NFL Divisional Round: AFC Game 1...

AFC
Pittsburgh Steelers (2) Vs. Baltimore Ravens (5)

The Story…
This is one of two AFC intra-divisional match-ups this week, and probably the most likely to end in the emergency ward. There are few teams in the NFL that can inspire the terror of either Pittsburgh or Baltimore when seen lurking on your schedule: both are brutal and bloody, brain bashing behemoths, hell-bent on bruising their way to victory. They’re not just trying to win, they’re trying to beat you. Fortunately for every other team in the National Football League, these two hard-nosed football teams reside in the AFC North, and are required to tear strips off each other twice a season, in between and around beating on the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns.

And here we are; round three. After two close run affairs, it is the Ravens who come into this contest with most to prove. Pittsburgh’s win over them in their second regular season encounter gave them the tiebreakers needed to clinch the division despite identical 12-4 records. That gives the Black and Gold valuable home advantage and a week to rest some banged up players.

Big Ben Roethlisberger – winner of two Superbowls already in his career – will relish the week to prepare, both physically and academically, for his most favoured foe. Ben loves to rumble, and this week will bring just that.

Prediction…
Don’t expect the scoreboard to light up, or huge offensive plays to dominate. This will be a low yardage affair, with defences stifling offences and forcing mistakes. Expect fumbles and interceptions to decide the outcome and the score to be within a touchdown. If the Steelers go ahead early it could be over, but the Ravens need to keep their foot on the gas if they get the better of the first half. Ben won’t take losing at home to this storied rival lying down. Remember the last two minutes of Super Bowl XLIII? Don’t give Roethlisberger the ball with 2 minutes left. He will beat you. Who will win? I want to say Baltimore, but my head says homefield advantage might be too much to overcome – Pittsburgh by a slither.

Recap…
After leaping out to an indescribably fortunate first half lead (21-7), Baltimore handed it to the Steelers in almost embarrassing fashion. This was not a pretty contest, despite the competitive score. The yardage was meagre and the Ravens offence never really clicked in the way that would have made beating the Steelers possible. The Pennsylvania standouts are fast becoming the playoff team of the last five years. With two Super Bowls in that stretch and an almost mandatory inclusion in the playoffs, the Steelers have an increasingly regular habit of looking the team to beat in January. They now head into the AFC Championship game, hoping the Jets can surprise the Steelers’ booby team and send the Patriots into a tailspin, and leave them with homefield advantage and the chance to beat Rex Ryan’s trash-talking mean, green machine that turned them over in the regular season 22-17. As an interesting aside, the Steelers have sent the Ravens home in the playoffs three years straight. That’s some grudge building in the AFC North. Can Big Ben make it three rings and match Brady’s bullion? It would be remarkable if he could bring title No. 7 to Pittsburgh, but right now, they look good for the challenge.


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