NFL Playoff Predictions 2011: Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Stock up on your canned goods, find the key to the bomb shelter and get to hiding because it's finally here: Armageddon. No, not the underrated (and yet, somehow Razzie-award nominated) Bruce Willis disaster flick. We're talking about Ravens-Steelers III. The two hated rivals split the first two shows this year and renowned thinker Terrell Suggs deemed tomorrow's clash as the end of days. Whether all that's left by Sunday are cockroaches and Larry King is yet to be determined, but for now, Ryan Thomas and I once again tell you who is going to win—and why.

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers (Saturday @ 4:30 p.m. EST, CBS)

Ryan's Pick: Baltimore Ravens

Aging defense, my ass. Baltimore hung the Chiefs out to dry like a sopped dishcloth last weekend. Some numbers: Kansas City was held to 25 second-half yards. The Ravens (my third avian pick this weekend; also picked the Seahawks and Falcons) forced five turnovers with continuous crushing blows on defense. Dwayne Bowe caught zero passes and was targeted not-a-once after hauling in 72 throughout the regular season.

Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis incite fear in opposing offenses like Rex Ryan adores pedal extremities. The Ravens diminished the Chiefs and their spunky, youthful offense into a puddle of Native American goo.

All rhetoric aside though, this game is going to be as close to an actual blood bath as the officials allow it to be. These teams’ physical defenses always bring their A-games to the heated divisional rivalry, emphasis on defense.

Prognosticators wearing black and gold will cite Roethlisberger’s six straight wins over the Ravens as compelling evidence but it actually works in Baltimore’s favor: Joe Flacco’s boys are due for a win over the Steelers. It’s as simple as the law of averages.

Including the 2008 AFC Championship Game, the last seven battles between these two teams have been decided by little more than a field goal on average. Since the Steelers came out on top in the most recent regular season meeting and in said AFC Title Game, it only makes sense for the Ravens to have a bounce or two go their way and squeak by Pitt in a trench-rattling slugfest.    

These teams know each other too well and are too similar in style to not exchange wins and losses. It’s Baltimore’s turn now. That’s as pragmatic as it’s going to get. Ravens by a tail feather.

~ Ryan Thomas 

Charlie's Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers

There are a hundred different angles to take in picking the Steelers over the Ravens, but here's the most important one: the Ravens don't know how to beat Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben is 6-0 in his last six games against Baltimore.

If you need more, consider the superiority of the Steelers defense in regards to points per game (Steelers—first; Ravens—third), passing yards allowed per game (Steelers—12th; Ravens—21st), rushing yards per game (Steelers—first; Ravens—fifth) and total yards (Steelers—second, Ravens—10th). Also, Baltimore gives up way too much penalty yardage that extends drives; the Ravens finished tied for the second-most penalties committed in 2010.

Baltimore likes to crow about their skill position players. But they aren't better than Pittsburgh's. Rashard Mendenhall (1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns) outperformed Ray Rice (1,220 yards and five touchdowns), while lead receiver Mike Wallace (1,257 yards on 21 ypc and 10 touchdowns) proved to be far more lethal than Anquan Boldin (847 yards on 13.1 ypc and seven touchdowns).

And quarterbacks? Despite missing four games, Ben Roethlisberger (17 TD and five INT for a 97.0 QB rating) had a similar year to the talented Joe Flacco (25 TD and 10 INT for a 93.6 QB rating). Flacco had a fantastic year and somehow seems underrated (or at least under the radar), but Roethlisberger has the advantage in the most important category: playoff record. Roethlisberger is 8-2 and owns two rings; Flacco is 3-2 and owns no rings.