Ravens Vs. Steelers: Is It a Hard-Nosed Rivalry Or A Low Scoring Snoozefest?

Ravens vs. Steelers, part III.

Make no mistake about it: If you love football, this is your kind of game.

This is simply one of the best rivalries in the NFL, period.

Snoozefest? Says who?

If you aren't looking forward to Saturday's third meeting between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, then you should just break out your knitting needles and go visit your Aunt Edna. You know, the one who doesn't own a television set.

This is football at its finest, the way it was meant to be played. This is Lombardi football, this is Halas football, this is old school football played with a new-school bravado.

"World War III" is what Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs called it. If that wasn't enough, he added "Armageddon" for more emphasis.

It's that good of a rivalry, that kind of strong, hard-hitting football game where defense is king, as it should be in January in Pittsburgh.

The Ravens won the first game in Pittsburgh, 17-14. The Steelers returned the favor and beat the Ravens in their house in December's rematch, 13-10.

You have two 12-4 teams that happen to dwell in the same division, the AFC North.

No love lost here between players or fans. It's just the way it is. Winner moves on to the AFC title game, loser gets the Bronx cheer.

You have guys like Terrell Suggs, Ray Lewis and Ed Reed willing to torture members of the Pittsburgh offense.

On the other side, there's James Harrison, Troy Polamalu and a flat-out nasty Steelers defense that would love to impart pain on the Baltimore offense.

Get the picture?

Here's how Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger described what goes on when he sees the Ravens defense:

"It's just ultimate confusion when we play. They're trying to confuse us and we're trying to confuse them. Their defense is all over the place. Guys are here, guys are there, all of a sudden, this guy is over here and 20 guys are blitzing."

Did you get all that?

No time for snoozing during this one. You might miss someone getting their block knocked off.

Fines? Might as well pre-pay them because there is a good chance they will be handed out. This is not a game for Roger Goodell's kinder, gentler version of the NFL.

This is pain, suffering and mayhem. This is Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore.

Snoozefest?

Don't snooze or you may miss a crucial interception or another quarterback sack.

This is football as it is supposed to be. This is football that doesn't need hype. There's plenty of attitude to go around on both sides, and a mountain of ego.

"We're looking forward to walking into Heinz Field with a certain swagger," Suggs described.

The Ravens will need some swagger because the Steelers have plenty of their own. No shortage of swagger on Saturday: It's a simple testosterone overdose.

Snoozefest?

No way.

Slugfest?

Yeah, that's more like it.