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Sneak Preview - SNEAK PREVIEW: RAVENS @ STEELERS

Photos by Sabina Moran
Posted On: 12/24/06
Written By:  
Tony Lombardi
SNEAK PREVIEW: RAVENS @ STEELERS SNEAK PREVIEW: RAVENS @ STEELERS
ANTICIPATION…ANTICIPATION IS MAKING ME WAIT ~ While the Ravens have beaten the Steelers in 2 straight games and 3 of the last 5 times they’ve played, they have not triumphed at Heinz Field since 2001 when Baltimore won, 13-10. That’s 4 straight regular season games and a playoff contest following the ’01 season. Terrell Suggs on the Steelers: “We want what they have [World Championship], so we’ve got to take it from them in order to get it. This game will be an all out fight.”
 
A BATTLE OF LUNCH PALE TEAMS ~ Dating back to the 2000 season -- over a time span when both Pittsburgh and Baltimore each earned a Super Bowl title -- the Ravens’ and Steelers’ defenses rank 1-2, respectively, in yards allowed per game (Bal. - 301.3, Pit. - 301.6) and points allowed per game (Bal. - 16.5, Pit., tied with TB - 17.4).
 
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS ~ "We're still Super Bowl champions," receiver Hines Ward declared. "Right now we're playing good football. We just have to continue doing it. What better way than winning five out of six games." When reflecting upon the shellacking the Steelers took from the Ravens on November 26 Ward insisted, "Now we're a totally different ballclub from that team. We're playing with confidence and this, for us, is kind of like get-back. We really want to face them again."
 
NOW THAT BITES ~ "[Ravens @ Steelers] is going to be a great game," said Steelers’ DE Brett Keisel. "They did take a big bite out of us down there and I think we all taste that a little bit. Yeah, Sunday's going to be a big game."
 
WE NEED SOME PROTECTION ~ Baltimore compiled 9 sacks in its 1st meeting with the Steelers this year, tying a Ravens’ franchise record produced on 11/16/97 vs. Philadelphia. The 9 sacks were the most times Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has ever gone down in his career. The 9 sacks also tied for the most Pittsburgh has allowed in its history (Dallas in 1994) since sacks became an official NFL stat in 1982. Pittsburgh will benefit from not having to deal with the Baltimore crowd at The Vault but they will have to do protect Roethlisberger without the assistance of starting right tackle Max Starks who had surgery on his right knee to repair a meniscus.
 
SINCE LAST WE MET ~ Back on 11/26/06 the Ravens limited Pittsburgh to 21 rushing yards, the third fewest total in Ravens history. The 21 yards also marked the 2nd-least amount the Steelers have ever totaled in a game dating back to 1970 when Denver held Pittsburgh to 18 rushing yards. Also during that afternoon, Steve McNair completed 18 of 24 passes for 140 yards and a 20-yard TD strike to TE Todd Heap. The game was the 3rd of 4 contests this season that McNair has completed at least 70 percent of his passes. McNair also had 70-percent games on 10/29 at NO (73.9), on 11/19 vs. Atl (70.6) and at KC on 12/10 (77.8%).
 
IT’S A RECORD! Here’s what Trevor Pryce had to say about the Ravens new single-season sack record of 52: “It has a lot to do with Rex (Ryan) putting us all in positions to make plays. He takes advantage of our skills and keeps everyone happy by calling plays to give us all a chance to be a hero. It’s fun. Teams have to worry about all of our talent, where we’re going to attack you. That stuff wears on an offense. Not only the scheme, but the guys running the scheme – it’s a double whammy.”
 
The 52 sacks tops the previous mark of 49 set in ’99. (Baltimore produced 47 in ’03 and 45 in ’01 for the next best in team annals.) Two Ravens – Pryce with 12 and Adalius Thomas with 10.5 – already have double-digit sacks. Bart Scott, with 9.5, and Terrell Suggs, with 8, are hot on their trails. If all 4 reach the 10-sack figure, it will mark the 1st time in NFL history that a team has 4 players reach double-digit figures for sacks. (Sacks became an official NFL stat in 1982.)
 
A MESSAGE TO PROSPECTIVE FREE AGENTS ~ “I came to this club because I wanted to re-establish who I was. I thought the team had a good chance to do something. I wasn’t sure what, but as soon as we got Steve [McNair], I went, ‘OK, now let’s see what happens.’ They promised I would get a chance to do what I know how to do. Every team asks me, ‘How do you like it?’ And I always answer, ‘I love it.’” Trevor Pryce
 
FAMILIAR FACES IN DIFFERENT PLACES ~ Steelers RB Willie Parker has been extremely effective over the past 2 seasons, seemingly coming out of nowhere to become 1 of the NFL's top backs as evidenced by his selection to the 2007 Pro Bowl team. Ravens G Jason Brown isn't surprised. The 2nd year O-lineman played with Parker at North Carolina. "You could always tell that Willie was good, but I think he has really matured and taken his game to a whole new level in the NFL," Brown stated. "It's good to see him do well, now that he's gotten his chance."
 
