Ravens vs. Steelers: Complete Wild Card Game Preview for Baltimore
The Baltimore Ravens are back in the playoffs after missing out last year, as is their opponent in the Pittsburgh Steelers.
After winning the Super Bowl in 2013, the Ravens missed the playoffs last season. Pittsburgh missed the postseason in each of the past two seasons.
These two AFC North rivals split the regular-season series with both teams defending their home turf. The Ravens won 26-6 in Baltimore in Week 2.
As for the Steelers, they got revenge with a 43-23 win in Pittsburgh in Week 9. Though both games were blowouts, they were close for the first three quarters before the home team pulled away late.
This game will kick off Saturday night on NBC, and it will be the third time the two division rivals have met in the postseason since 2008.
Here is my preview of this game for Baltimore.
Week 17 Recap
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The Ravens entered Week 17 needing a win and some help to get into the NFL playoffs. They needed a win against the Browns and a Chargers loss to get into the postseason as a wild-card team.
Neither team did much offensively in the first half, but Baltimore did have an early scoring opportunity after Joe Flacco hit Justin Forsett for a 21-yard pass into the red zone.
However, the Browns stopped the Ravens on four straight plays to force a turnover on downs. Baltimore did get back into the red zone early in the second quarter after a 30-yard run by Forsett.
Yet again, though, the Browns defense stiffened and forced the Ravens into a field goal to take a 3-0 lead. Cleveland responded with a drive that ended in a field goal after running back Terence West broke off a 36-yard run into Ravens territory.
The drive ended with Cleveland settling for a field goal to tie the game at 3-3 going into halftime. In the third quarter, Cleveland was able to score after a long drive ended with a two-yard score by West.
That gave the Browns a 10-3 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but from there, the Ravens took control of the game and their postseason destiny.
After getting a field goal to cut the lead to 10-6, Flacco threw touchdowns on consecutive drives to give the Ravens a 20-10 lead, and the defense would go on to make that the final score.
Baltimore's win combined with the Chargers' loss to the Chiefs gave the Ravens the final wild-card spot in the AFC.
News and Notes
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Offensive Line Still Banged Up
The Ravens are dealing with a host of injuries along the offensive line entering the playoffs. Both starting tackles were lost in the Week 16 loss at Houston, and there's a chance both are out this week.
Eugene Monroe suffered an ankle injury, while Ricky Wagner had a foot injury. Wagner was later placed on season-ending injured reserve, leaving rookie undrafted free agent James Hurst to start in his place versus the Browns last week.
Monroe was out as well, forcing right guard Marshal Yanda to right tackle. Rookie John Urschel started in Yanda's guard spot.
Hurst actually started at left tackle earlier this year when Monroe was out with a knee injury, and he's been solid in relief. The rookie may have to start again this week after Monroe didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday.
It looks as though Baltimore will have to use the same line configuration against the Steelers as it did versus the Browns last week.
Steelers' Le'Veon Bell Injured
The Steelers won 11 games and the AFC North on the strength of their offense, which is loaded enough to carry Pittsburgh on a Super Bowl run.
However, that won't happen if star running back Le'Veon Bell is out for the playoffs. Bell injured his knee during the Steelers' Week 17 win over the Bengals.
It looks like he'll miss this week, though there is some hope that he'll be able to go. Bell said, via ESPN:
"My leg feels great. It feels good to be able to move around and not think about it much. I don't want to play fearing my knee getting hurt. It's not an injury like an MCL where you go out there and play and it gets worse.
That doctors have told me that's not what it is, that it's not something that can get worse if [I] do play, so that's a good thing to hear. If I feel ready, I'm definitely going to try to get on the field and play.
"
Bell led the AFC with 1,361 rushing yards this season, and he accounted for 165 all-purpose yards combined in Pittsburgh's two games against the Ravens.
He's a game-changer, and Bell's playing this week could be what ultimately decides who wins this matchup.
