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Welcome to the most comprehensive Pittsburgh Steelers Game Day Preview on the internet! This is your one stop shop for everything you need to know about the Steelers and their upcoming opponent! Mike Drakulich of Pittsburgh SportsNation brings you inside the huddle for both teams, providing all fans with a Game Preview, the Steeler’s Keys to Victory, Score Prediction, a detailed breakdown of each team, Fantasy Football Impact, Game Information, Individual Stats, Team Stats, and the latest Injury Report. Heck, you even get the weather at kickoff. The only thing you’re missing is a game uniform!
STEELERS SEEK REDEMPTION AGAINST RIVAL RAVENS IN BALTIMORE
When the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2-1) faceoff against the Baltimore Ravens (4-4) this Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium, much will be on the line for both respective squads.
The Steelers have won three straight since falling to the Ravens in week four 26-14. Not only do the Steelers have revenge on their minds for that earlier loss, they have a huge chance to put the clamps down on any playoff hopes the Ravens have in 2018, as with another loss, Baltimore would drop three games behind the Steelers in the loss column with only seven games left to play in their season.
Many of the Steelers didn’t think this opportunity would present itself from their rivals in Baltimore.
“For sure,” cornerback Joe Haden said. “With all the talent they have on offense and the way the defense is playing out of this world, I didn’t expect that.”
The Ravens have the NFL’s top-ranked defense, allowing just 17.1 points per game. A win vs the Steelers would cure all ails for the reeling Ravens.
“It would make a big difference if we win,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said on a conference call Wednesday. “That would be very important for us if we were able to win out.”
If the Ravens plan on sweeping the season series from the Steelers, they will have to stop a Steelers offense that is heating up by the week.
Offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner and Ben Roethlisberger have been on the same page in turning a weakness into a strength, that being Pittsburgh’s Red Zone offense.
The Steelers are No. 2 in red-zone touchdown percentage, ending up in the end zone on 15 of 20 trips through seven games , good for a 75 percent success rate.
“We’ve dedicated time to it,” Fichtner said Thursday. “I’d like to think some offseason study things we’ve done, some thoughtfulness things we knew we had to improve that had been an eyesore at times.”
The biggest key has been limiting negative gains and ball security.
“It’s disappointing any time you turn the ball over,” Fichtner said. “When you are taking points off the board, you are not giving a chance to at least kick a field goal, and that’s shame on us. That’s not going to be accepted.
“We work hard to try to be better in that area, but without trying to take away the creativity of an established, veteran quarterback who will pull the trigger.”
Pittsburgh is also 11 of 13 in goal-to-go situations.
“It boils down to execution and the guys have been executing,” Fichtner said. “(AB makes a play, (Conner) makes a play, Ben makes a play. They are comfortable with what we are asking them to do.”
Roethlisberger will be looking to gain his 4th win in 10 games playing in Baltimore. He has yet to throw for 300 yards or more in the land of crab cakes.
“It’s a tough place to play,” Fichtner said. “They have great fan support. It’s loud. They get excited. The snap count is always and issue. We’ve had some very big games there in my past 12 years here. It’s a very exciting place to go.”
This Sunday, as always, will more than likely be a battle to the end.
“It’s Pittsburgh-Ravens matchup,” said Steelers guard Ramon Foster. “They have some hard guys up front, we do too. We just have to be on top of our job as far as consistently doing it. If we get away from the run early it could be a long day for us, unless Ben is just airing it out and pushing everyone’s fantasy points.”
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster is confident in his fellow teammates abilities.
“We have to start fast,” said Smith-Schuster. “That is something we talk about all of the time. This game we have to have the run game consistent, more balance, an offense that is 50-50 and play our Steelers ball.”
Unlike the last game vs the Ravens, the Steelers will have to get James Conner involved, who was named both AFC Offensive Player of the Week and AFC Offensive Player of the Month.
“James in general is very motivated,” said Foster. “He is a guy that fully understands his opportunity. He is on top of it.
“It’s is a breath of fresh air to see a guy doing so well and excited. He came to us before our walk-through hugging us saying thank you. When you have somebody like that, you are excited for him. His story is just the icing, no his story is the cake. That is huge.”