Chris McAlister and Steelers CB Chidi Iwuoma both shined in Southern California at Pasadena HS. Playing together for several years, each earned All-Conference honors their senior seasons (McAlister in 1995 and Iwuoma in 1996). McAlister was named California's MVP and conference Player of the Year while playing QB his closing season, while Iwuoma was tabbed the league's Co-Offensive Player of the Year after his final prep campaign. Interestingly both are now defenders.
 
Bart Scott and his counterpart, Steelers LB Larry Foote, both grew up and played their high school ball in Detroit. Foote starred at Pershing HS, where he was a PrepStar Magazine All-American selection in 1999, while Scott garnered 1st-team All-State honors as a senior at Southeastern HS in 1998.
 
Todd Heap and Steelers T Marvel Smith played together at Arizona State from 1998-99…Steelers RB Najeh Davenport and Ravens S Ed Reed were 4-year teammates at the University of Miami from 1998-2001…Steelers RB Willie Parker (2000-03), LS Greg Warren (2001-04) and Ravens G Jason Brown (2001-04) played together at North Carolina…Steelers S Anthony Smith and Ravens T Adam Terry were teammates at Syracuse from 2002-04…Ravens T Jonathan Ogden and Steelers DE Travis Kirschke were teammates for 3 years (1993-95) at UCLA…From 1995-96, Ravens LB/DE Gary Stills and Steelers S Mike Logan played together at West Virginia…Ravens RB Musa Smith and Steelers RB Verron Haynes (IR) manned the backfield at the University of Georgia from 2000-01…Steelers WR Cedric Wilson and Ravens RB Jamal Lewis were teammates at the University of Tennessee from 1997-99.
 
BITTER RIVALS ON THE FIELD ~ Despite all of the familiarity when that referee’s whistle blows these two teams get after each other. Mike Flynn was asked recently if the intense rivalry between these 2 teams comes down to more than just football?
 
“It’s all based on the success we’ve had in the past few years, but you can definitely feel the buildup and anxiety in the stands. Obviously, the Pittsburgh fans hate us, and from the looks of the last game [at M&T Bank Stadium], you can tell that the Baltimore fans hate the Steelers.”
 
Hey Mike, with the upcoming Christmas Eve game, how tough is it for you to play on the holidays every year? “Fortunately, Pittsburgh is close so it’s not too bad. Last year, we had the Christmas game at home, but if that was on the road, it would have been pretty tough. We’ve been pretty lucky, having some games that aren’t too far away, even if they are on Christmas. I don’t think I’d like to be on the West Coast, though.”
 
A CHRISTMAS EVE WIN DELIVERS THESE GIFTS TO THE RAVENS:
 
* Up the Ravens’ record to 12-3 on the season, extending the team’s best start in franchise history.
* Earn the Ravens a 5-1 record vs. the AFC North this season, best mark since the 2000 campaign.
* Give the Ravens a season sweep of the Steelers for the first time in team history.
* Give Baltimore victories in 8 of its last 9 games.
* Earn the Ravens their 1st win at Pittsburgh since 2001.
* Give Baltimore their longest ever winning streak over the Steelers, 3 games.
 
A TALE OF THE TAPE ~ Here’s how the Ravens and Steelers compare in key statistical categories:
 
RAVENS
CATEGORY
STEELERS
11-3
2006 Record
7-7
W2
Current Streak
w3
W 27-17 v. Browns
Last game
37-3 @ Panthers
303
Points Scored
323
33
Touchdowns Scored
38
10
Rushing Touchdowns Scored
14
18
Passing Touchdowns Scored
21
5
Touchdowns on Returns
3
187
Points Against
267
19
Touchdowns Allowed
30
5
Rushing Touchdowns Allowed
8
14
Passing Touchdowns Allowed
16
0
TDs Allowed by Return
6
+15
Turnover Ratio
-6
44.4%
Red Zone TD Pct. For
50%
33.3%
Red Zone TD Pct. Against
45.0%
23.8
KOR Avg. For
22.6
21.9
KOR Avg. Against
22.7
8.5
PR Avg. For
8.5
9.4
PR Avg. Against
6.5

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Posted On: 12/24/06
Written By:  
Tony Lombardi

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