Pittsburgh Steelers' ability to comeback worries Ravens
PITTSBURGH — Maybe it's premature to begin comparing Ben Roethlisberger to John Elway, even if the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback wears No. 7 in honour of the former Denver Broncos star.
When it comes to comebacks, Big Ben is becoming something of a current-day version of Elway, who led 47 fourth-quarter comebacks that either won or tied a game for his team.
In five NFL seasons, Roethlisberger has led 18 such rallies - five this season, two against Baltimore.
That could be one of the hidden factors in the Steelers' favour as they prepare to play the Ravens in the AFC championship game Sunday at Heinz Field. Comebacks are difficult to mount against defences as good as the No. 2-ranked Ravens, yet Roethlisberger went 2-of-2 against them this season.
Mental advantage, Pittsburgh?
"That's just the attitude we've developed over the course of the year," left tackle Max Starks said Thursday. "Being in tight games and being in those situations where you needed those game-winning drives to win those games has made us stronger and given us confidence when it comes down to the fourth quarter."
While going 12-4 during the season, the Steelers rallied from 10 down to beat Baltimore 23-20 in overtime; 10 down in the fourth quarter to beat Dallas 20-13; six down in the fourth to beat Baltimore 13-9; two down in the fourth to beat San Diego 11-10 and seven down to beat Jacksonville 26-21.
Roethlisberger first displayed the ability to win games when his team was down as a rookie in 2004, when the Steelers won six times while trailing or tied in the fourth quarter.
"We don't like to have to do it," Roethlisberger said. "Normally you have to do it when you are struggling early on. It comes from the heart. A lot of guys have to step up and not make mistakes and do it when it counts."
It comes from a quarterback, too, especially one who makes his teammates believe he is capable of getting them out of any jam.
"You either like having the ball in your hands or you don't," Roethlisberger said. "I'm one that does."
Of those 18 Roethlisberger-led rallies, three are against the Ravens. He nearly pulled another one off in the playoffs last season, bringing the Steelers back from a 28-10 deficit against Jacksonville to give them a 29-28 lead, but they ended up losing 31-29.
"He's a lot different from a lot of quarterbacks because he's big and strong and he's fearless," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "And he can throw the ball on time. He can hold the ball. He can scramble and make plays on the run. He's probably the most accurate quarterback on the run in the league."
What the Steelers probably don't want to attempt to do in this all-AFC North conference championship game is stage yet another rally against the Ravens. Beating a team three times in a season is difficult enough, rallying to do so is even tougher.
Still, the Steelers came back three times to win during a five-game winning streak from mid-November to mid-December.
"I wouldn't classify it as a swagger, but it's more of a confidence in your unit and in the guys in the huddle with you," Starks said. "To know that we have a competent group of 11 guys and that we can get the job done when need to get the job done."
All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu returned to practice Thursday after injuring a calf during the 35-24 divisional victory Sunday over San Diego. Polamalu was hurt during pre-game warmups but played.
Centre Justin Hartwig (knee) was limited in practice, though he expects to take part in the final full-scale practice Friday.
"I'll be ready on Sunday," he said.
The Steelers probably will be tempted to stay inside for practice Friday, even though coach Mike Tomlin likes to go outdoors when the game is played in a cold-weather city. The predicted high is six, though the temperature is expected to climb into the low 20s by gametime Sunday night.
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Steelers/Ravens Match Up Thread
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Steelers/Ravens Match Up Thread
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Steelers-Ravens Matchups - AFC Championship Game
Friday, January 16, 2009
By BOB LABRIOLA
Steelers.com
The following are some of the interesting matchups to watch when the Steelers host the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday at Heinz Field:
THE BALTIMORE RAVENS VS. THEIR 2008 SCHEDULE: From a statistical standpoint, it was the Steelers who faced the NFL’s most difficult schedule, but the Ravens’ version had its own anomaly that made it extra challenging. Baltimore’s original schedule called for a game in Houston on Sept. 14, but that had to be cancelled because of Hurricane Ike. That became the Ravens’ bye week on the books, but in their bodies they already had practiced all week to prepare for what they believed was going to be a game vs. the Texans. The game was moved to Nov. 9 – the Ravens’ originally scheduled bye – and the sum effect has been that Baltimore has played for 17 straight weekends. Those four-plus months contained two games vs. the Steelers, two vs. the Titans, at Indianapolis, at the New York Giants, at Dallas. And the second of those games against the Titans – in last weekend’s Divisional Round – was predictably physical. How much more can a human body withstand?