A big day by Conner will go a long way towards the Steelers winning their 4th straight game in a row.
“It’s awesome,” said offensive tackle Matt Feiler. “He hits the holes. He knows where to find the holes. He is a downhill runner. He punishes defenders trying to tackle him. I think everyone feeds off his energy. It’s a good energy to feed off of. He is an exciting player to watch.”
As bad as these two rivals despise each other, there is still a mutual respect between the two squads.
“To me, it’s pure football,” Foster said. “You can play hard football without all of the antics and personal fouls and stuff like that, and that’s what they are doing. I respect that aspect of it a whole lot.”
Every game, it seems, comes down to the final quarter of play when these two face off. Most of the time, the AFC North Title is on the line.
“When you’ve been good for a while like they have and we have, we’re going to go hard in between the plays,” Foster said. “But the disrespectful talk and the extra stuff – it just doesn’t happen. If they get a sack, they are going to do their little dances. Hell, we do the same thing. That’s just the sport of the game.”
Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs loves the hate from Steelers fans. He knows it’s all part of the game. He has sacked Roethlisberger 17 times in his career, and is never shy in his antics.
“I still love playing in these games,” Suggs said. “These games are definitely a bit more edgy than others, but at the end of the day, these two teams know each other very well. So, it’s still fun.”
Steelers Keys To Victory
Offense
- Attack downfield with Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Open up some running lanes for rushing attack.
- Get James Conner rolling early. Be balanced in offensive attack.
- Utilize Vance McDonald in the middle.
Defense
- Get to Joe Flacco early and often.
- Beware Buck Allen out of the backfield.
- Create some turnovers and quiet that rabid Ravens crowd.
Prediction
Get your popcorn and pain killers ready. It’s going to be another physical game this Sunday. It will be big for Ben Roethlisberger and the offense to be balanced in their attack vs Baltimore. They possess a great defense, so the best remedy is to keep them off balance all day. Roethlisberger will have to be smart with the ball, especially in limiting any careless turnovers. The Steelers are the better team, from top to bottom, and now halfway through the season, you are beginning to see who the the real contenders from the pretenders.
Baltimore is reeling a bit with injuries to their offensive line. That is a big area of attack for the Steelers to come away with their 5th win of the year. The defense has to punish Joe Flacco on every snap he drops back to pass. He was given an eternity in the last game, allowing him to pick apart the Steelers secondary. It’s a good game for T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree to feed.
“I really just felt we could have 28, 30, 35 points up out there at halftime,” Flacco said after the Ravens beat the Steelers, 26-14, at Heinz Field on Sept. 30.
“It’s not like today was the toughest Pittsburgh Steeler games I’ve ever played.”
Those words were etched into every player’s minds on the Pittsburgh defense.
They are all eager to make Flacco eat his words this Sunday.
“I don’t like that comment,” safety Sean Davis said, “because I feel like Baltimore week, I’m already preparing my body as if there’s going to be a bruising.
“We’ll see if he has the same response after this game.”
Steelers 27 Ravens 17
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Game Information
NFL Week 9
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens
Venue: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD.
Kickoff: Sunday, November 4th, at 1:00 pm
TV: CBS (locally KDKA-TV, channel 2) | Announcers: Ian Eagle (play-by-play) Dan Fouts (analyst) | Evan Washburn (sideline)
Local Radio: Pittsburgh- 102.5 WDVE-FM/970 WBGG-AM | Announcers: Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play) Tunch Ilkin (analyst) | Craig Wolfley (sideline)
National Radio: Sports USA | Announcers: Josh Appel (play-by-play) | Doug Plank (analyst)
Weather at Kickoff: 59 and sunny! Winds 5 mph SSE.
Vegas Line: Baltimore -2.5
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Fantasy Football Focus
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Start: QB Ben Roethlisberger, RB James Conner, WR Antonio Brown, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
- Sleeper: TE Vance McDonald
- Sit: TE Jesse James
Baltimore Ravens
- Start: WR John Brown
- Sleeper: WR Michael Crabtree
- Sit: QB Joe Flacco
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Steelers-Ravens History
- Series History: Series began in 1996.
