BLUE 1,026 Posted January 1, 2015 By JACK CASSIDY STATS Writer (AP) -- The fierce rivalry between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens has taken to the postseason on three previous occasions. All three matchups took place in Pittsburgh, and all ended with a Steelers victory. Baltimore will again head to Heinz Field for a postseason tilt Saturday night, looking to author a new chapter in the storied matchup. "It's a great challenge," coach John Harbaugh said Monday. "It's another playoff game there. We'd like to win one, one of these days." Baltimore previously lost playoff meetings with the Steelers in 2002, 2009 and 2011. The Ravens did not control their own destiny heading into the final week of the regular season, but took care of business with a 20-10 victory over Cleveland and benefited from San Diego's loss to Kansas City. The combination secured Baltimore's sixth postseason berth in seven seasons and first since its Super Bowl title following the 2012 season. Any sort of title run this year will have to happen away from Baltimore, which will be on the road throughout the AFC playoffs as the sixth seed. "All you've got to do is win all your games," Terrell Suggs said. "If you ask me, I think we're a (heck) of a team on the road. Sometimes, that's the way you've got to go. But everything's 0-0, all things are new, and we've gotten to the second season." The numbers don't exactly match Suggs' sentiment. Including last season, the Ravens are 6-10 away from Baltimore and have not posted a winning record on the road since 2010. They were routed by the Steelers 43-23 in their last visit to Heinz Field on Nov. 2, allowing Ben Roethlisberger to throw for a career high-tying six touchdowns. Pittsburgh has enjoyed such performances from Roethlisberger all season. The 11th-year quarterback posted career highs with 32 touchdown passes, a 67.1 completion percentage, and 309.5 passing yards per game. Given his postseason pedigree, there's no indication the production should slow down Saturday. "I think we're continuing to improve every week, guys are stepping up and making plays," Roethlisberger, who owns a 10-4 playoff record and two Super Bowl titles, said to Pittsburgh's official site. "We're getting more contributions from a little bit of everybody." Yet, a key piece - Le'Veon Bell - may be absent on Sunday. Bell amassed 11 touchdowns and 2,215 yards from scrimmage, contributing to Pittsburgh's franchise-record 6,749 total yards this season, but he suffered a hyperextended knee in Pittsburgh's AFC North-clinching 27-17 victory over Cincinnati in Week 17. "I feel really good," Bell said. "I didn't expect to be feeling this well this early. But I am, so I'm just going to take it day by day and see where it goes." In losing Bell, who leads the league with 841 yards after catch, the Steelers would also lose their big-play threat from the backfield, leaving more responsibility in the passing game. Antonio Brown has proven he is up to that task, leading the NFL in receptions (129) and receiving yards (1,698). He should provide a daunting challenge for Baltimore's 23rd-ranked pass defense. "Antonio Brown is gifted," Harbaugh said to Baltimore's official site. "He runs all the routes; he's not just a deep threat, he's a route runner; reverses; as a punt returner, as we saw in the Cincinnati game last week. He's a multi-dimensional guy that can score at any point in time." Brown posted an 11-catch, 144-yard performance against Baltimore in the most recent meeting, highlighted by a 54-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. It was an aerial display the Ravens have not yet forgotten. "A couple mistakes here, a couple blown coverages," cornerback Rashaan Melvin said. "You try not to make the same mistakes twice. … These last couple games, we've been playing good ball all over the field. That confidence going into the playoffs is going to help a lot." That defensive unit will receive a boost with the return of tackle Haloti Ngata, who completed a four-game suspension for violations of the league's performance-enhancing substances policy. Ngata has two sacks and two interceptions in 12 games. Joe Flacco may also be entering Saturday's matchup with some momentum after passing for 312 yards and two touchdowns against Cleveland, marking his first 300-yard performance since Week 9. Despite his modest numbers of late, Flacco still finished the year with a career high in yardage (3,986) with ten fewer interceptions than he threw in 2013. "Anything can happen once you get into the playoffs, but I don't necessarily want to approach it with us," Flacco said. "I'm not going to be surprised if, three weeks from now, we're sitting here and still playing." With the exception of their most recent matchup, the Ravens and Steelers traditionally engage in low-scoring affairs, especially in Pittsburgh. Since 2008, Baltimore has averaged 18.4 points over its last seven games at Heinz Field, and has held Pittsburgh to 20.4 points in those contests. Source: Hosted.Stats.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted January 2, 2015 I am so hyped for this game, it's gonna be a bloodbath. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted January 2, 2015 Classic AFC North game. Lots of defense, with turnovers being the difference. I'm picking the Steelers, but whoever wins is going to the AFCCG. 23 20 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge+ 3,436 Posted January 2, 2015 Weather is gonna be sloppy tomorrow night. Not sure how much of an effect it will have, but it's something worth considering. 