Ravens vs. Steelers: 10 Bold Predictions for the AFC Playoff Showdown

Ravens vs. Steelers: This Saturday one football's biggest rivalries will be renewed.

The Baltimore Ravens will travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers in the Divisional Round of the AFC playoffs.

The two AFC North foes meet in what's sure to be a hard-hitting, smash mouth and brutal battle between two of the game's elite teams.

And if history is any indication, Ravens-Steelers will once again be a classic encounter that will be talked about for years to come.

So what will happen when Joe Flacco, Ray Lewis and company take on Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu and the Steelers for the third time this season?

Well, here are 10 bold predictions for this huge AFC playoff showdown.

10. Less Than 600 Yards Of Total Offense

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BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 05: Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh #84 of the Baltimore Ravens catches the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter of the game at M&T Bank Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by La

In both games between the Ravens and Steelers this season, each offense accumulated more than 300 total yards.

But this is playoff football, and both Baltimore and Pittsburgh are among the league's best teams at preventing their opponents from racking up a ton of yards.

During the regular season Pittsburgh ranked second in the NFL, allowing just 276.8 total yards per game, while Baltimore ranked 10th, giving up just 318.9 yards per game.

I'm no mathematician, but that translates to 595.7 total yards per game allowed.

And despite some gamebreakers on both offenses, I wouldn't expect to see a ton of production yardage-wise in this game. 

9. Joe Flacco Will Have at Least Two Turnovers

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PITTSBURGH - OCTOBER 03: Ike Taylor #24 of the Pittsburgh Steelers intercepts a pass from Joe Flacco #5 in front of Derrick Mason #85 of the Baltimore Ravens during the game on October 3, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared

In seven career games against Pittsburgh, Joe Flacco has had a tough time avoiding those costly mistakes.

He has thrown 10 picks, has six fumbles (three lost) and has thrown at least two interceptions in three of those seven games.

That's probably why Flacco is just 2-5 against Pittsburgh during his young career.

And that's also why he'll have multiple turnovers once again in this game. 

8. Pittsburgh Won't Stop Anquan Boldin

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PITTSBURGH - OCTOBER 03: Anquan Boldin #81 of the Baltimore Ravens runs after a catch in front of Bryant McFadden #20 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the game on October 3, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Get

Anquan Boldin hasn't been the monster playmaker in Baltimore that most people thought he'd be.

But he has been very good against Pittsburgh since he became a Raven.

Boldin has 12 catches for 186 yards and a touchdown in two games against Baltimore this season, and he's provided a real matchup problem for Pittsburgh's cornerbacks.

He's had his second most catches (seven) and receiving yards (118) in two separate games against Baltimore. 

Look for him to cause headaches for the Steelers secondary. 

7. The Steelers Will Have at Least Four Sacks

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PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 27: LaMarr Woodley #56 of the Pittsburgh Steelers forces Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens to fumble during the game at Heinz Field on December 27, 2009 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh won the game, 23-20. (Photo by Kar

In the first meeting between these two teams, Pittsburgh had a really difficult time getting to Joe Flacco.

The Steelers only had one sack in that game, which came from Casey Hampton.

But in the second contest, Dick LeBeau really turned up the pressure, and the Steelers sacked Flacco four times.

Expect a similar performance this time around, especially considering the Ravens gave up 40 sacks during the regular season, the ninth-most in the NFL. 

6. Terrell Suggs Will Have Two Sacks

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PITTSBURGH - JANUARY 18: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is sacked by linebacker Terrell Suggs #55 of the Baltimore Ravens during the third quarter of the AFC championship game on January 18, 2009 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh

Of the 12 playoff teams, only two of them--the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles--gave up more sacks during the regular season than the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pittsburgh's offensive line gave up 43 sacks (eighth worst in the NFL), including 2.5 to Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs.

In fact, Suggs ranked 10th in the league this season with 11 sacks and had two sacks against Kansas City's Matt Cassel last week.

With the way Suggs gets to the quarterback and the way Pittsburgh struggles in pass protection, expect another big game from Suggs this weekend.

5. The Steelers Will Have at Least Three Turnovers

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PITTSBURGH - JANUARY 05: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers fumbles the ball as he is tackled by Bobby McCray #93 of the Jacksonville Jaguars on the Steelers' final drive during the AFC Wild Card game on January 5, 2008 at Heinz Field in Pi

Baltimore's defense has really cranked it up during the team's last two games.

In the regular season finale against Cincinnati, the Ravens forced five turnovers, and they matched that in the Wild Card Round with another five turnovers (three interceptions and two forced fumbles).

Though the Steelers aren't prone to turning the ball over, Pittsburgh hasn't played a meaningful game in nearly a month (Dec. 19 against the New York Jets) and that could certainly come into play.

Pittsburgh's offense hasn't faced a defense of this caliber since that Jets game, and the Ravens will make Ben Roethlsiberger pay because of it.

The Steelers will have at least three turnovers against Baltimore. 

4. Neither Team Will Score More Than 17 Points

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4 Nov 2001 : View of scoreboard and add banners during the game at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Ravens won 13-10. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire/Allsport

Here are the scores between these two teams over the last three seasons:

2008 season: Steelers 23, Ravens 20; Steelers 13, Ravens 9; Steelers 23 Ravens 14

2009 season: Ravens 20, Steelers 17; Steelers 23, Ravens 20

2010 season: Ravens 17, Steelers 14; Steelers 13, Ravens 10

Traditionally, these games have been very low scoring, especially this year when there's been a total of 54 points the two times these teams met.

Each team has averaged just 13.5 points per game in the two contests this season.

That trend of defensive struggles will continue when neither team scores more than 17 points in this game.

3. The Steelers Will Win

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PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 23: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers laughs on the sideline during the game against the Carolina Panthers on December 23, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Since 2008, Ben Roethlisber has been unbeatable against the Ravens.

Literally.

Big Ben is an astounding 5-0 against Jim Harbaugh-coached Ravens teams during that span, while Baltimore's two wins came with Roethlisberger on the sidelines.

Roethlisberger just seems to have Baltimore's number, and playing in Pittsburgh should keep his streak against the Ravens going. 

2. But The Game Will Decided By Three Points Or Less

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BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 05: Back judge Greg Steed #12, head linesman Greg Bradley #98 and side judge Michael Banks #72 break up a scuffle between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter of the game at M&T Bank Stadium o

In the last three seasons, the games between Baltimore and Pittsburgh have been remarkably close.

Ben Roethlisberger's five wins came by just 22 combined points, six of the seven games have been decided by four points or fewer and zero games have been won by double digits.

The average margin of victory over the course of those seven games is only four points.

So one thing seems like a lock: we're probably in for another nail-biter this weekend. 

1. Rashard Mendenhall and Ray Rice Will Both Fail To Rush For More Than 40 Yards

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PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 27: Rashard Mendenhall #34 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is tackled by Frank Walker #41 of the Baltimore Ravens during the game at Heinz Field on December 27, 2009 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh won the game, 23-20. (Photo by

In his last three games against Baltimore, Rashard Mendenhall has only rushed for 160 yards on 61 carries.

That's 53.3 yards per game with a 2.6 yards per carry average.

Meanwhile, Ray Rice has rushed for just 52 yards on 17 carries in two games against Pittsburgh this season.

That's just 3.1 yards per carry and 26 yards per game.

Given the way these games usually go, I see both Mendenhall and Rice struggling mightily once again.

Neither running back will top 40 rushing yards in the Divisional Round game.