Ravens (2-1) @ Steelers (3-0)

[el loco]

Vs


Sun, 10/03 at 1:00 PM EDT
Home: Heinz Field
Game Preview » TV: CBS KDKA
Radio: 102.5 FM/970 AM
DirecTV: 706
Sirius: 122

Forecasted Weather
Lo: 45°F
Hi: 52°F
Precip: 30%

Inury Report
Ravens:
Ray Rice: Questionable
Cory Redding: Questionable

Steelers:
Dennis Dixon: placed on IR out for season
Trai Essex: Out
Chris Hoke: Out

Preview:

A destructive defense and a productive running game have kept the Pittsburgh Steelers rolling right along without Ben Roethlisberger, but the Baltimore Ravens plan on providing a stiffer test to their bitter AFC North rivals. At Heinz Field, they rarely have.

While the Steelers lead the NFL in giving up 11.0 points per game, Baltimore (2-1) boasts the No. 1 total defense with an average of 244.3 yards allowed. The Ravens have held the Steelers under 100 yards on the ground in nine of their last 10 meetings.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/nflpreview?gameId=301003023

Two of the greatest rivals in the NFL always provide some of the hardest-hitting football of the year. There is also huge playoff implication potential.

Ravens running back Willis McGahee has six rushing touchdowns in his past seven outings against the Steelers. ... Baltimore's Terrell Suggs needs one more sack to become the second player in franchise history with 60 in his career. ... The Steelers are 4-0 at home against the Ravens under coach Mike Tomlin (including the playoffs). ... Pittsburgh leads the league in scoring defense.

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/201010030 ... s@steelers



Babe of The Week

[SD2042]

Thx loco for the game set up. Looking forward to the matchup. This game will be fill with hard hitting defense from both teams. Which means the run game from both sides will be offset. Whoever imposes their will on defense the best plus have the best game from the air(QB) will be the deciding factor in the match.

[el loco]

I look for a lot of play action from the Ravens on 1st down to try and offset the Steelers run defense, and with Rice being out/questionable for the Ravens this reinforces my thought process. The Steelers secondary will be tested with the deep pass early and I expect the Ravens to use a lot of two tight end sets to try to shut down the steelers blitz.


The Browns were successful with the run against the Ravens defense last week, so maybe the Steelers can get Mendenhall going, but I doubt it. I am sure that Ray was all over his team in practice this week about it. Plus, these two teams genuinely dislike one another, so it won't be difficult for them to get motivated to play in this game.

[Canomad]

steelers ravens games are always fun to watch even if grind it out 9-3 final score type football. the hits you see in steelers ravens games are unlike any other matchup in the nfl. i am curious to see if mendenhall can run effectively. but loco was right im sure ray was fed up with the run defense last week and laid it on hit boys. anyways it should be a good matchup and IMO game of the week.

[el loco]

the espn pregame report said that Rice will play he is at 95%, it is a drizzling rain that will continue off and on all game. The report said that the Steelers will take a page or two out of the Browns playbook when it comes to the run.

[el loco]

The Steelers signed defensive tackle Steve McLendon (6-4, 300) from their practice squad to the active roster to replace Dixon. McLendon was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent in April, 2009. He spent a portion of the 2009 season on the practice squad and saw his first NFL action in Week 2 of this year at Tennessee. McLendon finished with one tackle and a fumble recovery in his NFL debut against the Titans.

http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/ ... 5334079d32

Tomlin on the Ravens:

Q. Last year, the defense managed 12 interceptions in 16 games, and this year it has five in the first three games. What’s the difference?


A. It’s a combination of rush and coverage. Anytime you’re looking for turnovers, it’s not a one-man job or a two-man job. It’s an 11-man job. We’re getting consistent pressure, and that pressure is creating an environment where the quarterbacks are making questionable decisions at times and providing opportunities for us. And lastly, we’re catching the ball. We’re cashing in, and that’s the most fundamental element of it. Generally, the opportunities are going to be there, but whether you get turnovers or not depends upon whether you finish plays.

Q. Is hate a part of the Steelers-Ravens rivalry?

A. On some levels, I’m sure, and that’s OK. We’re competitors, and this is a competitive business. At times it’s funny to me that we’re bashful about saying things like that.

Q. The Ravens defense is No. 1 overall, No. 1 on third down, No. 1 against the pass. Is it better than last year’s edition?


A. It’s too early to tell. A three-game body of work is drastically different from a 16-game body of work, but they have the makings of a special crew. They got some big, dominant people up front – guys like Haloti Ngata and Kelly Gregg are scary people. Of course they have Ray Lewis, their ringleader, and they do a nice job schematically. They’re well-coached, very rarely are they out of place, and that’s why they’re at the tops of the league every year.

More questions and answers:
http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/ ... 9e2a3f73c9

[el loco]

The Ravens looked pretty good on offense, they threw on 1st down except one time and it was what stopped the drive #43 stopped the rb 5 yards deep in the back field. Their FG attempt wasn't even close.

0-0 steelers ball

[el loco]

Batch connects on a bomb to Randel El, 1st and goal on the 1.

[el loco]

TD Mendenhall, 1 yard run. They are slipping and sliding out there.

7-0 Steelers

[el loco]

The 1st quarter ends on a 19 yard pass from Flacco to Who'syomamma

[el loco]

The Ravens took it right back down the field on us with an 83 yard drive.

7-7

[el loco]

What is too much or when is enough, enough

[el loco]

Steelers drive to mid field, sputter, and punt. Ravens ball 1st and 10 on their 20.

The Browns are kicking the Bengals in the back side right now, they are up 10-0 at the moment.

[el loco]

Damn, pass interference on McFadden, they driving are at mid field.

Sack, fumble by Flacco, the Ravens recovered the ball. Hampton had it, but lost it.

Punt, steelers ball, 1st down on their 12.

[el loco]

They called holding on Pouncey, is that his first flag this year? I don't recall him drawing one prior to this one.

[el loco]

Wow, the Steelers got lucky. Batch held on to the ball to long, got sacked, fumbled and the Ravens recovered on the 1, but there were flags down on the play, still Steelers ball. Punt, Ravens ball on their 37. That series was just bad, Batch looked like a backup on that series.

[el loco]

Halftime, 10-7 Ravens. They have looked like the better team so far today.

[el loco]

The Steelers caused a fumble, Timmons recovered. 1st down Steelers somewhere around the Ravens 20 (depends on the spot). Harrison clocked McGhee, he was staggering to get back up.

[el loco]

Batch is seeing the blitz at all today, he looks Big Benish in the pocket, he holds the ball a second too long.

[el loco]

Well, Reed just shanked another FG attempt, this one wasn't even close. Wide left. The Steelers defense intercepted the ball and gave it to the offense on the Ravens 35. The offense isn't helping the defense out today.