alan Faneca and the 49 sacks allowed this season. They dominated the Chargers, who accrued only one sack the entire game. Sure, this defense only generated 28 sacks all season, but the Ravens only sacked the quarterback 6 times more this season, and will likely be even more tired than the Chargers were. Remember, the Ravens themselves only made one sack on Kerry Collins all game, and their exhaustion was showing from the second quarter onwards.

The Ravens were just in a dogfight of their own, and have the scars to prove it. Terrell Suggs will force the coaching staff to let him play, but the Raven’s best pass rusher will not be 100%. Samari Rolle could be out next week, leaving Frank Walker against Santonio Holmes and Fabian Washington against Hines Ward. The latter matchup is especially distressing for one reason. Without Rolle, the Ravens do not have a cornerback who is either smart enough on the field or physical enough to match up with Ward. Against the Steelers, your cornerback has to have one or the other at least. You won’t find a more adamant advocate for Fabian than I, but the man does not know how to tackle, or at least hasn’t shown it thus far this season. Meanwhile, Hines Ward has been known to elude the grasp of linebackers on a regular basis. As many of you readers would know, Corey Ivy is not very popular on this blog. He won’t be very popular with any Baltimore fan after he is matched up with Nate Washington. Washington converted several key third downs down the stretch for the Steelers, and he is their most underrated offensive threat. He has the deep speed to break down the field, but he is even better at positioning his body and boxing out defenders for first downs when the defense is keying in on Holmes, and Ward. Oh, and there is always Heath Miller, who has the receiving skills of Todd Heap, even if his blocking ability isn’t quite there yet.

If the Ravens can hold stout at the line and move the offensive line backwards, they will force Ben to throw into coverage and make a mistake. He will make a mistake- I believe Roethisberger will be even more prone to the big error than will Joe Flacco. This season, the Pittsburgh quarterback has been easily suckered into the feeling that the entire offense rests on him, and it has had two important results. Primarily, he has held onto the ball far too long waiting for the open man, resulting in sacks. Secondly, he has thrown unwisely at the last minute and turned the ball over. His 15 interceptions are second worst in his 5 year career, while his 17 touchdowns are tied for the worst- but most telling are his 7 lost fumbles that resulted from his trying to hold onto the ball in the pocket when pressure came from behind. His games against Baltimore have not been especially poor, with only 1 fumble lost, 1 interception thrown, and a passer rating that is actually slightly higher than his season average. The teams he struggled against- Philadelphia and New York Giants, most notably, were teams that were able to apply significant pressure with every snap. I sure hope Rex Ryan doesn’t have his mind on head coaching jobs and can dial up something new for Big Ben.

However, when it comes to playing the Steelers, it starts and ends with stopping the run. In 2 games against the Ravens this season, the Steelers have rushed for a combined 160 yards on 55 carries for a paltry 2.91 average. While Parker didn’t play in that opening game, it still shows the ability of the Ravens D to stop the Pittsburgh run game. The Ravens must rely on that extra day of rest they got from not playing on Sunday to get rejuvenated because if they can come out and play the way they did in the first two matchups, this defense has the potential to harass and stifle any Pittsburgh rushing attack and, while it will give up the underneath passing, could benefit from a turnover or two courtesy of Brian Leonhard and Ed Reed that could swing the balance of this ballgame. If, on the other hand, the Ravens come out like they did against the Titans, this will be a very very long game, and we will see the defense out on the field for possibly 40 minutes of this ballgame. I don’t doubt the intensity of this game; I doubt the ability of the Ravens’ bodies to hold up for 4 quarters of football after the row they have been through.

Of course, all of this changes depending on the health of Suggs, Rolle, Washington, and others. And that is exactly the problem. Pittsburgh will attack the Ravens right up the gut, trying to wear them down for the 3^rd or 4^th quarter before gashing them in the passing game. With a fully healthy Ravens, I wouldn’t even note this point because I have no doubt that a rested Ravens team stuff this sort of attack. When Ryan is forced to pull the linebackers and safeties in towards the line of scrimmage (as he was forced to against the Titans), it will be up to the backup corners to try to make a play- and I just don’t trust Frank Walker and Corey Ivy. If, however, the Ravens blitz starts to hit and the run is stuffed, Baltimore will get the second wind they need to dominate the line of scrimmage. Ben can be forced into mistakes. He will have to be for the defense to win out over the Steelers physical offense.

