BALTIMORE RAVENS @ PITTSBURGH STEELERS
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 6:30 P.M.
Pittsburgh (13-4) won the two regular season meetings with Baltimore (13-5) by a combined total of seven points. The first was by a field goal in overtime. The second was by four on a highly disputed touchdown pass with 43 seconds to go in regulation. The two teams were first and second in their division, the AFC North. They were first and second in the NFL in defense. Pittsburgh was number one in both cases, but the Ravens are in lock-step with them. The Steelers are 6 point favorites in this one, but Baltimore begs to differ.
BALTIMORE: UP: LB Terrell Suggs has 10 sacks, including 2 in the playoffs. Rookie QB Joe Flacco has been solid in both playoff games for the Ravens. Head Coach John Harbaugh threw the red flag to challenge a Tennessee reception last week that was upheld and resulted in the Titans missing a 51 yard field goal. The Ravens defense forced 3 turnovers by top-seeded Tennessee en route to their 13-10 win. DOWN: CB Samari Rolle left the last game with a groin injury. He is listed as questionable Sunday. LB Suggs missed part of the 2nd half with a shoulder strain. He is also questionable. In the only post-season meeting between the two arch-rivals, Pittsburgh beat the Ravens in a wild-card game in 2002.
PITTSBURGH: UP: RB Willie Parker ran for 146 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Chargers last week, the highest postseason total for the Steelers since Franco Harris ran for 153 against the Baltimore Colts in 1975. The Steelers ran for 3 TDs, passed for a TD, and scored on a punt return vs. the Chargers. The defense shut down San Diego RB Darren Sproles, holding him to 15 yards running and 91 yards receiving, most on a 62 yard TD reception with less than two minutes to play and the game already decided. Sproles had 328 all-purpose yards in an overtime game vs. the Colts a week earlier.
DOWN: Chargers QB Phillip Rivers connected on 21 of 35 passes for 308 yards and 3 TDs. Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger suffered a spinal concussion in the final game of the season, but played in the game against San Diego. He is expected to play Sunday, but is being watched closely by team doctors.
KEYS TO THE GAME: Both teams excel at defense. Each will try to exploit the other’s perceived weakness there. For Baltimore, Flacco will try to replicate River’s 300+ yards passing by finding his wide receivers open in the flats. Pittsburgh will attack consistently with the running of Parker and will be very protective of Roethlisberger.
BY THE NUMBERS: The Ravens are 14-4 ATS and 10-8 O/U while the Steelers are 10-7 ATS and 9-8 O/U. As an underdog Baltimore is 6-4 SU and 7-3 ATS. As a favorite Pittsburgh is 9-3 SU and 6-6 ATS. The Ravens are 7-3 SU & 8-2 ATS on the road and the Steelers are 7-2 SU & 5-4 ATS at home. In playoff games the last three seasons Baltimore is 2-1 both SU and ATS while Pittsburgh is 1-1 SU and 2-0 ATS over the same period. This game promises to be a classic defensive battle. The winner will probably be the team that can protect the ball best while causing the other team to turn it over.