On Sunday night at Heinz Field, surprises figure to be at a minimum.
It is hard to surprise a mirror image, even harder to do when you face each-other for a 3rd time in one-season.
Perhaps the reason there is so much disdain, and apparent bad-blood between the franchises (and their respective fan-bases) is because of that familiarity.
I believe the saying is, “Familiarity breeds contempt.”
If that saying is accurate, you understand the bad-blood that exists on the field.
You have two teams that have been built for years around sound running offenses, and physically punishing defenses.
In a league that has become more and more ‘cute’, with the continued progression of the West Coast Offense, this style stands-out.
When you are used to walking on the field, and imparting your will on the opposition, it is probably jarring when you face a team that hits you right back in the mouth.
This game Sunday is not one season in the making, it is the current culmination of a lot of past fights.
Here is the reality for both sides…. If the other team did not scare you… did not intimidate you… did not seem so familiar; the match-ups would not carry the increased significance that they have.
The AFC North has existed since 2002… making the 2008 season, the 7th year in the divisions history. The Steelers claimed their 4th AFC North title this year… the Ravens have won the division twice.
The Ravens are riding the strong arm of a rookie QB, much like Pittsburgh did in 2004 with Roethlisberger.
Baltimore is achieving with a new Head Coach, who replaced a Super Bowl winning coach that had a high-level of success over a long-period of time.
The Steelers went through a similar transition last year, when Tomlin replaced Cowher.
Over the last decade, even with their respective Super Bowl titles, there is a feeling in both cities that they underachieved in some-years.
The Ravens have a core of players who are playing for their legacy Sunday… Pittsburgh has a core of players who won Super Bowl XL, and cement theirs with two more wins this year.
Pittsburgh is a five-time Super Bowl Champion. Baltimore holds four NFL Titles (1958, 1959 NFL Championships, 1970, 2000 Super Bowls).
Even the respective cities have a degree of familiarity. Only 4 hours apart, both cities are emerging from being industrial hubs, and after thoughts among the elites of the American Northeast – to cities seeing new growth, and development of their respective financial industries.
There are no surprises here. You know what to expect in this game. Two teams between the white-lines that will be out to beat each other-up… the same way it would be for a scrimmage in August… only with a bit more at stake.
In my-mind, the Ravens never should have lost the September MNF Over-time game in Pittsburgh. The fact is, though that they did. They did because the Steelers made the plays down the stretch that were needed.
Looking at that game now, the main positive from a Ravens’ perspective, is that Flacco got the experience of playing on that field, at night, with national attention. Of even greater importance, he led Baltimore for a score late in the 4th.
Flacco goes into Sunday, with those experiences under his belt.
In my-mind, the goal-line play in Baltimore was irrelevant. Pittsburgh goes into Sunday, knowing they can come back against the Ravens… knowing they can drive the length of the field, with their backs up against the wall.
There will be no self-doubt in their minds.
Season Numbers:
Baltimore Offense
Yards per Game – 324yards (18th)
Rushing Offense – 148.5 (4th)
Passing Offense – 175.5 (28th)
Pts – 24.1 (11th)
Baltimore Defense
Yards per Game – 261.1 (2nd)
Rushing Defense – 81.4 (3rd)
Passing Defense – 179.7 (2nd)
Pts – 15.3 (3rd)
Pittsburgh Offense
Yards per Game – 311.9 (22nd)
Rushing Offense – 148.5 (23rd)
Passing Offense – 206.3 (17th)
Pts – 21.7 (20th)
Pittsburgh Defense
Yards per Gam – 237.2 (1st)
Rushing Defense – 80.3 (2nd)
Passing Defense – 156.9 (1st)
Pts – 13.9 (1)
Summary / Pick :
I would feel better about this game, if I knew that Suggs, and Rolle were going to play… would also feel better if Gregg, Edwards, McAlister, etc were not on IR… (to be fair, I am sure Pittsburgh wishes Mendenhall, Smith, Warren, Simmons were also available)…
I would also feel better about this game, if the Ravens had had a bye after Week 2, and the Steelers had not had two during the same time-period.
Still… you play the game with the players available, at the time the game is scheduled.
Pittsburgh achieved a lot this year… and they did not beat the Ravens twice by accident… they made the plays they needed to make to win… if Baltimore beats them, it will be an achievement.
Since the 1994-95 season, the Steelers have lost 4 AFC Title games at home. You have to respect them for being consistent enough to reach that level with such regularity… you also have to believe the players (and the fans) of Pittsburgh are aware of that, as well.
Could add a bit of pressure to the Steelers shoulders if the game is close late.
My feeling, after watching 120+ mts of football between the teams this year… is that Baltimore is the deeper, more talented team overall.
I expect another close game… a typical Ravens / Steeler game… and I expect a 17-13 Baltimore win.
Beyond that expectation, what I am confident in, what I know definitively – is that there will not be any surprises.
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.