Steelers vs. Ravens: 4 Biggest Questions in Mammoth AFC North Showdown

The biggest rivalry in football kicks off the Pittsburgh Steelers' and Baltimore Ravens' schedules this weekend as the AFC North pair face off in M&T Bank Stadium.

Ben Roethlisberger leads his team into the regular season this year after missing the start—including a game against the Ravens—last year because of suspension.

Joe Flacco is hoping to establish himself as an elite quarterback to lead the Baltimore Ravens and their aging defense to their second Super Bowl before that window closes. This first step will be vital in deciding who wins the AFC North.

Can Joe Flacco Get over the Roethlisberger Hump?

Joe Flacco is 0-6 in games against the Pittsburgh Steelers when Ben Roethlisberger is under center. Flacco beat the Steelers in Heinz Field last year but that was with backup Charlie Batch at the helm.

The pair of newlywed—not to each other!—quarterbacks will be fighting for bragging rights this Sunday as Roethlisberger will be determined to replicate his heroic performance in this fixture last season.

Roethlisberger is used to success against the Ravens as he is 9-2 all time as the Steelers starting quarterback.

How Will the Ravens Handle the Steelers Blitz?

The Ravens have had a lot of struggles on their offensive line throughout preseason and it is entering the season in a bit of turmoil. Recent additions Bryant McKinnie and Andre Gurode will at best need time to settle in, while they are not guaranteed to improve the line after being let go by their former teams.

McKinnie will likely be starting at left tackle and given the task of putting the shackles on All-Pro outside linebacker James Harrison for the day. This will shift Michael Oher to the right side, meaning he could be in trouble as he was very susceptible to bull rushes last year and LaMarr Woodley excels at that.

The interior of the line could be an issue also, as both Matt Birk and Marshal Yanda missed time during the offseason because of injuries. The Steelers front seven is the best in the whole league and if the Baltimore offensive line can't handle them, this game could turn into a blowout.

Who Will Be the Steelers' Starting Cornerbacks?

Ike Taylor should return from his broken hand to reclaim his starting cornerback spot but there is somewhat of a competition for the spot across from him.

William Gay and Bryant McFadden are the more experienced options, while Keenan Lewis has been impressive throughout preseason.

McFadden likely has the lowest chance to be the starter despite starting last year and being the most proven player among the trio. His injury and lack of action in the offseason means he will probably see time at the nickel rather than starting in order to ease him into the season.

Keenan Lewis should be the favorite but the team may want to go with the proven commodity in William Gay, who had a solid preseason despite the fact that he will forever draw the ire of most Steelers' fans even if he turns into Rod Woodson.

Will Bruce Arians Let His Receivers off the Leash?

This year's group of receivers for the Steelers is probably the deepest in the franchise's history. Yes, Lynn Swann and John Stallworth shared the field as two future Hall of Famers at the position but this year the team has five worthy starters on the roster.

The Baltimore Ravens have an unproven secondary without notable depth. During Bruce Arians' helm as the team's offensive coordinator, the Steelers have never run a true five-receiver set as Rashard Mendenhall and Heath Miller often moved to the outside.

Game-planning for this weekend should see Arians try to put Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders on the field as much as possible, with Jerricho Cotchery also in the mix. With those five receivers on the field the Ravens will struggle to match up. It's not like the Steelers will have huge success running the ball on their front seven.