Ravens are the Perfect Opponent for the Steelers

Steelers vs Ravens - Would You Expect Anything Else?

So the Pittsburgh Steelers have finally won a game.  They stand at 1-4, and believe it or not, are not "dead" yet.  The Steelers and their fan base are hoping that the Jets victory will spring board them onto great things this season...after all there is still ALOT of football left to be played.  The upcoming stretch of games is no walk in the park though, and it all starts with the much maligned Baltimore Ravens coming to town this Sunday.  Think about it though, is there anyone else you'd rather face this Sunday than the Ravens?  Well, maybe the Jacksonville Jaguars, but in all seriousness, the Ravens are the perfect opponent for the Steelers.

The Ravens are the ONE team in the NFL that gets the Steelers' blood boiling.  Sure, the players might downplay the rivalry, but deep down the hatred simply festers.  You don't think the Steelers hated watching Joe Flacco win a Superbowl and get the MVP award?  You don't think Ben Roethlisberger took that as a challenge to "one up" Flacco this season?  You don't think the organization that holds the most Superbowl trophies in the NFL didn't like their division rivalry hoisting the Lombardi Trophy last winter?  If you were like me, it was difficult to watch the Superbowl simply out of hatred towards the Baltimore Ravens.  The emotion that this game employs is something that is necessary for the Steelers are this juncture in the season.  If they want to turn this train wreck of a season around, then beating the Ravens to win back to back games could be the remedy they are searching for.

The thing is, the Ravens aren't just a team that spikes emotion within the Steelers.  No, they actually match up well against the Steelers this year.  The Ravens are averaging 2.7yds/carry this year, and that is tied with the Jaguars as the lowest in the NFL.  The Ravens have struggled on the ground, and that forces Joe Flacco to try and get the job done.  Well, you see where that has gotten them.  Before Steeler fans rejoice at the thought of Flacco throwing 40+ times, lets not forget that Flacco has gotten the best of the Steelers before.  Do I need to remind you of last year's drive that won the game on Sunday Night Football?  The way the Steelers stack up defensively is best suited for a team that would rather throw the ball than run.  Quite frankly, I feel this Steelers team is vulnerable against the run, more so than the pass.  The Ravens pass protection has been shoddy at times, and Flacco has been under duress throughout most of the first 6 games.
The big question mark in this matchup is the Steelers offense vs the Ravens defense.  I will breakdown the game later in the week, but the Ravens will bring the pressure, and its up to the Steelers to handle the heat.

This game is a crucial game for the Steelers.  If they want to continue to have meaningful games down the stretch, this game is a must win.  In a season that is now built as a "one game season", the Steelers have a tough opponent ahead of them coming to Heinz Field, but lets be honest, there is no one else I'd rather see than the Ravens.