19 17 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradyFan81 404 Posted January 2, 2015 (edited) Game of the weekend IMO. Last time the Steelers played the Ravens, Bell had 10 carries for 20 yards. So I'm not entirely sure they NEED him. Ben is gonna have to step up and put forth a really clutch performance. Threw 6 TDs vs them last time So Big Ben obviously has their number, just a matter of having the same level of performance when it counts. One thing I'll say is I hope the refs don't ruin the game with flags when they see hard hits. There's gonna be some really clean hard hits this game that some team gets screwed by unfortunately just cause hard hits are basically outlawed now. Edited January 2, 2015 by RevisFan81 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DBR96A 87 Posted January 2, 2015 I honestly don't know how this one will play out. I just hope that the Steelers win so they'll be 10-0 all-time in the post-season against division opponents. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DBR96A 87 Posted January 2, 2015 Game of the weekend IMO. Last time the Steelers played the Ravens, Bell had 10 carries for 20 yards. So I'm not entirely sure they NEED him. Ben is gonna have to step up and put forth a really clutch performance. Threw 6 TDs vs them last time So Big Ben obviously has their number, just a matter of having the same level of performance when it counts. Glad you noticed that the running game wasn't necessary for the Steelers to beat the Ravens last time. Lots of people elsewhere assume that not having Le'Veon Bell means the Steelers have no chance. Even without him, they can't get much worse than 55 rushing yards and 2.2 YPC like they had last time against the Ravens. As long as the offensive line plays relatively well and turnovers are limited, then I think the Steelers have a good chance of winning. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zack_of_Steel+ 3,014 Posted January 2, 2015 I so, so wanted to play the Texans so I wouldn't have to hate everything if we lost to the Flacco Ravens in the playoffs. But I survived being at the Tebow game, so whatever, I guess. 27 17 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch 874 Posted January 2, 2015 I so, so wanted to play the Texans so I wouldn't have to hate everything if we lost to the Flacco Ravens in the playoffs. But I survived being at the Tebow game, so whatever, I guess. 27 17 You were at the playoff game against Tebow?? My God that had to be brutal witnessing that live lol. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zack_of_Steel+ 3,014 Posted January 3, 2015 You were at the playoff game against Tebow?? My God that had to be brutal witnessing that live lol. Yeah, and it was my first NFL game and I bought us expensive tickets on the 50 yard line in the 10th row behind the Steelers bench. -_- I was also at Game 2 of the NBA Finals when the Thunder lost to the Heat. I've been to two Steeler and three Thunder games and I've seen one win (Thunder over Kings, Westbrook oop dunk was my avatar forever) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch 874 Posted January 3, 2015 Wow that's tough man. To the topic, definitely the game of the week and is still the best rivalry in football. The 49ers and Seahawks never reached these climatic heights. This game can go either way and I can see either team making a real run but I'm going with the Steelers here. Steelers don't have Bell but I think Big Ben pulls through in this game. I have a really good feeling about the Steelers this year for some reason and have loved how they played this season. 27 24 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted January 4, 2015 Ravens declared LT Eugene Monroe, DT Timmy Jernigan, TE Phillip Supernaw, DT Casey Walker, DT Terrence Cody, DE Steven Means, and CB Chris Greenwood inactive for Saturday night's Wild Card game against the Steelers. With Monroe (ankle) and RT Rick Wagner (foot) getting hurt in the season finale, the Ravens' line will be LT James Hurst, LG Kelechi Osemele, C Jeremy Zuttah, RG John Urschel, and RT Marshal Yanda. Jernigan is also hurt. Steelers declared RB Le'Veon Bell, CB Ike Taylor, WR Lance Moore, QB Landry Jones, OL Chris Hubbard, TE Michael Palmer, and DE Clifton Geathers inactive for Saturday night's Wild Card game against the Ravens. Bell had already been ruled out with his knee injury. Josh Harris will get the start, with Ben Tate and Dri Archer mixing in. Taylor and Moore are healthy scratches. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BC 331 Posted January 4, 2015 Doesn't look too wet out. 30 23 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradyFan81 404 Posted January 4, 2015 A nation turns it's lonely eyes to the Steelers/Ravens to save the opening night of the playoffs. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted January 4, 2015 This game was better before it even started... Not much could make it worse. Even a blow out wouldn't completely sour me like Arizona / Carolina. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradyFan81 404 Posted January 4, 2015 If you told me Ben had 183 yards in the 1st half I'd say the Steelers put up at least 17 points. Huge win for the Ravens to only give up 9 while basically getting shred. The definiton of bend don't break. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted January 4, 2015 Uh oh. Ravens suddenly playing well in January? It's 2012 all over again. Watch out, Patriots! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted January 4, 2015 Don't worry, we'll handle them when our time comes. I refuse to let Joe Flacco win another Super Bowl. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ATL_Predator+ 1,196 Posted January 4, 2015 The Steelers could make a run they said.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted January 4, 2015 (edited) Hey Zack, if Flacco plays out of his mind again and leads the Ravens to another Super Bowl, he has to be in your top 20 QB all time like Eli, right? "Just get him to the playoffs." Edited January 4, 2015 by SteVo 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