Ravens-Steelers Preview, Part 1

Well this has certainly been the more hyped matchup (as expected), and Steelers-Ravens is always a game to watch. First there were bragging rights on the line. Then there was the AFC North Division Title on the line. And now there is a Super Bowl berth on the line. If the first two games are any indication, this will be one hell of a game- if anything, we will see our share of injury time outs. I cannot believe that the Ravens are in the AFC Championship game, it is absolutely incredible as a Ravens fan that they have gotten this far. As last week, we are going to have a much more involved preview session for playoff season. Here is our schedule for the next few days:

Today: What I’m Wondering
Friday: Steelers Offense vs. Ravens Defense
Saturday: Ravens Offense vs. Steelers Defense
Sunday: An Extended Rundown with Predictions

What I’m Wondering:

Will Flacco stay unflappable? Will he stay upright?
Joe Flacco was sacked 5 times in the Ravens first matchup against the Steelers. He was only sacked twice the second time around. However, he also happened to throw 2 interceptions and only complete 11 passes en route to throwing for only 115 yards- his 22.2 passer rating was worst for his rookie season, including the playoffs. I am not certain what the Steelers saw in the tape, but it is likely that without those interceptions the Ravens might manage a touchdown or at least hold onto the ball longer than the first time around. Joe Flacco will not only need to be competent this weekend and not make mistakes, he will have to make plays for the Ravens to win. And not just the occasional bomb to Derrick Mason, either. With the Steelers stuffing the box with defenders against the run, Cam Cameron will have to open up the playbook on those 3rd and longs to enable Flacco to have a variety of 1st down options- and it will be up to the rookie to complete them. Is Joe Flacco ready to win versus “not lose” a ballgame?

Which stellar defense will step up this week?
Well, while much of it was in garbage time, the Steelers did allow 24 points to the Chargers despite them being completely one-dimensional on offense. The Ravens allowed the Titans to rack up 391 yards and pierce the red zone 3 times, but forced 3 turnovers in their own territory and took advantage of a missed field goal to hold Tennessee to 10 points. It is hard to say which is better, and it is hard to say which one will perform better this week. The Ravens are banged up, worn out, and gassed after playing for 17 straight weeks. Also, they happen to be playing Ben Roethlisberger, who always seems to pull a rabbit out of his hat in the 4th quarter this season- and the Ravens, if the last couple weeks are any indication, will be out of bodies and out of energy by late in the game. Add in injuries to Samari Rolle, Terrell Suggs, and the mere presence of Corey Ivy on the field, and I can’t say the Ravens will outplay the Steelers. Even if the Ravens can throw on Pittsburgh, the Steelers are too well rested to get gassed in the 4th. Will the Ravens be able to overcome injury, aches, and pains to play in midseason form?

Which injury will hurt the Ravens the most against the Steelers?
This one is tough. You could make the case for Suggs, but I believe that the Ravens have linebackers in waiting who, while not as good as the Pro Bowl pass rusher, can still do a decent job- there is not as huge a dropoff in talent as there are at other positions. Samari Rolle will be a tremendous loss if he cannot play, but only because it would wind up with Corey Ivy as the nickel back. I don’t want Corey Ivy on anyone, much less an underrated receiver like Nate Washington. Believe it or not, I am going with Le’Ron McClain. Against the Steelers, the biggest need on offense is for a running back who can punish the Pittsburgh defense as much as they punish the running back. Last weekend McClain was running like a big back, but not a powerful back. He wasn’t getting a push at the point of attack, and whatever was wrong with his ankle really showed. I am sure he will play this week, but if he cannot drag defenders or hit the lane with determination, the Steelers will drop him right at the line. I am more comfortable with our depth on defense than on offense- I don’t trust Willis McGahee to carry the load this week and be successful.

Ravens-Steelers Preview: Time to Make Their Move

A programming note: I am moving today (I am actually writing this in a tiny corner of my room with a TV on one side and a huge box of kitchenware on the other), so Falco and Windsor have again provided the What I’m Wondering portion of the preview. Enjoy.

