Steelers Lab

Yinzers,

Well, that was a scary one against the Buffalo Buffaloes. I am really not sure we deserved to win that one, but "Thank you" to Stevie Johnson for dropping the ball in the end zone in overtime and "Thank you" to Shaun Suisham for earning his first game check. Did anyone else notice how much the announcers for CBS REALLY wanted the Bills to win that game? "AND So what's happening this week?

The Baltimore Rat Birds host our Pittsburgh Steelers
All us Steeler fans know what this weekend is all about. "It's the old Browns. They're our biggest rival. They're are stiffest competition in the North. etc, etc." All of said statements are correct. These two teams are just as equal this year as they have been in years past. It also does not matter if both teams lead the division at 8-3 and are on two-game win streaks; they have 250 (BAL) and 254 (PIT) points-for; they have 188 (BAL) and 175 (PIT) points-against; rank 4th (BAL) and 5th (PIT) in the power rankings; or are XX (BAL) or XY (PIT). In the end, the stats mean absolutely nothing when these two teams come together because they always play their best against one another. Why? That's what rivals do. The keys for Baltimore this weekend will be the exploitation of the weak Steelers offensive line. If they can get Haloti Ngata to go one-on-one with either of the Steelers' guards, the Steelers are in for a long day. Without Dan Kreider anymore, the Steelers have had a hard time with skilled linebackers, which Baltimore obviously has. Anquan Boldin and Derrick Mason have been a deadly one-two punch on the outsides for Joe Flacco and Ray Rice will undoubtedly be a 1000-yard rusher.

This is exactly the same game plan the Steelers have to follow...that AND have the offensive line actually show up. Surprised? The Steelers' one-two punch with Mike Wallace (whom the CBS announcers consistently called 'Mike Williams' on Sunday) and Hines Ward has also payed great dividends for the Steelers. Rashard Mendenhall only needs 38 yards to be a 1000-yard rusher. For the Steelers, they will need to do the exact same as the Baltimore Ravens. Get in the backfield and stop Ray Rice in his tracks and get Joe Flacco on the ground. The Ravens, like the Steelers, like to control the clock with their rushing attack and play the pass off of it. If you can disrupt the run, it takes away their clock management because Joe Flacco is no Ben Roethlisberger under duress.

As for the injury report, BRETT KEISEL HAD A FULL PRACTICE, as did Flozell Adams, Nick Eason, Bryant McFadden and Troy Polamalu. If all these guys play this weekend, the defense should look even better than ever. Ben had a limited practice due to the ankle, but nobody foresees it keeping him sidelined. James Harrison appears to be a marked man by Roger Goddell, being fined another $25,000 for his hit on Ryan Fitzpatrick. "He led with the crown of his head and hit him under the chin," is what all were saying. When you are running forward, you lead with your head, it's basic momentum. As for hitting Fitzpatrick under the chin, yes, he hit him under the chin...in the STERNUM. For my money, any other player would have been given a pat on the back for that hit, but Harrison got fined.

Game time is 8:20 pm on NBC's Sunday Night Football after "Football Night in America" (I still call it "Sunday Night Countdown"). Bill Hillgrove, Tunch Ilkin and Craig Wolfley will be at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, broadcasting live on DVE and all your other Steelers' networks.

Here we go,
B Brog