Ravens-Steelers Preview

SCOUTING REPORT

Steelers will win because of Big BenThis shapes up as a classic physical game between two teams that know each other well. If you like tough defense, this is your game. These are two 3-4 defenses that love to pressure opposing quarterbacks, so pass-protection and blitz pickup will be critical. Baltimore's rookie quarterback, Joe Flacco, isn't putting up great numbers, but he is managing the game well. Pittsburgh has a veteran proven quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, who is playing well but is getting hit a lot. Are the Ravens as good as they have looked in their first two games? Is Pittsburgh as nonexplosive as it looked versus Philadelphia in Week 3? This will be an old-fashioned brawl without a lot of scoring.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
BAL	11-5	385	244	6-2	5-3	4-2	8-4
PIT	12-4	347	223	6-2	6-2	6-0	10-2
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Baltimore Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Flacco 63.1 3613 21 12 Smith 55.6 24 0 1

Pittsburgh Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Roethl... 66.6 4328 26 12 Dixon 46.2 145 1 1

Baltimore Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Rice 254 1339 5.3 7 McGahe... 109 544 5.0 12

Pittsburgh Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Menden... 242 1108 4.6 7 Parker 98 389 4.0 0

Baltimore Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Mason 73 1028 14.1 7 Rice 78 702 9.0 1

Pittsburgh Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Holmes 79 1248 15.8 5 Ward 95 1167 12.3 6

Full Player Stats: Baltimore | Pittsburgh

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	BAL	324.0
	PIT	312.0
Yards Passing	BAL	175.5
	PIT	206.3
Yards Rushing	BAL	148.5
	PIT	105.6
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	BAL	261.1
	PIT	237.2
Pass Yds Allowed	BAL	179.7
	PIT	156.9
Rush Yds Allowed	BAL	81.4
	PIT	80.3

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Pittsburgh leads 11-7
Dec 30, 2007	BAL 27, @PIT 21
Nov 5, 2007	BAL 7, PIT 38
Dec 24, 2006	BAL 31, PIT 7
Nov 26, 2006	BAL 27, @PIT 0
Nov 20, 2005	BAL 16, @PIT 13
Oct 31, 2005	BAL 19, PIT 20
Dec 26, 2004	BAL 7, PIT 20
Sep 19, 2004	BAL 30, @PIT 13
Dec 28, 2003	BAL 13, @PIT 10
Sep 7, 2003	BAL 15, PIT 34
Dec 29, 2002	BAL 31, PIT 34
Oct 27, 2002	BAL 18, @PIT 31
Jan 20, 2002	BAL 10, PIT 27
Dec 16, 2001	BAL 21, @PIT 26
Nov 4, 2001	BAL 13, PIT 10

The Pittsburgh Steelers aren't feeling too good -- mentally or physically -- coming off a game against an aggressive defense that blitzed relentlessly.

The Baltimore Ravens probably can't wait to try the same thing.

The early lead in the AFC North will be on the line Monday night in Pittsburgh, where the beat-up Steelers will try to find some answers for the Ravens' top-ranked defense in one of the NFL's most physical rivalries.

Pittsburgh (2-1) felt pretty good about its revamped offensive line heading into a showdown at Philadelphia last Sunday, but that wasn't the case when it flew back home. Ben Roethlisberger, already nursing a sore shoulder, was sacked eight times and left with an injury to his right hand in the fourth quarter of a 15-6 loss.

"I think this was about as frustrating a game as it could be," wide receiver Hines Ward said. "I think sometimes you do not want to press the issues too much this early in the season, but we really had a lot of guys that were not on the same page."

Yet when the Steelers' injury report came out, Roethlisberger wasn't the offensive star listed as out against Baltimore (2-0). Tailback Willie Parker -- the AFC's second-leading rusher -- was, after suffering a sprained left knee late in the loss to the Eagles. With Parker out, rookie Rashard Mendenhall will start against the Ravens.

"I had a lot of experience in the preseason and early in the season, so I'm just looking forward to going in there," Mendenhall said. "You have to make sure you have your assignments down and have an idea what they're going to do so, come gametime, you've seen it all before."

Mendenhall will be running into the NFL's top-ranked defense. Baltimore has given up an average of just 161.5 yards through its first two games, 72.5 fewer than the league's No. 2 unit, which belongs to Pittsburgh (234.0).

The Ravens, who have had a top 10 defense in each of the last five seasons, seem like they haven't strayed far from their aggressive philosophy despite the arrival of new coach John Harbaugh.

Harbaugh certainly fits in with Baltimore's defensive style. He served as the Eagles' defensive backs coach from 1998-2007, learning from head coach Andy Reid and blitz-happy defensive coordinator Jim Johnson.

After watching what Philadelphia did to the Steelers last Sunday, might Harbaugh check in with his old team?

"I talk with Andy and Jim Johnson and those guys pretty much every week," he said.