STEELERS C JUSTIN HARTWIG VS. RAVENS NT HALOTI NGATA: Whether these guys butt heads on every snap or not, this is the kind of a game where control of the middle of the line of scrimmage will be critical. This game will contain the league’s two best defenses, and the first two meetings were low-scoring, field-position affairs. The Steelers offensive line is coming off its best performance of the season, and it also is fair to describe the unit as one on the rise based on how the end of the regular season unfolded – there were the 13 fourth-quarter points vs. Dallas, the 12-play, 92-yard drive in Baltimore, the 176 rushing yards vs. Cleveland. But opposing teams simply do not run the ball on the Ravens: 81.4 yards per game during the regular season, with a 3.6 average and only four touchdowns; a 3.4 per carry average in the playoffs. With the exception of turnovers, what transpires along the line of scrimmage could be the key to the outcome of this game – and it also might impact the total of turnovers as well.
STEELERS CORNERBACKS VS. RAVENS WR DERRICK MASON: Whenever the Ravens are discussed, their toughness is a topic, but usually it’s meant for the defense. It also should include Mason, who has sacrificed his body for the cause over the course of the Ravens’ run through these playoffs just as much as, say, Ray Lewis. Mason has been playing with a shoulder injury for weeks, but he continues to make plays. So far in the postseason, he has nine catches for 149 yards (16.6 average) and the 48-yard touchdown in their 13-10 win over the Titans that allowed them to advance to this round. And seven of those nine catches have been for first downs. The Steelers’ secondary is all-hands-on-deck from a health standpoint, and the team utilizes four cornerbacks – Ike Taylor, Bryant McFadden, Deshea Townsend and William Gay – during the course of a game. Dealing with Mason figures to be an all-hands-on-deck kind of job.
THE PRESSURE OF THE AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME VS. RAVENS QB JOE FLACCO: The only rookie starter to win two playoff games, Flacco has continued to be calm even as the media attention to that very quality has intensified. Coach Mike Tomlin doesn’t believe any stage is going to prove too big for Flacco. “He’s no longer a rookie,” said Tomlin. “This guy has the hardware that says otherwise. He’s led a football team. He’s obviously gained the respect of a very veteran-laden football team, particularly defensively. They ride with him, as the guys say. He’s won postseason games, he’s won in hostile environments, he’s won on the road, he’s delivered. I knew that about him when we were up on them the first time we played those guys. He took them down the field and forced overtime. I saw enough at that time to realize that we’re going to have our hands full with this guy for a very long time. He’s done nothing to disprove that. He’s got his team in striking position to compete for a World Championship.”
http://news.steelers.com/article/101940/
Friday, January 16, 2009
By BOB LABRIOLA
Steelers.com
The following are some of the interesting matchups to watch when the Steelers host the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday at Heinz Field:
THE BALTIMORE RAVENS VS. THEIR 2008 SCHEDULE: From a statistical standpoint, it was the Steelers who faced the NFL’s most difficult schedule, but the Ravens’ version had its own anomaly that made it extra challenging. Baltimore’s original schedule called for a game in Houston on Sept. 14, but that had to be cancelled because of Hurricane Ike. That became the Ravens’ bye week on the books, but in their bodies they already had practiced all week to prepare for what they believed was going to be a game vs. the Texans. The game was moved to Nov. 9 – the Ravens’ originally scheduled bye – and the sum effect has been that Baltimore has played for 17 straight weekends. Those four-plus months contained two games vs. the Steelers, two vs. the Titans, at Indianapolis, at the New York Giants, at Dallas. And the second of those games against the Titans – in last weekend’s Divisional Round – was predictably physical. How much more can a human body withstand?
