This Isn't Your Traditional Steelers vs Ravens Matchup

When people think "Steelers and Ravens" they immediately think of those nasty blood baths that happened in the mid 2000s.  Two teams so identical, built from the same cloth, and constructed under the same guidelines slugging it out on the biggest of stages.  Who can forget Hines Ward lighting up Ed Reed?  Its hard to forget Bart Scott coming clean and de-cleating Ben Roethlisberger.  Haloti Ngata's fist breaking Ben's nose bring back memories?  How about Ryan Clark sending Willis McGahee into another planet in the AFC Championship game in 2009...yeah, I knew that would ring a bell.  This rivalry is amongst the best in ALL of sports, but this year, it has a different vibe.  No Hines Ward.  No Ray Lewis.  No James Harrison.  No Santonio Holmes.  No Ed Reed.  Strange to say, but this rivalry is evolving.  Is it not as good?  I wouldn't say that, but it is changing into something completely different.  All you have to do is look at these two teams from a statistical standpoint, and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about.

These two teams used to use the same blueprint for success.  The blueprint was this: Run the football, throw when necessary, ALWAYS take the points, and lean on your defense to shut the opposition down.  Plain and simple.  How can you not remember all of those 19-16, 13-10, or even the occasional 15-9 finishes.  Although these two clubs are still trying to win that way doesn't necessarily means that is how they are winning.  Take a look at the Ravens and Steelers offensive / defensive rankings at the bottom of the page.

Just looking at the statistics and standings shows two teams that are right about middle of the road to bottom of the pack in terms of league standing.  The Steelers have a higher passing yardage average due to 2 things:
1 - Lack of a running game and
2 - They are constantly playing "catch up" in games
The Ravens show a LITTLE more mediocrity in terms of running and passing, but both teams leave alot to be desired offensively.  On the defensive side of the football there lies the tale of the tape.  The Steelers have been very stingy against the pass for the 2nd straight season, but have allowed teams to run on them.  The Ravens are stopping the run, but have allowed more yardage through the air.  These statistics echo my article I wrote yesterday about how the Ravens are the perfect matchup for the Steelers this season (want to check out that article...CLICK HERE).  The Steelers will try to run the football, but are a pass first team now that uses the short pass as a supplemental running game.  On the other side of the ball, the Steelers give up rushing yards, but the Ravens rank among the worst teams in the NFL in yards per carry.

It truly should be a great matchup this Sunday, and one that carries alot of weight with it.  The Steelers win and they have narrowed the game in the division race.  The Ravens win and they could give the Steelers a knockout blow that even the most seasoned team couldn't come back from.  Will this be a high scoring affair?  I doubt it.  Expect the same old grudge match between these 2 hated AFC North rivals.

Pittsburgh Steelers

PASSING YDS

277.67thOverall

RUSHING YDS

61.031stOverall

OPP PASSING YDS

196.04thOverall

OPP RUSHING YDS

114.822ndOverall

Baltimore Ravens

PASSING YDS

263.012thOverall

RUSHING YDS

72.727thOverall

OPP PASSING YDS

254.317thOverall

OPP RUSHING YDS

98.28thOverall