Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens: Tale of the Tape
Sunday night you will witness the most anticipated match of the professional football season for the sole ownership of the AFC North.
Are you ready? Football fans, are you ready?
For the thousands in attendance and the millions watch around the world, from Baltimore, Maryland. Ladies and gentlemen, let’s get ready to rumble!
Standing on the visitor’s sideline, wearing the white jerseys and black helmets, weighing a combined 13,137 pounds, hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Their 2010 record is 8-3. They have won the AFC Central 15 times and the AFC North title four times, and they are the only team in the history of the National Football League to win the Super Bowl six times. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, six time Super Bowl Champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers!
Standing on the home sideline, wearing the purple jerseys and black helmets, weight a combined 13,228 pounds, hailing from Baltimore, Maryland. Their 2010 record is 8-3. They have won the AFC North two times and won Super Bowl XXXV behind one of the greatest defensive ever. They have defeated the challenger once this season. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, one time Super Bowl Champions, the Baltimore Ravens!
That’s right, Sunday night’s game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens is going to be a heavy weight fight for control of the AFC North Division.
For many, it is the under card behind the Monday night game between AFC East rivals New York Jets and New England Patriots. But for football purest who love tough, hard hitting, physical football, Pittsburgh-Baltimore is the matchup that you will want to see.
Here is the tale of the tape for Sunday night’s game.
Special Teams
1 of 10
Billy Cundiff leads the way for Baltimore’s special teams connecting on 18 of 21 field goals while newly acquired Shaun Suishman went 4 for 4 in his Pittsburgh debut, making each kick from over 40 yards in a windy Buffalo, including the game winner in overtime.
Daniel Sepulveda is having a good year as the Steelers punter averaging 45.6 yards, a 39.9 net, and 15 punts downed inside the 20. Sam Koch averages slightly below that at 43.5 yards and a 39.1 net with 26 punts inside the 20.
As a team, Pittsburgh has allowed 21.2 yards per kick return and 7.4 yards per punt return. Baltimore allows 27.2 yards per return on kickoffs and 8.2 yards per punt return.
Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown are a great one-two punch on kick returns averaging 25.1 and 31.3 yards per return respectively.
Brown, the likely punt returner if he plays, has a 10.9 average and Sanders 15 yards. If Antwaan Randle El is in he will likely call for a fair catch.
Jalen Parmale averages 23.1 yards per kick return and David Reed 29.3 yards.
Tom Zibikowski only has a 6.3 yards per return on punts and Lardarius Webb 7.8 yards per return.
Edge: Pittsburgh
Offensive Line
2 of 10
Neither the Ravens nor the Steelers have stellar offensive lines, but Pittsburgh’s has been weak spot for several years now.
While the Steelers average 4.1 yards per carry to the Ravens 3.7 yards per carry, Pittsburgh has 34 carries for negative yardage to only 24 for Baltimore.
Of greater concern is how these two teams will protect the quarterback.
The poor pass protection is well-documented for Pittsburgh as Ben Roethlisberger has been one of the most sacked quarterbacks over the past few seasons. This year is no exception
The Steelers have the 9th worst line in the league in sacks allowed with 28 compared to 23 allowed by the Ravens. Pittsburgh’s offensive line actually holds a slight edge over Baltimore’s line in quarterback pressures allowed, 46 to 47.
Injuries, however, have taken their toll on the Steelers’ line as well as penalties (they accounted for 5 holding calls last Sunday, 4 by Chris Kemoeatu). Pittsburgh is without both starting offensive tackles, Max Starks and Willie Colon, starting Jonathan Scott and Flozell Adams at left and right tackle respectively.
Ramon Foster just took over the starting job from Trai Essex at right guard, but Foster could be considered the third string guard behind Essex and Doug Legursky. Maurkice Pouncey is the only blue chipper Pittsburgh has along their line.
Even with a banged up Michael Oher, the Ravens have the better offensive line.
Edge: Baltimore
Running Backs
3 of 10
The Steelers and Ravens each feature a young, multi-talented running back, an older veteran, and a bruiser for short yardage situations.
