Ravens vs. Steelers: James Harrison's Return Will Lift Pittsburgh to Victory

With all this talk about LaMarr Woodley out in a crucial AFC North battle between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, people are overlooking the fact that James Harrison will play in Sunday night’s game after missing four straight with an eye injury.

Remember the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2008?

He will be active and in the starting lineup against the Ravens. His presence on the defensive side of the ball will be the difference for the Steelers.

There was no way Harrison was missing this game, even with his eye injury. Harrison always loves to play the Ravens for a lot of reasons.

He always plays inspired against the team that cut him before, he absolutely loves to play in the best rivalry in football and he especially loves to play at Heinz Field in pressure-packed games.

Pittsburgh circled this game on its calendar after the team was embarrassed in Week 1, 35-7. The Steelers were already going to be fired up to play in this game, but getting Harrison back will give them even more of a boost.

Ravens QB Joe Flacco has only thrown one touchdown compared to four interceptions in the past four games. It isn’t going get any easier against the No. 1 pass defense in the National Football League, and a speed rusher off the outside like Harrison will only make it tougher on the 26-year-old quarterback.

Aside from Flacco vs. Roethlisberger, the addition of Harrison will be another reason why Pittsburgh will get their redemption in this classic rivalry.