While most die-hard Ravens fans will be quick to point out how much the offense has improved since the Ravens first met the Steelers back on September 29th, I would also like to remind readers that this Steelers team has been no slouch, either. The Ravens’ biggest win this season has been against the struggling Redskins, while the Steelers have taken down the Patriots and Cowboys in the last 2 weeks alone. This game will determine whether the Ravens are fighting for the AFC North or a Wildcard spot, and with the AFC East being as strong as it is (who saw that coming?), a division lead would be a much safer bet. Finally, let’s not forget that a first-round bye is still on the table. Tennessee has the #1 seed almost locked up, but the winner of the AFC North looks to be in prime position for a first round by and homefield advantage until the AFC Championship. The Ravens always play better at home; they need that homefield advantage. This will be like Michigan-Ohio State of old- a big rivalry game that means something for winning the conference.

What Flacco and Windsor are Wondering:

Can the Ravens protect Flacco?
I know that questions like this are cliché, but in this game it is of paramount importance. The Steelers’ pass defense is predicated on the pass rushing ability of Lamarr Woodley and James Harrison, and that tandem has wreaked havoc on the Ravens offense in their recent meetings. In their first matchup this season, a 23-20 overtime loss for the Ravens, Joe Flacco was sacked five times. That simply won’t cut it. The Ravens cannot win this game without Flacco getting into a rhythm in the passing game, and that can’t happen without solid pass protection. In other words, Flacco can’t be on his back-o. - Windsor

Can the pass rushers finish?
In previous games the Ravens have had no trouble getting to Ben Roethlisberger, but he is repeatedly able to break the tackles and make big plays down the field. Big Ben is easily the greatest quarterback in the game at breaking tackles in the pocket, and his composure and field awareness makes it such that when he breaks those tackles he can break off big plays down the field. Thus the Ravens have to not only finish off Roethlisberger when they have the opportunity, but when they aren’t able to the players in coverage need to stay with the play until the whistle is blown, not just until it appears that Ben is going to go down. - Windsor

How will the Ravens deal with the Steelers' rushing attack?
It doesn't matter if Willie Parker, Mewelde Moore, or the one-legged man is getting the carries, the Steelers will run the football well and often. It is the crux of their style even if Big Ben is the star. The Ravens have had one of the best rushing defense in football, still not allowing a 100-yard rusher this season, and though they have faced stronger rushing attacks this season, the Steelers are not afraid to run it. Look for Willie Parker to constantly run through the middle; the Steelers don't often run east-west, even though that would fit Parker's style. Trevor Pryce, Haloti Ngata, and Terrell Suggs will be tested greatly today, and the Ravens need to be ready. - Falco

My Mildly Informed Analysis:

This Steelers defense is the best in the NFL right now. I say that not only because their numbers are better than the Ravens (those number can be deceiving), but that they have done it against stout competition, shutting down the top offenses in the league. They are averaging a little over 14 points per game allowed, an incredible state made even more impressive by their offensive weakness this season. In many ways, the Ravens and Steelers defenses are almost identical. Rushing allowed per game? Ravens 77, Steelers 73. Passing yards allowed per game? Ravens 176, Steelers 169. Sacks? Ay, there’s the rub. Despite what is often considered a blistering pass rush, the Ravens have only sacked the opposing quarterback 28 times to the Steelers 45, which is currently tied for the league’s best. However, before anyone hits the panic button, I think this stat will be balanced out in the end as well. No matter what anyone (including myself) thinks about the “unbalanced line” that Cam Cameron has introduced, it has revealed a tremendous amount of faith that the coaching staff has in this group of linemen. Joe Flacco has only been sacked 23 times this season. Ben Roethlisberger? 38 times, including 9 times against the Ravens earlier in the season. It is safe to say that the sack numbers here could wind up even.

