Ravens vs. Steelers: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More

It’s almost beautiful how it all worked out.

Flash back to Week 17 of the NFL season. The only way the Baltimore Ravens were getting in the playoffs was with a victory over the Cleveland Browns and a San Diego Chargers loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The only way the Pittsburgh Steelers were winning the AFC North and earning the No. 3 seed in the process was with a win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Of course it worked out, because these two archrivals seem to be drawn together by a magnetic pull. They can’t get away from each other, and now they will square off on the brightest of stages—the NFL playoffs.

Here is a look at the essential information for the postseason showdown between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens.

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

Date: Saturday, Jan. 3

Time: 8:15 p.m. ET

TV: NBC 

Spread: Steelers -3 (via Odds Shark, as of Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET)

Injury Report (via CBS Sports)

DATE	POS	PLAYER	INJURY	NFL STATUS	UPDATE
12/28/14	LB	Arthur Brown	Hamstring	LEFT	Left Week 17 vs. Cleveland
12/28/14	DL	Chris Canty	Ankle, thigh	OUT	Missed Week 17 vs. Cleveland
12/28/14	T	Eugene Monroe	ANKLE	DOUBTFUL
12/28/14	LB	Terrell Suggs	BACK, THIGH	QUESTIONABLE
12/28/14	RB	Fitzgerald Toussaint	RIBS	QUESTIONABLE

DATE	POS	PLAYER	INJURY	NFL STATUS	UPDATE
12/29/14	RB	Le'Veon Bell	Knee	LEFT	Left Week 17 vs. Cincinnati
12/28/14	TE	Michael Palmer	Groin	QUESTIONABLE	Missed Week 17 vs. Cincinnati
12/28/14	DB	Troy Polamalu	Knee	QUESTIONABLE	Missed Week 17 vs. Cincinnati
12/28/14	DB	Ike Taylor	Shoulder, forearm	QUESTIONABLE	Missed Week 17 vs. Cincinnati
12/28/14	T	Kevin Beachum	Back	PROBABLE
12/28/14	TE	Matt Spaeth	ELBOW	PROBABLE
12/28/14	LB	Vince Williams	ANKLE	PROBABLE

Preview/Prediction

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin set the stage for this rivalry matchup in his press conference, via Steelers.com:

"

I look forward to it. It’s going to be typical Steelers/Ravens. Steelers/Ravens in January, it’s been a while since we had that. I know we’re going to be excited. We’re probably going to have to educate some of our guys to what that means. And I’m sure they’re going to have to do the same thing (and) educate some of their guys to what that means because it’s been a while.

"

The Ravens beat the Steelers in Week 2, 26-6, but Pittsburgh bounced back in Week 9 with a 43-23 win of its own. Considering these two squads have split their last 14 meetings, that should come as no surprise.

Ben Roethlisberger gashed the Baltimore secondary for six touchdown throws in that Week 9 win, which is reason for concern from the Ravens.

Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com noted that Baltimore will likely devote more attention Roethlisberger’s way before the playoff clash:

"With Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell hurting his right knee Sunday night, the Ravens will put all of their attention into slowing down quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Of course, that's easier said than done with a Ravens' secondary that has started seven cornerbacks and four safeties this season."

Le’Veon Bell may be limited in this one after he hyperextended his knee in the Week 17 victory over the Bengals. Losing the NFL’s second-leading rusher at 1,361 yards would be a difficult obstacle to overcome for the Steelers, but they do still have wide receiver Antonio Brown as an option.

All Brown did was haul in 129 passes, good for second in the history of the league in a single season, for 1,698 yards and 13 touchdown catches. He was one of the main reasons Roethlisberger threw for an NFL-best 4,952 yards (tied with Drew Brees) on the year.

If Bell is healthy, you would be hard-pressed to find a better offensive trio in the entire league than the one Pittsburgh brings to the table. That will be a problem for a Baltimore secondary that struggled with injuries and poor performance all season and finished 23rd in the league against the pass.

On the other side, the amount of pressure the Steelers can put on Joe Flacco will be critical.

They sacked the Ravens quarterback four times in the previous meeting, and Baltimore was without tackles Eugene Monroe (ankle injury) and Rick Wagner (placed on injured reserve) in Week 17. Offensive line injuries are some of the most difficult to overcome, and the Pittsburgh front seven will be anxious to attack a vulnerable Flacco in the backfield.

Don Wright/Associated Press

That type of pressure is key, because Baltimore is far from the only lackluster secondary in this playoff showdown.

The Steelers finished an abysmal 27th against the pass this season, largely because of injuries in the defensive backfield to Ike Taylor and Troy Polamalu, and may have trouble shutting Flacco down if they don’t make him feel uncomfortable in the pocket.

One thing the Pittsburgh defense does do well is stop the run. It finished sixth in the league against the run and could neutralize Justin Forsett out of the backfield with a strong push up front against that banged-up offensive line.

Nick Wass/Associated Press

Stopping Forsett would force Baltimore to be one-dimensional, which would make generating pressure on Flacco all the easier.

The home team won both regular-season matchups in convincing fashion, which gives the early advantage to the Steelers. Yes, Bell may be limited, but you could argue that the injuries to Monroe and Wagner along the Baltimore offensive line are equally as important, even if Monroe plays.

The Steelers defense will get to Flacco early and often, like it did in the most recent showdown, and force a late and costly mistake or two. Baltimore’s porous secondary won’t be able to stop the Steelers from converting on the other end after that happens.

The Steelers will advance at home to set up a showdown with Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. 

Prediction: Steelers 24, Ravens 20

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