Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers: 7 Things We Learned

The outcome of the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers game surprised many talking heads and fans alike on Sunday. 

The fact that the Ravens won wasn't too big of a shock, but the manner in which they won wasn't expected.

The Steelers were on their heels throughout the entire game and didn't perform like the defending AFC champions. 

Here are some observations of the game and what can be expected from both teams going forward.

The Ravens Are a Legitimate Super Bowl Contender

The Baltimore Ravens might be the best team in football. This is not hyperbole or an overreaction to their absolute thrashing of the Steelers.

The Ravens completely outplayed the Steelers in every facet of the game.

Mike Tomlin said, "That's pretty easy to assess, ladies and gentlemen. We got handled in all three phases today."

Considering the Steelers are the defending AFC champions, the Ravens are a legitimate Super Bowl contender this season.

Bryant McKinnie Has Helped Solidify the Ravens Offensive Line

Bryant McKinnie was released by the Minnesota Vikings due to being overweight and out of shape. When the Ravens signed him, he was seen as an unknown despite being one of the best tackles in the NFL for years.

Ravens fans need not question Mt. McKinnie anymore. He essentially made James Harrison a non-factor. 

In the past, Harrison has haunted his former team, getting sack after sack. However, if McKinnie continues to block like he did in the season opener, the Ravens won't have to quiver in fear every time Harrison steps on the field against them. 

The addition of McKinnie also allowed Michael Oher to slide over to right tackle, where he seems to be better suited.

The Ravens offensive line as a whole looked fantastic in the game, opening holes for Ray Rice and giving Joe Flacco more than enough time to dissect the defense. 

The Ravens Won't Hold Anything Back

When the Ravens took a 27-7 lead after an Ed Dickson touchdown, the Steelers looked to be down and out.

The Ravens kept their foot on the gas pedal and opted for a fake extra-point kick. The play resulted in Sam Koch waltzing into the end zone and the Ravens taking an unfathomable 29-7 lead.

This play is indicative of how thirsty the Ravens are for a Super Bowl this year. They will show no mercy and want to destroy every team in their path, especially divisional rivals like the Steelers.

The Ravens don't just want to win games, they want their opponents to leave the stadium dejected and reflecting on their manhood. 

Joe Flacco Is Improving

Joe Flacco looked impeccable in his first game of the season.

Fans who thought that he had plateaued as a quarterback can come away from this game knowing that Flacco is constantly improving and that is great news for the Ravens.

Flacco's first touchdown pass of the game was a perfectly placed 27-yard throw to a tightly covered Anquan Boldin.

Very few quarterbacks in the NFL could have made that throw and if Flacco can consistently make similar throws, then he has the chance to develop into a top quarterback this season.

One thing Flacco must work on is holding on to the ball for too long. 

Ben Roethlisberger Still Holds on to the Ball Too Long

Speaking of holding on to the ball too long, Ben Roethlisberger is the poster child for staying in the pocket too long. He is known for creating positive plays out of thin air, but this is also his vice. He tries to do far too much and he holds on to the ball far too long in the process.

Against lesser teams, holding the ball for a long period of time can lead to huge plays. However, when Roethlisberger holds on to the ball too long against a team like the Ravens, bad things happen for the Steelers.

Roethlisberger threw three interceptions and fumbled the ball twice in his first game of the season. The turnovers can be attributed in large part to the Ravens defense, but that shouldn't completely lift the blame from Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger must stop trying to play like Brett Favre and rather evolve into a more efficient quarterback that takes what the defense gives him. Otherwise, the Steelers offense will face huge problems when they play against teams that bring pressure like the Ravens.

The Steelers Defense Is Getting Older and Slower

The Steelers defense did not look like the same defense from a year ago.

Last season, the Steelers allowed just 1,004 rushing yards and three yards per carry.

In their first game of the season, the Steelers allowed 170 rushing yards and 5.5 yards per carry.

The Ravens offensive line physically outmatched the Steelers' defensive line and linebackers in a surprising effort. 

Not only did the Ravens physically outmatch the Steelers defense, but they ran around them too. Eight of 11 defensive starters for the Steelers are 30 years or older and their age showed.

The Steelers usually get stronger as the season goes on, but they have never looked as bad as they did in the 2011 season opener.

Either the defense needs to find the fountain of youth or the Steelers must obtain younger players to plug into their defense in the next year or two before it's too late.

Vonta Leach Will Help Ray Rice in a Big Way

This is almost a given, but the addition of Vonta Leach to the Ravens cannot be understated. He is a beast of a man that will open up running lanes for Ray Rice all season.

Leach is an extremely physical blocker and he helped Arian Foster rise from obscurity to stardom last season for the Houston Texans.

The Steelers run defense did not put up much of a fight and Leach was a big part of it. He engaged Steelers defenders and stayed on all of his blocks until the end of the play.

Thanks to Leach, Rice should have the best season of his young career.