For the Steelers, Rashard Mendenhall leads the way with 962 yards and a career high nine touchdowns, averaging 4.0 yards per carry.
Mewelde Moore is the veteran presence who steps in on third downs because of his blocking and receiving ability. He has 23 receptions this season.
Isaac Redman is the short yardage back who has made the most of his limited opportunities, accumulating 171 yards and averaging an impressive 4.4 yards per carry.
Baltimore has a dangerous weapon their backfield with Ray Rice who has 815 yards and a 4.0 yards per carry average but only three touchdowns.
Willis McGahee has added 271 yards and played a lot earlier this season against the Steelers when Rice was injured.
The Ravens also have a banged up Le’Ron McClain as their short yardage bruiser.
While Pittsburgh’s backs have the edge on the ground, Baltimore’s running backs have caught 65 balls compared to only 43 for the Steelers.
Edge: Push
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
4 of 10
These two teams used to be power run teams but now have shifted to passing oriented offenses.
Baltimore made a splash this off season adding Anquan Boldin and T.J. Houshmandzadeh to their aerial attack to go along with Derrick Mason and Todd Heap.
Overall, they are an older group of possession receivers with Heap having a surprising 14.8 yards per reception average and Houshmanzadeh with an impressive 17.1 yards per reception.
The Ravens top receivers have combined for 17 touchdowns, including one by Houshmandzadeh in the final seconds against the Steelers earlier this season to give Baltimore the win.
The Steelers have a mix of veterans and youth, with the latter coming on fast late in the season, both literally and figuratively.
Hines Ward leads the way and is one of the key components in the rivalry.
For the season Ward has been feast or famine with three 100-yard receiving games while combining for 164 yards in his other eight games.
Antwaan Randle El has offered little in the offense except for the occasional trick play and this has opened the way for Emmanuel Sanders to step in.
The rookie receiver has 13 receptions and two touchdowns this season.
Fellow rookie Antonio Brown only has two receptions but is a valuable fifth receiver.
The x-factor for Pittsburgh, however, is Mike Wallace who has eight touchdowns on the season and leads the league with an amazing 22 yards per reception.
Though having a quiet year, Heath Miller is still a dependable tight end who has 32 receptions and one touchdown for the year.
The dynamic playmakers of Pittsburgh make their offense dangerous.
Edge: Steelers
Defensive Line
5 of 10
Pittsburgh is without starting defensive end Aaron Smith, the best 3-4 end in the game and Brett Keisel is attempting to return from a hamstring injury. The last time he attempted to come back he left the game early, re-aggrevating the injury.
That leaves Ziggy Hood and Nick Eason along the defensive line.
These two have held up their end in the run game but have struggled occupying blockers thus not freeing space for blitzing linebackers.
Casey Hampton has been negated lately with teams spreading out the Steelers defense meaning that Hampton is on the sidelines. Chris Hoke is an effective backup at both nose tackle and defensive end.
The Ravens have one of the best defensive linemen in the league with Haloti Ngata.
Ngata is very athletic for a big man and is tied for third on the team with 50 tackles. He has added five sacks and five tackles for a loss.
Kelly Gregg is a plug in the middle of the defense and Corey Redding nicely fills out the Ravens defensive line.
Having Ngata alone makes them one of the best in the league.
Edge: Baltimore
Defensive Backs
6 of 10
The defensive backfield is the weak link for both the Ravens and Steelers defense.
Fabian Washington has fallen out of favor in Baltimore and Chris Carr and Josh Wilson are the starters.
They have combined for two interceptions.
Starting safety Dawan Landry has 71 tackles, good enough for second on the team.
Pittsburgh’s cornerbacks have struggled this year outside of Ike Taylor who has 52 tackles and two interceptions. He had a third which was returned for a touchdown called back due to a roughing the passer penalty.
Bryant McFadden has 65 tackles, placing him at fourth on the team, because teams throw his way quite often. He does have an interception.
William Gay, the nickel back, has had an up and down season with last week being the high point with four passes defended.
