“It’s going to be a battle,” says Steelers QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER. “I have a feeling it’s going to be one for the ages.”
Wow, that puts it in perspective! Indeed, these two tough teams – ranked first (Steelers) and second (Ravens) in NFL defense this year – are serious competitors. They meet twice a year in the AFC North and it always seems to be a pitched battle. This year, Pittsburgh swept both games – barely. They won in overtime 23-20 on September 29 and then 13-9 on December 14.
If the Steelers win Sunday, it would be only the 12th time in the 56 instances that teams have met three times in a season since 1970 that a three-game sweep occurred.
Think RAY LEWIS and the boys will be pumped not to let that happen? The Ravens led the league in takeaways this year (34) and won the turnover battle (8-1) against Miami in the Wild Card and Tennessee in the Divisionals. Roethlisberger will have to contend with ball-hawking safety ED REED, who led the NFL in pickoffs this year (9).
Meanwhile, the Steelers will be “blitzburghing” rookie QB JOE FLACCO, who threw only five interceptions over the Ravens’ final 11 games. Including the playoffs, the first-round draft choice from Delaware is 7-3 on the road. “You look in his eyes at big moments and you try to read his eyes but there’s nothing to read,” says Baltimore TE TODD HEAP of the unflappable Flacco. “He’s always the same.”
Flacco will be harassed by a stellar Steelers linebacking crew led by the Associated Press’ 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year JAMES HARRISON, who set the club’s sack record this year (16.0). But Harrison is not the only potent weapon on the Steelers’ LB corps. LA MARR WOODLEY had 11.5 sacks in his first year as a starter and JAMES FARRIOR led the team in tackles (146) for a defense that gave up the league’s fewest points (223), allowed only one team to gain 300 yards and did not permit a 100-yard rusher or 300-yard passer.
And if it’s a cold, bitter Pittsburgh day? That’s OK. Each team’s running game seems to be well in gear. Steelers RB WILLIE PARKER looks to be healthy again and comes off a vintage Parker 27-carry, 146-yard, two-TD day Divisional. The Baltimore RB load will be carried by Pro Bowl FB LE’ RON MC CLAIN and WILLIS MC GAHEE, who evenly shared 24 carries last week.
So the final playoff game before Super Bowl XLIII will be a big-time rivalry matchup. “It would be a big game if it was a scrimmage,” says Steelers head coach MIKE TOMLIN of Sunday’s grudge meeting. “This is for the AFC Championship.”
Twosome to watch: The starting AFC Pro Bowl safeties – Baltimore’s Reed and Pittsburgh’s TROY POLAMALU — will be all over the field. “It’s about playing a physical football game and causing turnovers,” says Reed. Between them, they had 16 interceptions this season (Reed, 9; Polamalu, 7).
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mark
January 15, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Steeler fans, our team is 60 minutes from the Super Bowl. Many thought it wouldnt be this year. The schedule is brutal we figured. But this team kept winning. Our QB got sacked a lot and banged up, but the team kept winning. Our RB was injured a lot and missed significant time, but the team kept winning.Our offensive numbers were mediocre considering the talent, but the team kept winning. The defense was due for let downs, you know what I am going to say! That is the one thing that should keep Steeler fans up and confident for this game against the hated Ravens. Our Steelers have found ways to win every week. No, that didnt win every week, but they gave themselves chances to win every week and beat some pretty good and sometimes pretty desperate teams along the way. Of course the Ravens are to be taken seriously, they know the Steelers, hate them and are confident themselves. This Steeler team takes nothing or no team for granted. I think its a Tomlin trait that they are quickly adapting to. They play 60 minutes and give themselves a chance to win everytime out. I think some experts will be wrong on this game. It may be physical but the Steelers are healthier, fresher and at home. I predict a close 1st quarter, maybe a close half. Then the Steelers will press the gas and put the Ravens away. I see a 10-14 point win.How about 23-10.
God, I hate to make predictions but I feel good about this game. I just cant see Ray Lewis and Bart Scott,Joe Flacco and Mason, Suggs,etc.. celebrating on Heinz field. Steelers cannot lose at home in the AFC title game to hated division rivals! They never lost to the Oilers in the 1970’s AFC title games and they wont lose now.
Larry
January 15, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I just do not see the Ravens being able to make enough big plays to win, However, do not let them hang around, That is very dangerous.
mark
January 15, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Larry, Agreed. Letting any defensive team hang around is dangerous. They just want to hang around long enough to get you to make a mistake and then they can win ugly. Just like the Ravens do. The Steelers should score enough points early to get the Ravens in an uncomfortable situation and then let the defense ice it.
squeelerstolose
January 17, 2009 at 9:29 pm
HEY IDIOT SQUEELER FANS…..SO COCKY ARENT YOU?….YOU WON’T BE AFTER TOMOROW’S ASS WHUPPIN!
GO RAVENS! GOTTA LOVE THE UNDERDOG…ESPECIALLY WHE THEY WHUP SQUEELER ASS!