In fact, when all is said and done there is very little separating these two defenses. Rex Ryan is a bit more of a varied defensive coordinator, while Dick LeBeau, Steelers defensive coordinator, tends to either send everything or nothing. With Ryan, you will have a blitzer coming or the threat of a blitz from numerous angles, and he is not afraid to send anyone in no matter how the play appears pre-snap. With LeBeau, he will crash the entire line or send a Troy Palomalu safety blitz or utilize a zone blitz, but he does not have the “mad scientist” in him like Rex Ryan does. What the Steelers do they do extremely well, no need to mix things up too much.

This game is going to come down to how well each offense can execute against consistent pressure and a lockdown secondary. First, the Steelers. Surprisingly, the Ravens are averaging 24.3 points per game, 2 points higher than the Steelers this season. However, do not confuse this for complete offense ineptitude. Yes, Pittsburgh’s offensive line is not what it was with Alan Faneca, and it has broke down in the passing game. But in his last 4 games, Ben Roethlisberger has been able to throw for 4 touchdowns and only 1 interception, and has been taking sacks rather than throwing errant passes. He is still not playing like the Big Ben of the last few seasons, but nor is he struggling as much as he was earlier in the season. Much of the reason for his early season struggles as well as his recent turnaround has been the return of the running game, namely the presence of Willie Parker. Parker has not lit up opponents this season, averaging only 3.9 yards per carry (good for the worst in his career), but he has provided a legitimate running threat that Mewelde Moore cannot give in a starter role.

Like the Ravens, the Steelers have compensated for their offensive difficulties by limiting Roethlisberger to safe throws, short routes to full-time cheap shot artist and part-time wide receiver Hines Ward and setting up for a long gainer down the middle of the field from Santonio Holmes or Nate Washington. The Ravens defense has given up more than one game-winning drive because they allowed Big Ben to work the middle of the field. It will be a struggle to maintain tight man coverage, because this wide receiver group has 3 legitimate gamebreakers. More than anything else however, they have relied on their defense to set themselves up with excellent field position. They have picked off opponents 16 times, forced 10 fumbles, and are limiting opponents to only 241.3 yards of offense per game. Those numbers are forcing teams to punt or otherwise turn the ball over deep in their own territory, giving the offense a very short field to deal with.

The Ravens have followed a similar formula (wow, this is getting eerie, huh?), though they have one key advantage over the Steelers. Unlike Pittsburgh, Baltimore has not had a quarterback prone to the “Big Mistake”. Ben’s success in the past has lent himself at some times this season to try to make a play that isn’t there; he has always had a tendency to try to take the game over himself. He has held onto the ball too long and killed drives with his own pride. The coaching staff has gone to great lengths to remind Joe to throw the ball away, and the young QB has done a solid job in not making a huge game-changing mistake. Additionally, the Steelers only have their traditional gameplan- there will be nothing in this game that the Ravens defense has never seen before. On the other hand, you can rest assured knowing that Cam Cameron has something special planned for this one. He has yet to enter a game this season without a new wrinkle, and when the offense sputters, he will be ready to bust it out. I don’t expect the unbalanced line to work well against a disciplined, tenacious, and smart defense like the Steelers, but he will have something else. The Ravens run more trick plays than any other team in the league, expect to see some more of that to break the offense out of a slump.

Finally, let’s stop all piling onto the LeRon McClain bandwagon already. Yes, he is the most effective Ravens running back. If only he was effective by traditional NFL standards- his 3.7 yards per carry are woefully unimpressive even for a former fullback and a power runner. If he is the number 1 back, he will have to be more versatile. McClain has done an incredible job this season, but he is a complementary back first, and the Ravens will need more than him to run on Pittsburgh.

I have trouble seeing either offense succeeding against the other defense, and I have additional worries about the Ravens. Last week, against the #7 defense in the NFL, the Ravens offense almost stalled to a halt. With the exception of a single great drive late in the game, this attack was limited to whatever the defense happened to give them. Luckily for the Ravens, the Steelers had the same problem against the Cowboys last week. However, I have more to fear from the Cowboys than I do the Redskins.

The Rundown

This game will come down to which quarterback is able to get this team over the hump when the offense starts to struggle, as both defenses will be dominant. While Joe Flacco has been excellent this season in getting the Ravens to last-second wins, he is far from a proven commodity in his young career. While Ben Roethlisberger has struggled, he is still one of the better quarterbacks in this league. The Steelers will get timely touchdowns and while they might make mistakes, so will the Ravens. I know I should, but I just don’t trust Flacco yet. The Steelers D does the job, and Roethlisberger does just enough to win this one.

