Game 9 : Steelers vs. Ravens : 11.06.11 : Game Thread!

[Kipper]

[Palmetto Steel]

[Palmetto Steel]

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The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens have developed one of the NFL's fiercest rivalries, and the two have found themselves in several highly competitive and physical matchups over the past few seasons.

There was little drama in their season opener in Baltimore, however, as the Steelers were handed a humiliating loss. Many were ready to write off the defending AFC champions at that point, but they've regrouped and now own the conference's best record.

Pittsburgh looks to win its fifth straight and exact some revenge for the lopsided opening loss Sunday night when its hosts a Ravens team that has regressed a bit over the past few weeks.

Heading into its Sept. 11 opener, the Steelers (6-2) had won six of eight meetings with Baltimore (5-2), including playoff victories following the 2008 and '10 seasons. Each of the last five matchups had been decided by seven or fewer points with a field goal providing the difference four times.

The Ravens, though, seemed to set the tone for the 2011 season in the opener with a 35-7 win over Pittsburgh, their most lopsided victory in a bitter rivalry that began in 1996.

Baltimore, which irked some Steelers by converting a two-point conversion with a 20-point lead in the third quarter, sacked Ben Roethlisberger four times and forced a team-record seven turnovers. Roethlisberger threw three interceptions and fumbled twice in losing to the Ravens for the first time in eight games. He is 7-1 all-time against Baltimore at Heinz Field.

"We don't like it, but we accept it, and we'll respond accordingly," Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said following the defeat.

The Steelers have responded by winning six of seven and are coming off an impressive 25-17 victory over New England last Sunday. Pittsburgh limited the high-powered Patriots, who were 6-1 against the Steelers with Tom Brady at quarterback, to a season-low 213 yards. Roethlisberger picked apart New England's defense for 365 yards and two touchdowns.

The Steelers are off to their fifth straight 6-2 start and have taken a half-game lead over Cincinnati and Baltimore atop the AFC North.

"We can be as good as we want to be," said Roethlisberger, who is averaging 288.5 yards and has thrown 11 touchdowns and two interceptions during the four-game win streak. "When we don't kill ourselves and stop ourselves, we can be pretty dangerous."

They've also proved they can win with a patchwork defense.

Linebackers James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley and James Farrior are nursing injuries. Harrison has missed the last four games with an orbital bone fracture but is expected to return. Woodley has been ruled out after leaving the New England game in the third quarter with a hamstring injury. Farrior remains questionable after sitting out last week with a calf injury.

All of those injury problems mean rookie Chris Carter, second-year man Stevenson Sylvester and Larry Foote could take on bigger roles. Tomlin also didn't rule out going to a four-man defensive line.

Despite playing without some regulars and being run over for 385 yards by Baltimore in September, the Steelers rank second in the league in total defense at 270.8 yards per game, right behind the Ravens at 263.3.

"They are slaying people and we are a part of that," Tomlin said of Baltimore's defense. "They are playing extremely fast, they are really talented, they know what they are doing and they are very rarely out of place. They have uniquely talented people at every level of their defense."

That defense has been especially stingy the last two games, allowing fewer than 207 yards in each.

The Ravens' offense hasn't been nearly as impressive.

After managing a season-low 146 yards in a 12-7 loss to Jacksonville on Oct. 24, Baltimore had two first-half turnovers that led to Arizona touchdowns last Sunday. The Ravens trailed the one-win Cardinals by 21 points in the second quarter before mounting the largest comeback in franchise history to win 30-27.

Ray Rice, who rushed for a season-best 107 yards and scored two touchdowns Sept. 11, had three second-half TDs.

Baltimore seems unlikely to win at Heinz Field if it puts together a repeat performance of the Jaguars game or of the first half against the Cardinals. The Steelers have won seven straight at home, including playoffs.

"When we play good fundamental football, we're a good football team. It comes down to that," coach John Harbaugh said. "It's technique, it's attention to detail, it's getting a little momentum.

"We know how to play that game, they know how to play that game. We looking forward to it, I do know that."

