This game will follow the script of the Ravens 3 previous losses, in that the Ravens offense will start slow and get themselves in an early hole. They will again play much better in the 2nd half, and while I’d like to say they will pull out the win this time, I’m not seeing it. The Ravens most certainly can win in Pittsburgh, and even with as well as the Steelers played last week, the Ravens are probably still the better team, but it’s hard to win on the road in the NFL and Roethlisberger makes just enough big plays to hold off the Ravens rally. Steelers 23 Ravens 20. ~ Brian McFarland
· Will Hill will have an increased role with at least 25 snaps
· Despite the protestations of many, Chykie Brown will be active
· Despite the Steelers greatly improved offensive line, The Ravens will knock down (QH or sack) Roethlisberger at least 5 times
· The sky is falling…and somehow it looks like a football to the Ravens’ secondary, so they all avoid it. The Steeler forums, however, are rife with “The sky is falling” threads on Monday morning following the Ravens win. ~ Ken McKusick
There isn’t a closer series in the NFL than Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Each of the last six regular season games between the two clubs has been decided by three points and the total scores are tied at 109. The Ravens have won four of the last five meeting. Ben Roethlisberger may have been GREAT last week, but he has been anything but great against the Ravens. He only has one 300-yard passing game out of 15 matchups, and since 2011, he has a 78.2 passer rating against the Ravens.
The Ravens will be missing two cornerbacks (Jimmy Smith, Asa Jackson), and only have three healthy ones on the roster. But I see the Ravens front 7 getting pressure on Big Ben, and the Ravens running backs enjoying a 100 yard team rushing night.
It will come down to kickers once again in the swirling winds of Heinz Field, and the best kicker in the NFL wins it for the Ravens in the 4th quarter, as the Ravens prevail 23-20. ~ Joe Polek
I see another close game this week between the Ravens and the Steelers. Pittsburgh jumps out early first with a first-drive TD, and Baltimore is forced to chip away and play catch-up. Late in the 4th, the Ravens defense gets the go-ahead TD, courtesy of C.J. Mosley.
Ravens 23, Steelers 22 ~ Mike Fast
I don’t see how the Ravens can contain Roethlisberger’s “extend the play” style with Franks, Elam and Brooks owning a large portion of the coverage responsibilities. I actually think we’ll see plenty of Will Hill in this one, but it probably won’t matter to Big Ben, who has a dynamic running back in Le’Veon Bell to keep Baltimore’s front seven honest. Bell rushes for 88 yards and Roethlisberger throws for 319 yards, including a long TD strike to Antonio Brown. The Ravens always produce a representative effort in Pittsburgh and Sunday night will be no different. Flacco records 293 yards in passing and connects with Torrey Smith and Marlon Brown for TD’s, but a 14-10 Ravens lead evaporates in the second half and Pittsburgh uses a ten point 4th quarter to hold off Baltimore 23-17. ~ Drew Forrester
The trend of six consecutive Ravens-Steelers games in Pittsburgh being decided by three points will come to an end. After a devastating last-minute loss to the Bengals last week, it will be tough to go back on the road and win in primetime against a budding Steelers team. Pittsburgh’s pass attack will be too much for a Jimmy Smith-less Ravens secondary as the Steelers pull away in the end for a convincing 27-14 victory. ~ Kyle Casey
The Ravens dust off 2013 second round pick Arthur Brown to help neutralize the passing threats of Le’Veon Bell and Heath Miller. He’ll even get a chance to blitz Ben Roethlisberger and when he does, the big Steelers gunslinger will shrug him off and hit his target downfield leading to the winning score during the game’s waning seconds. Ravens lose a heartbreaker, 27-23. ~ Tony Lombardi
6 straight Ravens/Steelers games at Heinz Field have been decided by EXACTLY three points. That streak finally ends this week, as one of these teams wins by double digits. Problem is, I have no idea which team that will be. ~ Derek Arnold
We saw the best of the Steelers last week against Indy; this week we won’t. Big Ben will try to exploit a depleted Ravens secondary but it won’t be enough. The Ravens will shut down the running game and Joe Flacco will continue to enjoy the past success he’s had at Heinz Field. I like the Ravens in a close one, 23-20. ~ Fran “The Fan” Vojik.
The ramifications of this game are huge and a loss would be crippling for the Ravens after being swept by the Bengals. They seem to play their best under John Harbaugh with their backs against the wall. What’s perhaps been lost in the wake of the Steelers romp of the Colts last week is how bad their defense is. If you’re a gambler, I would take the over.
The Ravens will hang 35 on the Steelers and after watching Steve Smiths post game interview last week, he’s angry. My guess is he’s as motivated as he was against the Panthers. He goes off for over 100 and 2 TDs.
Ravens 35 Steelers 24 ~ Ryan Jones
The Ravens gambled this offseason when came to securing their secondary for scenarios in which they are facing in Pittsburgh with Jimmy Smith out. The Steelers make this one look easy in prime time as Ben passes for 300 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Ravens offense will keep it interesting but comes up short again for the second straight week. Steelers 31 Ravens 23 ~ Brian Bower
Home teams win 57% of the time in the NFL. During divisional games, that number drops because of environmental familiarity. The Ravens showed they were the better team last time these teams played, and they’ll show it again, although the score will be much closer with Jimmy Smith out. 33-30 Ravens, a late interception by SpiderWebb seals the game. ~ Tyler Lombardi
The home game vs. the Steelers was atypical of the series. In Pittsburgh, I expect a game in the balance late into the 4th. The Ravens Secondary issues are reason to pick Pittsburgh; but I think the Ravens will generate enough pass rush to overcome. ~ Chris Stoner