- The Steelers are 24-21 in the overall Regular Season series against the Ravens.
- Steelers are 10-12 on Road vs the Ravens.
- Streak: Ravens won previous game.
- Last Regular Season Meeting: Sept. 30, 2018, in Pittsburgh (Baltimore 26 Pittsburgh 14)
- Steelers are 3-1 in the Post-Season vs the Ravens
- Last Post-Season Meeting: Jan. 3, 2015 – Pittsburgh, Pa. (Baltimore 30 Pittsburgh 17) AFC Wild Card
Game Notes
- Baltimore HC John Harbaugh coached at the University of Pittsburgh from (1987-88).
- Ben Roethlisberger needs 7 touchdown passes to record No. 350 in his NFL career.
- Roethlisberger with a win, would improve to 13-9 vs. Baltimore in the regular season as a starter and to 4-6 on the road at the Ravens.
- Antonio Brown needs three touchdown catches to reach 70 in his NFL career and with the Steelers.
- Brown, with 100 catches in 2018, will become the first player in NFL history to record 100 or more receptions in six consecutive years.
- JuJu Smith-Schuster is two touchdown receptions shy of 10 in his NFL career.
- T.J. Watt needs one sack to reach 15 in his NFL career.
- Cam Heyward is a half sack from becoming the third Steelers’ defensive lineman to accumulate 40 quarterback takedowns since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.
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A look at the Pittsburgh Steelers!
- Overall Record: 4-2-1
- Head Coach: Mike Tomlin (12th Season with Steelers)
- Overall Regular Season Record: 120-62-1 (.658)
- Playoff Record: 8-7 (Qualified for playoffs 8 times)
- 2018 Pittsburgh Steelers Roster
- Steelers Team Statistics, including Defensive Stats
- Last Game: Pittsburgh 33 Cleveland 18
Scouting the Steelers
Quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger has been up and down all season, but is still putting up big numbers in the passing game. Big Ben’s big arm, along with his uncanny ability to slip out of the pocket and extend plays makes him one one of the league’s best.
Running Backs
Le’Veon Bell is one of the league’s best backs. He is dynamic in both running and catching the ball out of the backfield, but until he signs his contract and reports to the team… who cares? James Conner is more than capable of shouldering a starters share of carries. He has slimmed down and has added speed and quickness to an already powerful running style. Conner has become a dual threat with Bell out. Jaylen Samuels is an H-Back type of player that can line up all over the field. He is especially dangerous catching passes out of the backfield. Steven Ridley is a capable runner that can be counted upon on an as needed basis.
Wide Receivers
What more can you say about Antonio Brown? He is the league’s best wide receiver. His dedication and drive to be the best is unmatched by any player in the league. JuJu Smith-Schuster heads into his 2nd season and has picked up where he left off. Speaking of rookies, James Washington was a Camp favorite of Roethlisberger, and could quickly establish himself as a dangerous weapon in the slot as the 3rd receiver. Justin Hunter is a nice deep threat. Darrius Heyward-Bey is mainly used on special teams. Ryan Switzer has been good in the return game, but has also established himself as a reliable target for Roethlisberger out of the slot..
Tight Ends
Jesse James is reliable as ever. Vance McDonald is looking to make a big impact in his 2nd year as a Steeler, looking to build off a 10-catch, 112-yard day in a postseason loss to the Jaguars. Xavier Grimble provides a big target for Roethlisberger in the Red Zone.
Defense
Up front, the Steelers deploy Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt as their defensive ends. In the middle, Javon Hargrave and Daniel McCullers will rotate. Tyson Alualu and Kameron Canaday will see time at defensive end as well. L.T. Walton can play all three spots.
The linebacker unit goes Bud Dupree and T.J. Watt on the outside, with Vince Williams and Jon Bostic in the middle. Anthony Chickillo and Matthew Thomas back-up Dupree and Watt, while L.J. Fort and Tyler Matakevich are reserves in the middle.