Although Pittsburgh has forced an NFL-low three turnovers, the Ravens have to do a better job of protecting the ball. Baltimore has turned it over 13 times since the opener, with Joe Flacco responsible for four fumbles and six interceptions.

Flacco put together a strong performance against the Steelers in September, passing for 224 yards with three touchdowns, but has only thrown for five TDs since.

[Palmetto Steel]

Six of the eight ESPN NFL experts selected the Steelers to top the Ravens. Baltimore hasn't swept the Steelers since 2006, the last time the Ravens won the AFC North.

[Beezy]

Here we go... Eventually. Going to be a long day.

[Palmetto Steel]

Key matchups

MAX STARKS & MARCUS GILBERT vs. TERRELL SUGGS

On opening day when all-star linebacker Terrell Suggs wrecked havoc on the Steelers, Max Starks was an unemployed left tackle watching the game on a TV in an Arizona sports bar. As Suggs recorded three sacks, including two that resulted in fumbles, Marcus Gilbert watched in awe from the Steelers' sideline. He was in uniform as the Ravens rolled 35-7, but he didn't play. Tonight, though, both Starks and Gilbert will be on the field and it's their job to keep Suggs in check.

So much has changed for the Steelers since that opening-day defeat at Baltimore, and one of the more positive changes has been the improved play at tackle. Certainly re-signing Starks, an eight-year pro, was significant. Since Starks was signed on Oct. 5, the Steelers are 4-0 and getting more production offensively. Gilbert has contributed, too, with steady improvement at right tackle.

Gilbert is now at starter because Willie Colon suffered a season-ending injury on the last play of the Steelers' opening-day embarrassment. As Suggs sacked Ben Roethlisberger, there was a five-player collision that left Colon with a torn triceps muscle.

"The guy's a beast," Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward said of Suggs.

Including playoff games, Suggs has sacked Roethlisberger 15.5 times. That's the most Roethlisberger has been dropped by any NFL any defender.

Because Suggs moves around so much, he could come from any direction. So both Starks and Gilbert will get the chance to block him.

"Can't give Max enough kudos for how he's played since he came back," offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said. "But he has a heck of a challenge this week. The young fella (Gilbert) is going to have his hands full, too."

LAWRENCE TIMMONS vs. RAY RICE

It would be unfair to say that Lawrence Timmons has been a disappointment. He's played solid football. But he certainly hasn't been spectacular as so many of his teammates predicted during training camp. In fairness to Timmons, he had to move from inside linebacker to the outside the past four games while James Harrison sat out with an eye injury. Still, Timmons has yet to produce any big plays.

Timmons doesn't have any sacks. He hasn't intercepted a pass. He hasn't forced a fumble. He hasn't recovered a fumble. Again, he's been solid. But nowhere near great.

It would help the Steelers' chances of winning tonight if Timmons could have his 2011 breakout game. He needs to come up big as the Steelers try to contain the Ravens' best offensive weapon, running back Ray Rice.

When the Steelers lost to the Ravens on 9/11, Timmons was credited with 10 tackles. But that's a deceiving number. For example, on the first snap of the game, Timmons made the tackle, but did so after Rice ran for 36 of his 107 yards. In the second quarter when Rice caught an 11-yard TD pass, he burned Timmons on the play.

"Ray Rice is still a central part of their offense, both rushing and receiving," coach Mike Tomlin said. "He hurt us in a variety of ways the last time we played them. We need to be better against him this time around."

In seven games, Rice has racked up 862 yards from scrimmage - 489 rushing, 373 receiving - and leads the Ravens with seven TDs (five rushing, two receiving).

[Palmetto Steel]

GAME PLAN

When the Ravens have the ball: The offense has been inconsistent because of QB Joe Flacco, but one constant remains: RB Ray Rice, who is averaging 123.1 yards of offense per game. Rice set the tone in the first meeting when had a 36-yard run on the first play from scrimmage and finished with 107 yards rushing and 42 receiving. They switched to a zone-blocking run scheme this year and they cut NT Casey Hampton with the backside guard on eight of their first 26 run plays. The Steelers have slowly tightened their run defense, holding opponents to an average of 78.8 ypg and 3.9 ypc in the past four games. The Steelers had CB Ike Taylor follow newly signed Lee Evans in the first meeting and held him without a catch. But WR Anquan Boldin caught four for 74 yards, including a 27-yard TD. The Steelers secondary, ranked No. 1 against the pass, allowed four passes of 20 yards or longer in the opener. Since then, they have allowed 11 in eight games.