STEELERS C JUSTIN HARTWIG VS. RAVENS NT HALOTI NGATA: Whether these guys butt heads on every snap or not, this is the kind of a game where control of the middle of the line of scrimmage will be critical. This game will contain the league’s two best defenses, and the first two meetings were low-scoring, field-position affairs. The Steelers offensive line is coming off its best performance of the season, and it also is fair to describe the unit as one on the rise based on how the end of the regular season unfolded – there were the 13 fourth-quarter points vs. Dallas, the 12-play, 92-yard drive in Baltimore, the 176 rushing yards vs. Cleveland. But opposing teams simply do not run the ball on the Ravens: 81.4 yards per game during the regular season, with a 3.6 average and only four touchdowns; a 3.4 per carry average in the playoffs. With the exception of turnovers, what transpires along the line of scrimmage could be the key to the outcome of this game – and it also might impact the total of turnovers as well.
STEELERS CORNERBACKS VS. RAVENS WR DERRICK MASON: Whenever the Ravens are discussed, their toughness is a topic, but usually it’s meant for the defense. It also should include Mason, who has sacrificed his body for the cause over the course of the Ravens’ run through these playoffs just as much as, say, Ray Lewis. Mason has been playing with a shoulder injury for weeks, but he continues to make plays. So far in the postseason, he has nine catches for 149 yards (16.6 average) and the 48-yard touchdown in their 13-10 win over the Titans that allowed them to advance to this round. And seven of those nine catches have been for first downs. The Steelers’ secondary is all-hands-on-deck from a health standpoint, and the team utilizes four cornerbacks – Ike Taylor, Bryant McFadden, Deshea Townsend and William Gay – during the course of a game. Dealing with Mason figures to be an all-hands-on-deck kind of job.
THE PRESSURE OF THE AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME VS. RAVENS QB JOE FLACCO: The only rookie starter to win two playoff games, Flacco has continued to be calm even as the media attention to that very quality has intensified. Coach Mike Tomlin doesn’t believe any stage is going to prove too big for Flacco. “He’s no longer a rookie,” said Tomlin. “This guy has the hardware that says otherwise. He’s led a football team. He’s obviously gained the respect of a very veteran-laden football team, particularly defensively. They ride with him, as the guys say. He’s won postseason games, he’s won in hostile environments, he’s won on the road, he’s delivered. I knew that about him when we were up on them the first time we played those guys. He took them down the field and forced overtime. I saw enough at that time to realize that we’re going to have our hands full with this guy for a very long time. He’s done nothing to disprove that. He’s got his team in striking position to compete for a World Championship.”
http://news.steelers.com/article/101940/
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Keeping running game going is key for Steelers
Pittsburgh returns to tradition of strong ground attack
By Sam Farmer | Los Angeles Times
PITTSBURGH - A power running game was the cornerstone of the storied Pittsburgh Steelers teams.
Too often this season, though, the Steelers had cornerstones for cleats.
They were a couldn't-run team heading for also-ran status. In its seven games against teams that wound up in the playoffs, Pittsburgh lost all but one of the rushing battles. Simply put, that's not Steelers football.
Maybe that's why Pittsburgh great Jerome "The Bus" Bettis looked especially pleased Sunday night as he stood outside the Steelers' locker room, his glittering Super Bowl ring as massive as a semi-truck lug nut. The Steelers ran around, over and through the San Diego Chargers, gaining 165 yards and helping keep the heat off quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who was sacked just once.
Link to the rest of it, including some video clips of what some of the Ravens players think that the keys to success will be:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/foot ... 3416.story
Pittsburgh returns to tradition of strong ground attack
By Sam Farmer | Los Angeles Times
PITTSBURGH - A power running game was the cornerstone of the storied Pittsburgh Steelers teams.
Too often this season, though, the Steelers had cornerstones for cleats.
They were a couldn't-run team heading for also-ran status. In its seven games against teams that wound up in the playoffs, Pittsburgh lost all but one of the rushing battles. Simply put, that's not Steelers football.
Maybe that's why Pittsburgh great Jerome "The Bus" Bettis looked especially pleased Sunday night as he stood outside the Steelers' locker room, his glittering Super Bowl ring as massive as a semi-truck lug nut. The Steelers ran around, over and through the San Diego Chargers, gaining 165 yards and helping keep the heat off quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who was sacked just once.
Link to the rest of it, including some video clips of what some of the Ravens players think that the keys to success will be:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/foot ... 3416.story