Predict the Score vs. the Ratbirds

[BradshawsHairdresser]

I would take the Steelers, 17-14, but we're going against the Ravens AND the OFFICIALS, (and we'll be handicapped again by the calls and lack of adjustments by BA and DL). So I'm guessing Ravens, 20-17.

Hope I'm wrong.

[steelblood]

Re: Predict the Score vs. the Ratbirds

Raven 31
Steelers 20

That really hurt like pooping broken glass.

[Shawn]

Re: Predict the Score vs. the Ratbirds

Ravens 17
Steelers 13

[Sugar]

Re: Predict the Score vs. the Ratbirds

Steelers- 23
Ravens- 13

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Predict the Score vs. the Ratbirds

Week 13 matchup: Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens

Sporting News


Three key story lines to watch

Postseason in sight. The winner of this game takes over sole possession of first place in the AFC North. Just as important, the winner has a good chance of finishing as the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the AFC, and would have a first-round bye and at least one home game in the playoffs.

Keep Ben on his feet. Steelers have to show they can protect quarterback Ben Roethlisberger against the Ravens' pass rush. The Ravens have used a lot of new stunts in the past two weeks, and the Steelers are without starting tackles Flozell Adams and Max Starks because of injuries. Buffalo forced Roethlisberger out of the pocket quite often a week ago.

Real Baltimore please stand up. The Ravens haven't beaten a quality team since early in the season when they knocked off the Jets and Steelers, who were without Roethlisberger. Since then, the Ravens have lost to the Patriots and Falcons. In the next three weeks, they face Pittsburgh, New Orleans and Houston. It's time to find out if the Ravens are for real or not.

Three key Ravens

LB Jarret Johnson. He has played extremely well the past two games because his shoulder and back problems are gone. The Steelers will double up to rush outside linebacker Terrell Suggs on their left side, so Johnson has to have a big game on the right side. He might be the Ravens' most important pass rusher Sunday.

WR Derrick Mason. He had a big game last week with eight catches for 87 yards. He'll have to be just as impressive Sunday because opposing teams are now bracketing Anquan Boldin all over the field. Look for the Mason versus Ike Taylor matchup. Mason will win it almost every time.

C Matt Birk. He has to be on his game as far as calling out the blocking assignments. Pending on injuries, the Ravens might be without two starting offensive linemen in tackle Michael Oher and guard Chris Chester. Birk could be working with two newcomers against a defense which shifts and blitzes a lot.

Three key Steelers

C Maukice Pouncey. He got pummeled last week against Buffalo, and it won't get any easier against the Ravens. He'll have either Kelly Gregg or Haloti Ngata in his face all afternoon. The Ravens respect Pouncey, but he won't face another duo as strong as Gregg and Ngata. Look for Pouncey to get a lot of help from the guards.

QB Ben Roethlisberger. He's a Ravens killer. He usually finds a way to beat the Ravens with a long drive at the end of a game. The Ravens, like other teams, have a hard time bringing Roethlisberger down, and they have spent a lot of time as a defense figuring out ways to attack him. The Ravens thought they got a great warm-up act for Roethlisberger last week against Tampa Bay's Josh Freeman. If they can't tackle him, the Ravens at least have to keep Roethlisberger in the pocket.

WR Mike Wallace. Because the Ravens corners play so soft, they have a tough time running with speedsters, and Wallace could present some problems for the Ravens. The Steelers have to notice the Ravens vulnerability on the outside, so they'll go after cornerbacks Josh Wilson and Lardarius Webb. Webb bites often on double moves.

Bottom line

Before last week, it would have been an easy choice picking Baltimore over Pittsburgh. If the Ravens can get injured players like Oher (knee), Chester (skin disease), fullback Le'Ron McClain (ankle) and safety Dawan Landry (concussion) healthy, the Ravens will beat the Steelers because Pittsburgh can't contain the Ravens' pass rush. Simply put, the Steelers can't score and the Ravens have enough firepower to control the clock. If the injured players don't play, Pittsburgh might pull out the victory.

Prediction: Ravens 17, Pittsburgh 14.

— SN correspondent Mike Preston

Read more: [url="http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2010-11-30/week-13-matchup-pittsburgh-steelers-at-baltimore-ravens#ixzz16odUSUma"]http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2 ... z16odUSUma[/url]

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Predict the Score vs. the Ratbirds

The Ravens have used a lot of new stunts in the past two weeks, and the Steelers are without starting tackles Flozell Adams and Max Starks because of injuries.

Gotta love crappy reporting.

[The Man of Steel]

Re: Predict the Score vs. the Ratbirds

Pittsburgh 16 Baltimore 13

[AkronSteel]

Re: Predict the Score vs. the Ratbirds

Steelers 17
Ravens 12

[Crash]

Re: Predict the Score vs. the Ratbirds

I'm like a jinx so I don't predict scores. I will predict there will be a fight in this game much like the scrum in the Titans game.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Predict the Score vs. the Ratbirds

Ben is 1-1 in Baltimore during his career, winning 13-9 in 2008 and losing 27-0 in 2006.

we lost the first game against them 19-16 without Ben and the current Vegas line has the Felons favored by 3 with the O/U at 40.

take the Steelers and the Under:

Steelers 19
Felons 16

[flippy]

Re: Predict the Score vs. the Ratbirds

Steelers - Eleventy Billion
Ravens - 0

[Leper Friend]

Re: Predict the Score vs. the Ratbirds

The thought of Ben with a hurt foot and Jonathon Scott trying to block Terrell Suggs terrifies me.

17 - 14 Ravens.

[Oviedo]

Re: Predict the Score vs. the Ratbirds

Ravens 20 Steelers 13

Please be wrong, please be wrong, please be wrong!!!!!!!!!!!

[sentinel33]

Re: Predict the Score vs. the Ratbirds

im with rodisgod. the o-line will have there hands full. mendenhall and redman need to have big games. the ravens arent as stout against the run as they used to be. this is the achilles heel. but the steelers like being the underdog. they work the us vs. the world angle real well. and thats a good thing because we lose this one 21-10 and it really puts things in perspective for the team. they need to establish an identity in december and losing to a good team like baltimore is just the thing to get this team going. the ravens will take at least one more loss with houston and new orleans on the horizon. we take this loss with a gimpy ben. they can win these battles but we will win the war in the playoffs.

[anger 82&95]

Re: Predict the Score vs. the Ratbirds

Steelers- 24
Carrion pickers-21