When the Steelers have the ball: The offense will go from facing the lowest-ranked defense in the league (Patriots) to the No. 1 ranked defense. The Ravens lead the NFL in fewest points per game (15.7) and yards per game (263.3) and have an AFC-best 25 sacks. The Steelers turned the ball over seven times in the first meeting (four fumbles, three interceptions), but have committed just two turnovers in their four-game win streak. The Steelers have never quite figured out how to handle DE Terrell Suggs, who had three sacks, two forced fumbles and a tackle for loss in the first meeting. In 13 games against the Steelers, including playoffs, he has 131/2 sacks, 19 tackles and 8 assists. He will be lined mostly against LT Max Starks. Suggs had 13 tackles and a sack last week against the Cardinals. WR Hines Ward (ankle) will return after missing last week's game, but WR Emmanuel Sanders will not play because of the death of his mother.

KEEP AN EYE ON ...

S Ed Reed ... He has only two interceptions in seven games and both came against the Steelers in the season opener. That is a rarity in itself for Reed, who has an NFL-best 56 interceptions and 13 touchdowns since coming into the league in 2002. Reed had never been much of a factor in nine previous games against Ben Roethlisberger, intercepting him just once in 2006. But both interceptions killed scoring drives because they came at the Ravens 1- and 5-yard lines, respectively.

INTANGIBLES

The Ravens won the first meeting in the season opener, 35-7, and won last year's regular-season meeting at Heinz Field. That is their only victory at Heinz Field in the past six meetings, including postseason. The Ravens have won three consecutive games against division opponents, but the Steelers have won seven in a row at home, including postseason. ... The Steelers are 10-5 at home against the Ravens... The Ravens have swept the season series just once (2006). ... Even with the blowout in Week 1, eight of the past 10 games in the series have been decided by a touchdown or less.

KEYS TO VICTORY

To win, the Ravens must ...

1 Go twice to Rice. No sense deviating from what they did in the first meeting when he combined for 149 yards and scored two TDs.

2 Ben(d) but don't break. Roethlisberger has been the AFC's hottest passer, averaging 288.5 yards and nearly three TDs in the past four games.

3 Zone out. They were able to run the ball in the first meeting by cutting Hampton and DE Aaron Smith with their zone-blocking schemes.

To win, the Steelers must ...

1 Whack-o Flacco. He was sacked just once and under little pressure in the first meeting, but he has been sacked eight times in the past three games

2 Plug Suggs. He has made a career of disrupting the Steelers offense, registering 81/2 sacks in the past four games against them.

3 See what Brown can do for you. WR Antonio Brown has made up for the occasional wrong route by catching 16 passes for 168 yards in the past two games.

[Palmetto Steel]

Recent Trends

Baltimore:	Over is 6-2 in BAL last 8 games overall. BAL are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games in Week 9. Under is 9-4-1 in BAL last 14 vs. AFC North.
Pittsburgh:	PIT are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games on grass. Under is 12-4 in PIT last 16 games in Week 9. Over is 7-3 in PIT last 10 vs. AFC.
Head to Head:	Over is 6-1-1 in the last 8 meetings in Pittsburgh. Over is 8-3-1 in the last 12 meetings.

