AFC North Rivalry Week: Keys To Win For Pittsburgh Steelers At Ravens
Watching the playoffs from their couches, both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens were motivated to upgrade rosters this offseason.
Pittsburgh GM Kevin Colbert/Head Coach Mike Tomlin vs. Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome/Head Coach John Harbaugh
For the first two rounds in the 2014 draft, the Ravens played copycat:
Round 1: Steelers ILB Ryan Shazier (#15), Ravens ILB C.J. Mosley (#17).
Round 2: Steelers DE Stephon Tuitt (#46), Ravens DT Timmy Jernigan (#48)
Then both teams went to free agency for receiver and safety:
Ravens: WR – Steve Smith, Sr., S – Darian Stewart (Rams)
Steelers: WR – Lance Moore & Darrius Heyward-Bey, S – Mike Mitchell (Panthers)
What’s not new is the way this rivalry replicates and exists as one of the best in the NFL.
Last year the Steelers and Ravens split the series with the Steelers taking the early season match-up and Ravens sneaking past Tomlin’s toe for a 20-22 Ravens victory in Game 2. Which executive team made the most of their money this offseason? A win for the Steelers would give them top billing in the AFC North, while the Ravens…
Thanks to the human highlight reel and Bengals receiver A.J. Green, the Ravens lost their season opener. As if playing their arch-rivals isn’t already paramount, an 0-2 start in their division would be a devastating start for the Ravens.
The Steelers got the win but weren’t exactly world-beaters against the Cleveland Browns. The Steelers defense in particular is out to prove they “got talent” as they ride into Baltimore off the offense’s coattails.
The Steelers have their own star AFC North receiver in Antonio Brown, an emerging sophomore, Markus Wheaton, plus Heyward-
Bey and Justin Brown. The Ravens are still shaky at safety with Matt Elam and Darian Stewart.
Ben Roethlisberger and his speedy receivers will look for their own deep-ball opportunities in blown coverage. The Ravens top corner Ladarius Webb, who sat out Week 1, looks to be back in time to cover Brown. Brown didn’t do much in either Ravens contest last season (50 yards, 59 yards receiving).
Mr. Flacco, Meet Mr. Worilds
One guy who did do a l’il sumthin sumthin in the last Steelers-Ravens showdown was OLB Jason Worilds. Worilds had his best game of the season harassing Flacco, with two sacks, and three QB hits in his best impression of his predecessor, LaMarr Woodley. The 10-million-dollar man was mostly quiet against Cleveland on Sunday.
New Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak’s group struggled to execute against the Bengals. Flacco was bounced around for three sacks. The pressure Worilds, Jarvis Jones and Cam Heyward apply to Flacco is a crucial tipping point on Thursday night.
With all the talk on Ray Rice, will the Ravens fail to focus? Maybe, but they have been thinking about this game all offseason.
Both teams are exhausted from the continued ridiculousness (and recklessness) which requires them to play two games in four-day span…in order to pay the bills of the 501(c) non-profit corporation, the NFL.
And the Ravens are extra cranky thanks to their ex-buddy Rice. Here’s to hoping both teams remember how significant their behavior is this Thursday night. Goodell and TMZ America will be watching.
GAME PREDICTION: Steelers 34-27 over Ravens