It’s Steelers week again, and the fate of the Ravens season will most likely depend on the outcome of this game. If the Ravens win this game and win week 17 against the Bengals, they will finish the season 10-6 and win the AFC North. If the Ravens lose to the Steelers, they may very well be eliminated from playoff contention depending on what happens around the AFC, and with the way the schedule plays out the team will know going into the game if it is a must win to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Ravens and Steelers always seem to bring out the best (or the worst) in each other and every game feels like a heavyweight title bout. The games are almost always decided by one score or less, and while the Ravens have had the upper hand in recent match-ups, the Steelers are the team that appear to be peaking at the moment while the Ravens have been wracked by inconsistency for virtually the entire season.
(You can discuss the upcoming Ravens – Steelers game at the BSL Message Board.)
Normally, I like to evaluate opposing teams based on their recent play and statistical production, but when the Ravens and Steelers play that all goes out the window. There aren’t two other franchises in the NFL in which both teams have the level of consistent success and continuity across the front office, coaching staff and key players. What that means is these teams know each other exceptionally well. They know each other’s personnel and they know each other’s coaching tendencies. Even when one team is having a down season, like the Ravens in 2015, they still play the other team hard, and I don’t expect anything different this Sunday. So we can talk about concerns over the Ravens run defense going up against Le’Veon Bell, or we could talk about the revitalized Steelers defense that is playing at a high level despite missing its best player. We could even talk about the play of 37 year old Steve Smith and 38 year old James Harrison, and how they are still playing at exceptionally high levels despite being amongst the oldest players in the league. But when these two teams take the field on Sunday, none of that matters. There is too much pride at stake and too much collective talent for either team to roll over.
The Ravens are playing the Steelers in Pittsburgh and both teams’ playoff chances could be on the line. My one tactical prediction is that whichever team runs the ball better will have the upper hand in this game. The last time the Ravens and Steelers met, neither team could run it. The difference in that game was the Ravens dominance on defense and a couple of fluky TDs that came on a quick slant pass that Mike Wallace took 95 yards and on a blocked punt. An effective running game opens up the entire offensive playbook and stretches the defense, but it could also be that neither team gets it going in which case it will most likely be a defensive struggle.
I’m not even going to make a final score prediction for this one other than I would advise taking the points and the under. It’s going to be close and neither team is likely going to score many points, so enjoy Ravens – Steelers, which is by far the best rivalry in football no matter what any pundit says. These teams equally hate and respect each other and the games always matter. That makes it a great rivalry and great football to watch.
Ravens Analyst
Gabe is an avid fan of the NFL and Ravens football. He grew up in Westminster, MD, and attended college at Johns Hopkins University majoring in Biology. He earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and now works as a R&D Scientist developing Transplant Diagnostics assays. Gabe has appeared as a guest on 105.7 The Fan.