[Palmetto Steel]

Injuries


Baltimore

Player		Status/Updated	Notes
Haloti Ngata	NT	Prob Sun - Thigh - 11/6/11	Ngata missed his second straight practice with an injured thigh but is expected to play in Sunday's game against the Steelers.
Matt Birk	C	Prob Sun - Neck - 11/6/11	Birk was limited in practice this week because of a neck injury but is expected to play Sunday against the Steelers.
David Reed	WR	Ques Sun - Knee - 11/4/11	Reed has been limited in practice this week because of knee injury and remains questionable for Sunday's game against the Steelers.
Anthony Allen	RB	Ques Sun - Thigh - 10/31/11	Allen missed his second straight game in Week 8 against the Cardinals due to a thigh injury and remains questionable for Sunday's game against the Steelers.
Ben Grubbs	G	Ques Sun - Toe - 10/31/11	Grubbs missed his sixth straight game in Week 8 against the Cardinals due to a toe injury and remains questionable for Sunday's game against the Steelers.
Dannell Ellerbe	LB	Mid Nov - Groin - 10/20/11	Ellerbe pulled his right groin muscle against the Texans in Week 6 and is expected to miss the next 3-4 weeks.
Lee Evans	WR	Out Sun - Ankle - 11/4/11	Evans has not played since Week 2 against the Titans due to a nagging ankle injury and has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Steelers.
Prescott Burgess	LB	I-R - Abdominal - 11/1/11	Burgess has been placed on injured reserve due to a torn abdominal injury. He will miss the remainder of the season.
Domonique Foxworth	CB	I-R - Knee - 9/28/11	Foxworth will miss the remainder of the season after being placed on the injured reserve because of a surgically repaired ACL that is not healing properly.

Pittsburgh

Player		Status/Updated	Notes
Hines Ward	WR	Prob Sun - Ankle - 11/4/11	Ward did not play against the Patriots in Week 8 due to a sprained ankle but is expected to play Sunday against the Ravens.
Chris Hoke	NT	Ques Sun - Neck - 10/31/11	Hoke suffered a neck stinger during the first half in Week 6 against the Jaguars and has not played since. He remains questionable for Sunday's game against the Ravens.
Jason Worilds	LB	Ques Sun - Quadricep - 10/31/11	Worilds has missed the last four games due to a quadriceps injury and he remains questionable for Sunday's game against the Ravens.
James Harrison	LB	Ques Sun - Eye - 11/4/11	Harrison suffered a fractured orbital bone during Week 4 against the Texans and has not played since. He remains questionable for Sunday's game against the Ravens.
Emmanuel Sanders	WR	Doub Sun - Knee - 11/4/11	Sanders is dealing with both an injured knee and the passing of his mother and is expected to miss Sunday's game against the Ravens.
LaMarr Woodley	LB	Doub Sun - Hamstring - 11/1/11	Woodley suffered a hamstring injury in Week 8 against the Patriots while trying to rush Tom Brady during the third quarter. He is not expected to be ready to play Sunday against the Ravens.
James Farrior	LB	Doub Sun - Calf - 11/4/11	Farrior was limited in practice because of calf injury and did not play against the Patriots in Week 8. He is expected to miss Sunday's game against the Ravens.
Doug Legursky	C	Mid Nov - Toe - 10/24/11	Legursky dislocated a toe in Week 6 against the Jaguars and is expected to be out for 2-3 weeks.
Daniel Sepulveda	P	I-R - Knee - 11/6/11	Sepulveda has been placed on injured reserve due to a knee injury and will miss the remainder of the season as a result.

[Palmetto Steel]

Here we go... Eventually. Going to be a long day.

True Dat!.... I've been up since 5pm yesterday, and started this early morning in Lima Peru....

[War Machine]

True Dat!.... I've been up since 5pm yesterday, and started this early morning in Lima Peru....

Gadzooks! That's a hell of a day!

Sandwiches dealt with here for now - pizza at the appropriate time. Superstitions and associated rituals are in operation.

[Palmetto Steel]

Sandwiches dealt with here for now - pizza at the appropriate time. Superstitions and associated rituals are in operation.

... Glad 'ya brought-up the "grub"... I was gonna ask....

... I got a few "burgundy pepper/'shroom burgers ready to toss on the grill just before sunset (@5 or so).... Some deviled eggs... And alcohol.....

[War Machine]

Bacon, chilli and cheese sandwiches on Italian bread. That made me think I should get some hoagie sticks and try bacon, chilli and cheese in that format - maybe with some sauteed onions and mushrooms.

[Palmetto Steel]

[Palmetto Steel]