Going into their Week 1 loss at Baltimore, the Steelers had a 6-0 record against the Ravens when Ben Roethlisberger was their starting quarterback.
The Ravens forced seven turnovers in that game, including five by Roethlisberger, whipping the Steelers, 35-7.
Since then, the Steelers have turned the ball over six times, including just twice in their current four-game winning streak.
As for the Ravens, they've looked like garbage in six of the past eight quarters they've played - at least offensively.
A big reason for that is the regression of Joe Flacco.
Flacco's 75.4 passer rating and 53.8 completion percentage have him keeping company with the likes of Curtis Painter, Matt Moore and Blaine Gabbert.
Imagine what those numbers would be if he hadn't checked down 33 times to running back Ray Rice.
Rice will be tough for the Steelers to handle, but without Lee Evans in this game, Ike Taylor, who followed Evans all over the field the first time these two teams met, will likely match up one-on-one against Anquan Boldin.
That's going to make life just a little more difficult for Flacco, who has led the Ravens to one win in three road games - that one win being at St. Louis.
Take Pittsburgh to win, 20-16
25 comments:
Who are the starting LB's going to be thie weekend
It is nice seeing that the Steelers are listing James Harrison as Probable on the injury report. Why is Sepulvada listed as questionable? Did something happen today at practice?
With Harrison coming back, does Lawrence Timmons start at LOLB or do the Steelers start Worilds there and let Timmons slide back inside? I hate to see Manny Sanders missing this game but he has more important things to deal with than a football game. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.
I also think we'll see Troy covering Ray Rice out of the backfield and Mundy and Cortez Allen on the Ravens tight ends. I was intrigued by the thought of having Keisel play ROLB and having Cam Heyward start at RDE, but I'll take back a rested Deebo anyday.
Scott Brown of the Tribune-Review is reporting that Worilds is expected to start at LOLB and that Timmons is expected to move back inside.
Well Harrison playing is good news.
I hope he isn't rushing himself back too soon though.
"Scott Brown of the Tribune-Review is reporting that Worilds is expected to start at LOLB and that Timmons is expected to move back inside."
Boo yah! That's awesome.
Harrison - Timmons - Foote - Worilds is way, way better than Worilds/Carter - Sylvester - Foote - Timmons. In one we have two starters, in the other we have none!
If Worilds does start that is awesome! Awesome that Timmons can go back inside, and awesome that the coaches trust Worilds
with the ravens line struggling it would be a great chance for him to start making a name for himself
One starter will be James Harrison. I expect to see Harrison, Foote, Timmons and Worilds, but wouldn't be surprised to see Farrior play as well, pushing Timmons to outside.
As for Sepulveda, I don't know what happened. He must have tweaked in practice. But nobody watches the kickers during practice
If Farrior's calf hinders his speed any more then do we want him on the field? You could make the argument that Timmons and Worilds pass rush is a wash in terms of effectiveness..Timmons moving back inside will help a LOT with the deceptively athletic TE's the Ravens have. Jus sayin last Raven game Farrior was toast on coverage and if he's 85% or worse than I'd rather see him spelling Foote and Timmons every couple drives.
As bad as the Ravens O-line has looked recently maybe this is Worilds chance to make some plays and possibly get to Flacco or at least apply pressure.
Harrison-Foote-Timmons-Worilds gets my vote for this week
Dale,
I'd rather see Sylvester, Timmons or Foote on the field this week at ILB instead of Farrior. Ray Rice KILLS Farrior every time these two teams meet. In fact, I think I'd rather see Palomula or a DB cover Rice out of the backfield. Farrior is starting to look a lot like the retired Aaron Smith to me. At this stage, I think Foote is playing better than Farrior.
Trading up in the draft for a punter? Still baffling. I think someone fell in love with the idea of a punter with biceps and a You Tube tackle highlight. Bring back Mitch Berger.
Mitch Berger? Get real, Mrs. Berger. Mitch's career is long over.
My best guess is that they will rest Farrior for the Bengals.
Oh, no -- that was a joke about Berger to make the point that, uh, punter, schmunter, I guess. Berger & Kapinos took us to the big game, after all.
But I do seriously believe that they traded up for Sepulveda because of his biceps and tackling highlight from college. I have no proof of this of course.
Or it could have been because he was a Ray Guy Award winner...
Sepulveda was a very, very good college kicker. Realistically, what did they give up for him, the next Chris Kemoeatu? The next Tony Hills? The next, you get the idea.
Giving up the next Chris Kemoeatu would be an awful lot, considering how much the coaches and front office love him.
Interested to even see Worilds. Alot of hype for a guy who hasn't done much. Timmons has looked great in coverage this year, I will be interested to see if the D keeps up with that press coverage. I like Sylvester, from what hes shown, looking a pretty decent young LB but he probably won't see the field this game. And the return of Big Mean (Harrison) I am excited to see some Flacco on his Back yo. Tough to be missing Woodley, who would have made this match a laugher. Still like the Steelers 31-13.
i wonder as long as it not the same knee that been injured in the past. Let me remember the years we lost Danny we won a sb.paging Mr Kapions
Unless he has a third knee, little chance of that.
It's his plant leg again, so yes. But let's be clear here, he's going to kick on Sunday.
I'm sure he just experienced a little swelling.
Has Sepulveda been any better than an undrafted skinny guy would have been? No.
My favorite all-time punting performance is Mitch Berger vs. the Giants in 2008.
Where is this undrafted skinny guy?
Wexell reporting Dan's on IR
Yikes!
A punter is a punter is a punter is all I'm saying. All you need is a decent one with working knees. The justification at the time for trading up to draft Sepulveda was that he was a unique special teams force. He's just been a solid punter. Again, all you need.
With the whole world taking the Steelers in this one, I'm tempted to take Baltimore because thats just how things go. But I think the Steelers pull this one out based on week 1's performance - they almost have to beat the ravens or their confidence will be shot.
This one is going to look like the Ravens games we expect. Not a lot of scoring, nasty, and close.
Pittsburgh 20 - Baltimore 17
24-13 Steelers
I felt more confident before noticing that the verification word for this post is duped but...
The improvement in the passing defense and Ben's willingness to get rid of the ball quickly has the Steelers head and shoulders above the rest of the AFC.
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