The nod goes to the Steelers, 17-13

Postgame Report Card: Steelers 23, Ravens 20 (OT)

The word of the game is... disappointing. In a game where the Ravens could have taken control of the AFC North, they could simply not keep their composure and let a lead slip away. Kudos to this team for coming back and forcing overtime, particularly behind a rookie quarterback, but this was a game that should have been sewn up and wasn’t. A terribly disappointing game for a Ravens fan.

And just a note: why does this have to be our blog's 100th post?

Offense - Overall Grade: B
Quarterbacks: C
Flacco played well enough to win, and for a rookie quarterback under those conditions his grade easily could have been higher. However, he still waited too long in the pocket, failed to protect the football on a few key occasions and got away with several throws that could have been intercepted.
Running Backs: C+
This unit did make some key plays, and had some stretches in which it was able to control the game. The difficulty was that the running game was not consistently solid, and that was one of many factors that led to Pittsburgh getting back into the game. Traditionally this unit has taken over when the Ravens obtained a second half lead, but they failed to do so on Monday night.
Wide Receivers: B-
Derrick Mason played a monster of a game, catching everything possible and taking immense hits in the meantime. However, he was the only receiver to be significantly involved in the offense, and that’s going to need to change.
Tight Ends: C-
Todd Heap has to start showing up. Zero catches for the Ravens’ all-pro tight end, not to mention very poor blocking. Wilcox caught an easy touchdown pass, but aside from that this group was a nonfactor yet again.
Offensive Line: B
The offensive line was not great by any means, but considering the opponent and the environment I would say they did an admirable job overall. They generally gave Flacco good time and they occasionally opened up good holes in the running game. The consistency is not there yet, though, and that’s another easy factor that can be pointed to as to why the Ravens failed to win this game.

Defense - Overall Grade: A
Defensive Line: A
Superb job, as always. This unit controlled the line of scrimmage from the opening kickoff to the bitter end. Regardless of the running back injuries, none of Pittsburgh’s backs were going to find room against that defensive front.
Linebackers: B+
The linebackers did play exceptionally well, as they harried Ben Roethlisberger all game and stuffed the parade of Steelers’ running backs. The grade is marked down because of Jarrett Johnson’s personal foul penalty in the third quarter that, in my opinion, led to the Ravens losing this football game.
Defensive Backs: B+
All in all a very solid job by the Ravens’ defensive backfield, but a few key lapses keeps this grade from being an A. There were still times when they lost receivers (Hines Ward) running free, and tackling as always is a concern.

Special Teams - Overall Grade: B
Kicker: B
Stover took care of business on field goals (2-2), and did a fairly good job of kicking deep. Only a few kickoffs had a chance at being returnable.
Punter: A+
Arguably the best performance of the night, Sam Koch kept the Ravens in this football game. On eight punts he averaged 47.4 yards and pinned the Steelers twice within the 20. Fantastic performance.
Returners: C-
Yamon Figurs had one of his worst games as a Raven. He was hesitant and made consistently poor decisions with the football. For this game, I’ll chalk it up to rust because of his week off.
Coverage: B
Figurs didn’t get very much help at all from his blocking, but the coverage unit was able to hold down Santonio Holmes and Mewelde Moore to under 20 yards a kick return and under 5 yards a punt return.

Coaching - Overall Grade: B+
Offensive: B
Cam did an excellent job with the offense, although not in a winning effort. Certainly things could have gone better but to be able to get that much production out of a rookie starter is impressive under these conditions. It did seem, however, that the Ravens’ offense was far more vanilla than in past weeks and didn’t have many of the same wrinkles. Where was the hurry-up we saw in the first two games?
Defensive: A
Even though the defense let them back in the game, it’s hard to fault them—they controlled the Steelers nearly all game, and one of the touchdowns against Baltimore was on defense. They had one slip by them in the overtime period, but there’s not much that can be done about it.