Both McFadden and Gay are good blitzers with two sacks and one sack respectively.
But the real show will be at safety where the Ravens and Steelers feature the two best in the league.
Ed Reed is the best playmaker while playing center field. Though he was injured for part of the season he has four interceptions and nine pass defenses.
Troy Polamalu is the best playmaker near the line. He has four tackles for loss, seven pass defenses, and four interceptions.
These two will play a key role Sunday night.
Edge: Push
Linebackers
7 of 10
Pittsburgh and Baltimore are all about their linebackers.
Ray Lewis is the unquestioned leader of Baltimore and is once again leading the way for their defense. His stat line is very impressive with 95 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, four pass defenses, a forced fumble and fumble recovery and one touchdown.
Even at his advanced age, Lewis is once again showing that he is one of the best.
Terrell Suggs is the pass rushing threat that Pittsburgh will have to be aware of. He leads the Ravens with 7.5 sacks.
James Harrison leads the way for Pittsburgh. He is playing at an All Pro level, even with all of the penalties and fines.
Harrison has 75 tackles, 10 sacks, four pass defenses, two interceptions, six forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
On his opposite side is LaMarr Woodley who has 6.5 sacks and has been a force on run defense this season.
Pittsburgh is dynamic inside with a rejuvenated James Farrior and Lawrence Timmons. Farrior and Timmons each have three sacks and Timmons has added two interceptions.
To back them up is former starter Larry Foote who provides excellent depth to an already great corps.
Edge: Pittsburgh
Coaches
8 of 10
Mike Tomlin has a 5-3 career record against the Ravens and has never finished below .500 for a season.
In just his second season in the league Tomlin coached the Steelers to their sixth Super Bowl title and the team has won two AFC North titles.
John Harbaugh is only 2-4 against the Steelers and lost all three games against the Steelers in his first year as head coach in 2008.
Like Tomlin, Harbaugh has never finished below .500 and after two straight second place finishes in the AFC North, he is looking to win his first division title.
Baltimore has the edge with Cam Cameron at offensive coordinator but the Steelers get the edge with Dick LeBeau as defensive coordinator.
However, most of Pittsburgh’s staff was a part of the Super Bowl team.
Edge: Pittsburgh
Quarterbacks
9 of 10
The quarterback position was not forgotten, it was saved for last because whichever quarterback plays better will likely be the winner of this game.
Joe Flacco had a lot put on his shoulders this season and he has come through, especially at home where he has 10 touchdowns to only one interception.
Flacco has thrown for 2,722 yards and 18 touchdowns to only eight interceptions while completing 63.3 percent of his passes.
For his career, Flacco has four fourth quarter comebacks and seven game-winning drives and has compiled a 31-17 career record, including 2-4 against the Steelers.
Ben Roethlisberger has established himself as an elite quarterback with two Super Bowl titles and has been one of the most efficient passers since returning to the Steelers lineup in week five.
While completing 62.3 percent of his passes, Roethlisberger has thrown for 1825 yards and 12 touchdowns with only four interceptions.
Roethlisberger has an impressive 18 fourth quarter comebacks and 23 game winning drives. For his career he is 73-30 and is 7-2 against the Ravens.
Edge: Pittsburgh
Final Tally
10 of 10
- Quarterback: Pittsburgh
- Running Back: Push
- Wide Receivers and Tight Ends: Pittsburgh
- Offensive Line: Baltimore
- Defensive Line: Baltimore
- Linebackers: Pittsburgh
- Defensive Backs: Push
- Special Teams: Pittsburgh
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Coaching: Pittsburgh
Final Tally: Pittsburgh 5, Baltimore 2, Push 2
While Pittsburgh has more talent at the skill positions the game is won and lost in the trenches and Baltimore has a huge edge in each.
You can throw out all of the statistics when these two teams meet and most certainly count on a tight game that is won by three points or less.
It will be a great defensive fight and the game could come down to whoever makes the first mistake or to whichever quarterback makes the play when their team needs it.
This game is definitely not an undercard, it is a main event that you cannot miss.
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