Helmet thunder in Baltimore

Opportunity Knocks, Will Pittsburgh Answer?

AFC NORTH, who will reign supreme? This week at 4:15 pm Eastern time the NFL's #1 and #2 defenses bang helmets in Baltimore. This may look a lot like the Cowboys game of last week in many ways. Which is good if it results in a win.

The Steelers defense may not be the greatest defense we have ever seen in Pittsburgh, but we should be proud of their consistency. After 10 wins and 3 losses the Pittsburgh protectors have not allowed any team to gain more than 300 yards of offense the entire season. This defense is also full of pro bowl caliber players who work together and credit one another while not seeking their own glory.

The interesting challenge against the Ravens is this. The Flacco fueled offense is much improved especially by Ravens standards. Rookie QB Joe Flacco has been the steady hand they have never had in Ravens history. What makes him stand out is even when the offense is struggling they still have been managing a few drives and scoring enough points. Adding the 3 headed running back combo meal of McGahee, McClain, and Rice is also a force to reckoned with. The comforting thought is Dick Lebeau will have the Steelers "D" ready and foaming at the mouth.

On the flip side everyone knows the Ravens defense does not like being second fiddle to their rival Steelers defense. They too will be poised to punch Ben and the boys in the mouth. The Ravens defense have scored 6 TD's this season also. Let's be honest these two teams know each other very well.

We also need to face the music with our Pittsburgh offense. Ben is not coming out of this funk. His QB rating of 80.1 makes him the #23 ranked passer in the NFL. Sorry big boy, even as a huge fan of yours, I have to tell you that isn't cutting it. After 13 weeks I realize this is what you are going to give us and that worries me. While I am impressed with your never give up spirit and the fact that you have sometimes pulled a few plays out of rear end, I have Super Bowl expectations. The performance up till now isn't going to get this team to the Super Bowl. And it is not all Ben's fault.

The running game is not pulling its head out of the sand either. Willie hasn't been healthy all year and losing Mendenhall didn't help. Mewelde Moore has shown signs of reliability but overall the O-lIne and Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians has not distinguished themselves to a Super Bowl level. I have come to grips with the fact that we are going to go into the playoffs without getting the rushing attack up to snuff either. That usually doesn't work come crunch time and this too is a source of ulcers for the faithful Steelers fan.

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For now let's just focus on this week then. A Steelers 27 to 13 victory is quite possible. Watching Ben be a cool 15 for 23 with 190 yards and 2 TD's / 0 INT's would be faith building. Witnessing 140 yards of rushing against the Ravens will also heal some wounds of mediocrity in the Pittsburgh backfield. If somewhat healthy it would be nice to see Willie hit 75 yards on 18 carries and Moore add 60 yards on 13 carries with a few pounding Russell yards throw in for good measure. I want at least 1 RB TD! That leaves a couple customary Reed field goals on the table of course.

I would like to see the Ravens be shut down and kept out of the end zone for the most part. The last couple weeks Pittsburgh has had the turnover causing machine working but that is not going to stay in high gear forever so we need to go back to the old fashioned method of imposing our will. But hey a few turnovers would be accepted, just not expected.

Let's do this and pretty much seal the deal of a 2008 Division Title.

Injury Front - as of 12/10

STEELERS

RAVENS

by Andy Natalie
ProFootball-fans.com Pittsburgh Steelers Correspondent