With quarterback Joe Flacco learning on the job, the defense has made sure its rookie signal-caller doesn't have to do too much. Last Sunday against Cleveland, four-time All Pro Ed Reed returned an interception for a touchdown and former defensive rookie of the year Terrell Suggs had two sacks in Baltimore's 28-10 victory.

"Ever since the Ravens started playing football in the '90s, they've played great defense and it's gotten better as we go," Harbaugh said. "We've got a long way to go, but they've played really well the first two weeks."

Flacco began his collegiate career at the University of Pittsburgh, but after seeing limited playing time as a redshirt freshman, transferred to Delaware. With Troy Smith and Kyle Boller injured, he's assumed the starting job right away with the Ravens.

He hasn't thrown a touchdown pass yet and he tossed two interceptions against Cleveland, but Harbaugh liked what he saw from the rookie.

"You shouldn't have to play perfect to win," he said. "I'm going over to console Joe, and Joe's consoling me. That's the kind of guy Joe is."

Flacco will face a Pittsburgh defense that's allowed just 12.7 points per game -- third in the NFL -- and has picked off six passes, second in the league.

Pittsburgh had owned its series with Baltimore in the late '90s and early part of this decade, winning 11 of 14 meetings including a 2002 divisional playoff victory. But the Ravens have won four of the last five meetings, including 27-0 on Nov. 26, 2006, when they sacked Roethlisberger nine times.

After watching their quarterback go down eight times in Philadelphia, the Steelers are well aware that the Ravens are capable of doing the same.

"If we do not make changes, we are going to have problems," right tackle Willie Colon said. "If we do not get on the same page, these things are going to continue to happen."

The lone Steelers win in the last five meetings came when Roethlisberger threw a career-high five touchdown passes Nov. 5 in Pittsburgh -- a 38-7 Steelers win on Monday Night Football.

That victory was Pittsburgh's 13th straight at home on Monday night since 1992.

Wickersham: The future of the NFL

Seth Wickersham looks at the labor dispute that is hanging over the NFL and what the future may hold for the league.

Scouts Inc.: AFC offseason needs

You can think of this as the ultimate primer for the NFL offseason, or at least the AFC offseason: Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. breaks down all the squads in the AFC and tells you their top three needs to address, be it via the draft or free agency.

Owners talk labor situation; status quo reigns

NFL owners have met for several hours to discuss the labor situation, although it appears they are no closer to reaching an agreement with the players' union for a new collective bargaining agreement.

Ravens owner: NFL teams struggling financially

Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said Wednesday that several NFL owners are facing a financial shortfall that could create "long-term problems for the league" and ultimately result in a lockout.

Ravens' Figurs out until training camp after surgery

The Ravens' Yamon Figurs will be sidelined for the rest of the offseason minicamps because he recently had surgery on his foot.

Troy Smith gets work as receiver

With several wide receivers excused from voluntary minicamp, backup quarterback Troy Smith made a temporary position change to wide-out, running routes and making some impressive catches Tuesday.

McGahee Heads Sparse List of Vets at OTA

The Ravens have had a solid turnout of veterans at all of their voluntary Organized Team Activities this offseason, but running back Willis McGahee was the most notable of those players that opted to attend this week.

Smith Running Routes as Receiver

On one of the final drills of todaya s OTAs, the Ravens faced fourth-and-8 at midfield, and backup quarterback Troy Smith joined a four-receiver set.

Birk Bustling in Baltimore

Matt Birk , the Ravens' newly-acquired center, brings 11 years of NFL experience, six Pro Bowl invites and a reputable charitable foundation to the team.

Polamalu, Kemoeatu out against Packers

As expected, the Steelers will be without All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu on Sunday against Green Bay, and coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that left guard Chris Kemoeatu also will miss the game.

Ward helping out young receivers

Wide receiver Hines Ward watched the play unfold in the Steelers indoor practice facility during OTA's and then walked over to first-year running back Stefan Logan and shared a little bit of advice.

Steelers' rookie tries to overcome obstacle

Mike Tomlin knows a thing or two about motivating players. So it probably shouldn't come as any surprise that the Steelers coach regularly tells rookie center A.Q. Shipley, "Man, those arms are looking short." The length of Shipley's arms is a big reason why 225 players were selected before the Moon Area High School graduate in April.

Steelers players brighten some spirits

John Harris is a sports columnist for the Tribune-Review. He can be reached via e-mail or at 412-481-5432. An excited Heather Miller of Bedford got a chance Wednesday to meet her favorite football player, Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton, as part of her Make-a-Wish Foundation request.

Steelers' LB Davis seeking his seat on bus

The BMOC of UCLA has been MIA in Pittsburgh. Linebacker Bruce Davis went from what he called a "rock star" in college football to almost rock bottom with the Steelers.

Mundy impresses Steelers with smarts, skills

Twenty-nine has significance for Steelers safety Ryan Mundy beyond the fact that it is his uniform number.