And for my MVP/LVP...
MVP (Most Valuable Player) – Joe Flacco – I know I gave him a C, and I know that he made some crucial mistakes; however, Flacco did rally the team back to score the tying touchdown in the fourth quarter. For a rookie to show that in his third start, on MNF at Heinz Field, is MVP-worthy.
LVP (Least Valuable Player) – Jarrett Johnson – I know I gave the linebackers a B+, and I know that he played a good game; however, he made the single most boneheaded play of this game. His 15-yard personal foul penalty was wholly inexcusable and gave the Steelers momentum when they had none and were down by ten. And if you think I’m going to let this go…

Bonus grade:
Discipline: D- - I won’t let this go. There was hope that with Harbaugh (and this might still be the case later in his tenure) we had seen the last of the Ravens gagging on national television and looking like immature fools. Unfortunately this hope was misplaced, because the Ravens committed the same silly penalties in prime time that they have been for years. When will they stop embarrassing themselves?

Ravens-Steelers Preview: Playing with the Big Boys

Windsor and I ventured to Ann Arbor this weekend to catch the Michigan-Wisconsin game, and by the time there was 3 minutes left in the third quarter and Michigan trailed 19-0 we wished we had traveled to Clemson instead. By the end, as Michigan upset #9 Wisconsin 27-25 in a furious comeback and fantastic finish, there was no were else is the world I would have rather been. Look out for a full recap and report on Tuesday of one of the most exciting game I have had the pleasure to attend, especially with Windsor. I know this is a Maryland blog, but Go Blue!

However, the world of football moves fast, and it is already time to turn around and prepare for the primetime debut of the Baltimore Ravens. It is no secret that this is an intense rivalry, and that this game means a great deal more to the teams engaged than control of the AFC North. The Ravens have fans starting to believe, at least tentatively, that perhaps this team has a chance to make the playoffs, to even win the division. With San Diego barely putting Oakland to bed today and the AFC South not playing to its potential, the playoffs seem like a legitimate possibility. The Steelers, on the other hand, are trying to reassert themselves as the top dog in the North after a lackluster start that has included a loss to a resurgent Philadelphia squad and a defensive struggle against the hapless Browns.

What I’m Wondering:

How effective will Flacco be against a smart Steelers D?
As long as the Ravens are starting a rookie in Joe Flacco, the quarterback position will continue to be the Number One concern for the Ravens. The Steelers front seven is known to pull numerous stunts and the occasional zone blitz at the line, which will go a long way towards confusing the young (but so far effective) Ravens signal caller. One player in particular to watch out for is second-year player LaMarr Woodley, a force of nature in college, has taken time to bulk up and adjust to the pro game but has 2 sacks in the first 3 games and has been said to figure more and more into the pass rush of the Steelers this season. Lest we forget, Troy Polamalu has a long history of wreaking havoc on Ravens quarterbacks from the safety spot for years. The last time a Ravens rookie qb faced the Steelers for the first time it was not pretty. Will Flacco be able to stay poised in the highest-pressure situation he has faced as a Raven.


Are the Ravens ready for top-flight competition?
I understand how excited everyone is after a 2-0 start against division opponents- really, I do. But did anyone see the Browns-Bengals game today? These are two of the worst teams in the league, and the Ravens failed to put either team away until late in the game. The Steelers, meanwhile, are reigning division champs who won the Super Bowl only 3 years ago. They may have had a difficult run of it so far, but this team is still one of the top teams in the AFC. Unlike years ago, they have recently boasted an explosive offense to go with the second best defense in the NFL. Beating up on the doormats of the AFC is always fun, but how will the Ravens react to playing against top competition for the first time this season?

Will Ben Roethlisberger be held in check?
The defense has looked incredible, ranking 1st in the NFL in yards allowed- again however, against absolutely atrocious offenses. The Steelers, for their part, haven’t looked all that secure along the offensive line themselves. Alan Faneca means a whole lot more than a big body in the middle of the field. He is the field general of the offensive line, setting protections and identifying the rush. With Faneca gone to the Jets, the Steelers have scrambled to make adjustments. The line fell apart against the Eagles, allowing 9 sacks, and didn’t look much better against the Browns. Will the Steelers be able to keep Roethlisberger on his feet long enough to make plays with his arm?