Injury Report
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Name | Position | Injury | Game Status | ||
Brown, Arthur | ILB | Thigh | DNP | DNP |
|
Canty, Chris | DL | Thigh/Ankle | FP | FP |
|
Jernigan, Timmy | DT | Foot/Ankle | DNP | DNP |
|
Monroe, Eugene | T | Ankle | DNP | DNP |
|
Daniels, Owen | TE | NIR |
| FP |
|
- Practice Status
- DNP = Did not participate in practice
- LP = Limited participation in practice—less than 100 percent of a player's normal repetitions
- FP = Full Participation—100 percent of a player's normal repetitions
- Out = Player will not play
- (-) = Not Listed = No practice status available
As mentioned in the previous slide, Baltimore could be without starting left tackle Eugene Monroe after he missed practice leading up to the Wild Card Game.
Also injured is inside linebacker Arthur Brown. He's been a game-day inactive most of this year but was active during the Week 17 win over the Browns.
Defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan is also banged up as a foot and ankle injury is causing him to miss practice. The good news is Haloti Ngata comes back from suspension this week, so he'll easily offset the loss of Jernigan if he's out.
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Matchups and X-Factor to Watch
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OLB Terrell Suggs vs. OT Marcus Gilbert
The Ravens need to get pressure on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger with as few pass-rushers as possible. That will allow more guys to stay back in coverage to defend Pittsburgh's many threats at receiver.
The good news is Pro Bowl linebacker Terrell Suggs often lines up along Baltimore's 3-4 front on the line with his hand down and rushes upfield.
According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Suggs is third on the team in stops (51), second in sacks (14), second in QB hits (11) and second in QB hurries (32).
He's been a force for the Ravens in both run defense and as a pass-rusher. Suggs will often be lined up across from right tackle Marcus Gilbert.
That's a very favorable matchup for Baltimore, as Gilbert is second on the team in QB hits allowed (19) and sacks surrendered (six).
He'd probably have led the team in those had he not missed four games due to injury. Gilbert struggles against good pass-rushers, and Suggs is one of the best.
WR Torrey Smith vs. CB Brice McCain
The Ravens have relied heavily on Torrey Smith as their No. 1 receiver down the stretch of the season. Over the final 11 games of 2014, Smith hauled in 10 touchdowns to finish with 11 on the year.
He's caught three over the past two games, and he'll look to keep his hot streak going against Pittsburgh in the playoffs.
As for the Steelers, they've been decimated at cornerback, but they've gotten great production from Brice McCain down the stretch.
McCain started against the Bengals last week and was often tasked with covering Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Green. McCain not only helped limit Green to 82 yards and no scores, but he also grabbed two critical interceptions.
Smith and McCain will often be matched up this week, and who gets the better of this matchup will greatly affect how well the Ravens move the ball offensively.
X-Factor: DL Haloti Ngata
The Ravens defense was hit with a devastating loss in Week 14 when it was announced All-Pro defensive lineman Haloti Ngata was suspended for the final four games of the regular season.
However, Baltimore was able to survive his loss by going 2-2 down the stretch, which was good enough to earn it a playoff spot.
Now, Ngata is back on the team after not playing for an entire month. On one hand, Ngata should be fresh and ready to be a force along the defensive line.
On the other hand, being off for a month could have affected his conditioning to the point he's not able to play as many snaps at a high level as he's accustomed to.
How well Ngata plays in this game will go a long way in determining how well Baltimore's defense is able to slow down the Steelers offense.
Prediction
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The Ravens have overcome a lot to get to this point, and they won't go down easily in their first playoff game in two years with it also being against their division rival.
However, the Steelers are just too much for Baltimore to handle right now. Led by big games by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and receiver Antonio Brown, the Steelers offense has a field day against Baltimore's depleted secondary.
Joe Flacco and the offense do just enough to keep this game close for three quarters, but they just don't have the firepower to keep up for four quarters.
The Steelers use a big fourth quarter to run away with this one and send the Ravens home after a brief stay in the postseason.
Steelers win, 33-17
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