According to its definition, a rivalry is a competition for the same objective or for supremacy on the same field. An example of a rivalry in its truest form can be found in the AFC North, between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. These two teams are no strangers to each other or the implications of their match up this coming Sunday. The Steelers and the Ravens will once again square off in the first of two games, this one being for supremacy in the AFC North. There are a lot of question marks for both sides; for the Steelers will Ben Roethlisberger will play? Another is how will a healthy Baltimore team handle a depleted Steelers roster? Lastly, will the Ravens continue their streak against the Steelers dating back to November 2013? The Steelers and Ravens, as they do every year, will meet twice; on November 6th in Baltimore and on December 25th in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh and Baltimore since 2000 have accounted for eleven of the fifteen division titles. The Steelers have won seven of those titles. The Ravens have had the Steelers’ number five out the last six times they have played, stretching back to their Thanksgiving Day game in 2013. In that five-game stretch, which includes a playoff road victory for the Ravens, they have outscored the Steelers 144-123. On top of the stretch of games that the Ravens have had success in, coming off their bye week, the Ravens expect to bring back five big name players. Steve Smith Sr, Terrell Suggs, CJ Mosley, Marshal Yanda, and Ronnie Stanley are all expected to make their returns to Baltimore. Add those guys to a team that is underperforming to this point and it is a recipe for Ravens to have a big day in front of their home crowd.
The Steelers have several walking wounded players; Ben Roethlisberger highlights the top of that list. Roethlisberger could miss his eighth game in twelve seasons against the Ravens. Ben, who was injured in a game early this season in a loss to the Dolphins, is also coming off a bye week as well looks as if he could make his return to the lineup. The Steelers have a tough choice ahead of them. On the one hand, Landry Jones has proven he is not the quarterback of the future and the game is for first place in the division. On the other side of things, is it worth Ben getting hurt in a game that is known for its ugliness and physicality? The weapons that the Steelers have mixed with a semi healthy Roethlisberger, expect the Steelers to start Landry Jones and for the bulk of the work load to fall on the run game and the defense. The Steelers have not thrown the ball efficiently when Roethlisberger is not under center.
Regardless if you are a Steelers fan or a Baltimore fan, one thing is for certain it is going to be a chippy slug fest with one team claiming the top spot in the AFC North and one team who must wait for revenge till they play each other again. The Steelers and Ravens are on each other's Christmas list for their second contest, but all eyes will be in Baltimore this weekend for this clash of AFC North powers.
Written by:
Carlo Guadagnino
http://cguadagn.wixsite.com/carlo-guadagnino
Edited by:
Cody Yocca
Daniel Bishop M.A.
References:
http://m.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/With-First-Place-On-The-Line-Ravens-Hone-In-On-Their-Division/4918a389-b987-4b7f-bfb1-2f48e6bb7243
http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2673261-pittsburgh-steelers-vs-baltimore-ravens-betting-odds-analysis-nfl-pick#
https://www.google.com/amp/www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bs-sp-preston-column-1101-20161031-column,amp.html?client=safari
http://www.pennlive.com/steelers/index.ssf/2016/11/steelers_ladarius_green_ravens.html
http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2016/10/31/ravens-have-won-5-of-their-last-6-games-vs-steelers/
http://www.vegasinsider.com/nfl/history/afc-north/
http://m.steelers.com/news/article-1/Steelers-21-18-all-time-vs-Ravens-in-regular-season/725785bb-cfa4-4a08-ac9a-558753aed078
http://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/teamvsteam?opp=3
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/injuries/PIT/pittsburgh-steelers
The whole game will depend on Big Ben playing
ReplyDeleteI think you will see Landry start with Ben as the back to come in of the Steelers and when the Steelers will need him!
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