My Mildly Informed Analysis:

This is a rivalry. I know everyone in the AFC North claims a rivalry with the Steelers- one of the troubles with such a repetitive playing schedule, but the Ravens are the only team that has been able to challenge the Steelers consistently in recent years, leading the series 4-2 since 2005. Regardless of the year, the Ravens have always been a tough play for the Steelers. Why? They do what the Steelers do, only they are just as intimidating up front. While the Steelers have migrated more towards a finesse offense with the departure of Jerome Bettis and the maturation of Ben Roethlisberger, the Ravens have remained hardnosed and old fashioned, if old fashioned is defined as a mediocre offense. Don’t throw the records out altogether, but remember that far more will be on the minds of these players tomorrow night.

The Ravens Offense vs. the Steelers Defense
As predicted here last week, Ray Rice’s carries were replaced in large part by Willis McGahee and La’Ron McClain, though neither one was particularly effective. What did surprise me was the failure of Cam Cameron to utilize either back more in passing situations out of the backfield. Flacco made some poor decisions and could have used more of a safety valve to throw to, particularly early on in the game before the defense handed turnovers and great field position over to the offense. I believe the coaching staff may have been too ambitious with Flacco’s development last week, and they would be loathe to repeat the same mistake this week. The running game will likely not be explosive against this tough Steelers defense- that is to be expected. But if the backs can be used to manufacture a short passing game and keep the front seven spread out along the line of scrimmage with linebackers protecting the flats, Flacco could be given the time he needs not to rush his throws downfield.

Unlike Romeo Crennel, Mike Tomlin has been in a position to bring the house. During his year in Minnesota as defensive coordinator, the Vikings ranked 1st in rush defense but 31st in pass defense. To compensate for this disparity the Vikings rarely had the luxury of blitzing, finishing 25th in the NFL in sacks with 30. Upon arrival with the Steelers and defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, the Steelers dropped somewhat in sacks to only 36 in 2007, but remain one of the more fearsome units in the AFC, particularly in terms of stopping the run. That could get into Flacco’s head the first time he is knocked to the ground. Cam Cameron will need to diversify his play calling to keep the Steelers away from the line to open up enough lanes for McGahee and McClain to legitimize the threat of the run.

The Ravens Defense vs. the Steelers Offense
Like the Browns and Bengals, it is difficult to determine what the Steelers offense is right now. This team struggled to put up points against any of their opponents except the Texans in the opener, and without Willie Parker running the football it could get worse. However, I have never felt that Parker was the key to the Steelers success on the ground. The Steelers have always succeeded in a scheme with their running backs- and Rashard Mendenhall, though he was the most overrated running back in the draft, will be a serviceable backup.

The Steelers offensive line has struggled, but it is not so bad that it cannot be remedied. Pittsburgh has been so dominant up front for so long that they may have taken it for granted- calling plays that took far too long to develop. Roethlisberger may have to get back to his roots, getting out of the pocket a bit more and even using his legs to get necessary first downs. Last year in particular Roethlisberger was encouraged to become even more of a pocket passer. Allowing Roethlisberger more freedom should alleviate the difficulties caused by a confused offensive line that does not lack for talent but has yet to gel so far this season.

The Rundown
This game comes down to one sad but critical fact- looking back the Ravens haven’t beaten anyone they should not have beaten. The Ravens, even if they were the 20th or 25th best team in the NFL would still have beaten the Bengals and Browns. So are the Ravens any better than we thought they would be, or are the two Ohio doormats just that bad? I don’t know. What I do know is that the Steelers are good. They have proven it by winning the division consistently since 2000 with the exceptions of 2005 (Cincinnati) and 2006 (Ravens). Based on what I know, the Ravens are unlikely to pull out a win, especially in the swirling winds of Heinz Field.

Flacco will be harried and confused by the Steelers 3-4 defensive front and the running game will not be able to do enough to keep the chains moving consistently. Meanwhile, the Steelers will break out of their offensive funk long enough to make a few big plays and have greater success on the ground than most prognosticators anticipate. The Ravens may be good, but they are not ready for primetime.

The nod goes to the Steelers, 24-13

Photo Credit: (Baltimore Sun; Lloyd Fox)