In the secondary, Artie Burns and Joe Haden are the starters at cornerback. Backing them up will be Brian Allen, Mike Hilton, Cameron Sutton, and Coty Sensabaugh. Rookie Terrell Edmunds starts at strong safety, with Morgan Burnett backing him up and seeing plenty of action in nickle and dime formations. Sean Davis is the starter yet again at free safety, with Jordan Dangerfield and Marcus Allen as reserves.
Stats
Quarterback
- Ben Roethlisberger (2,290 yards passing | 14 TD passes | 7 interceptions | 10 sacks | 44 yards rushing | 1 TD’s)
Running Backs
- James Conner (599 yards rushing | 9 rushing TD’s | 31 receptions | 323 yards receiving | 0 receiving TD’s)
- Stevan Ridley (30 yards rushing | 0 rushing TD’s | 3 receptions | 18 yards receiving | 0 receiving TD’s)
- Jaylen Samuels (17 yards rushing | 0 rushing TD’s | 0 receptions | 0 yards receiving | 0 receiving TD’s)
- Roosevelt Nix (0 yards rushing | 0 rushing TD’s | 1 receptions | 19 yards receiving | 0 receiving TD’s)
Wide Receivers
- Juju Smith-Schuster (46 receptions | 594 receiving yards | 2 receiving TD’s)
- Antonio Brown (46 receptions | 552 receiving yards | 8 receiving TD’s)
- Ryan Switzer (13 receptions | 67 receiving yards | 1 receiving TD’s)
- James Washington (5 receptions | 49 receiving yards | 1 receiving TD’s)
- Justin Hunter (3 receptions | 21 receiving yards | 0 receiving TD’s)
- Darrius Heyward-Bey (0 receptions | 0 receiving yards | 0 receiving TD’s)
Tight Ends
- Vance McDonald (23 receptions | 321 receiving yards | 1 receiving TD’s)
- Jesse James (19 receptions | 283 receiving yards | 1 receiving TD’s)
- Xavier Grimble (3 receptions | 44 receiving yards | 0 receiving TD’s)
Kicker
- Chris Boswell (Extra Point: 20-23 | FG: 6-9 | 0-19: 0-0 | 20-29: 2-2 | 30-39: 3-3 | 40-49: 1-4 | 50+: 0-0 | Long: 42)
*Injured
A look at the Baltimore Ravens!
- Overall Record: 4-4
- Head Coach: John Harbaugh (11th Season with Ravens)
- Overall Regular Season Record: 98-70 (.583) | 98-70 (.583) with Ravens
- Playoff Record: 10-5 (Qualified for playoffs 6 times)
- 2018 Baltimore Ravens Roster
- Baltimore Team Statistics, including Defensive Stats
- Last Week: Carolina 36 Baltimore 21
Scouting the Ravens
Quarterback
Joe Flacco is having a pretty good 2018 season. The strong armed QB has thrown for 889 yards with six TD’s and just two INT’s.
Running Backs
Alex Collins is the lead back with just 358 yards rushing so far and five scores via the ground. Buck Allen is sneaky out of the backfield and a goal line vulture. Allen has recorded 30 receptions for 188 yards and two TD’s. He’s managed three TD’s rushing. Ty Montgomery will be looking to make his mark in his Ravens debut, if he suits up.
Wide Receivers
John Brown is the team leader with 586 yards through the air and four touchdowns. Michael Crabtree has 38 receptions and two scores. Willie Snead IV is the team’s 3rd wide-out and also has 38 catches for 390 yards. Chris Moore is rarely utilized.
Tight End
Mark Andrews leads the position with 18 receptions, along with 194 yards receiving and two scores. The Ravens also employ Maxx Williams and Nick Boyle, who have a combined 28 catches for 263 yards and no scores.
Defense
The Ravens are back to playing tough defense, allowing just 17.1 points per game. They have been excellent vs the pass, giving up just 195.6 yards per game.
Stats
Quarterback
- Joe Flacco (2,259 yards passing | 12 TD passes | 6 interceptions | 14 sacks | 45 yards rushing | 0 TD’s)
- Lamar Jackson (75 yards passing | 1 TD passes | 0 interceptions | 1 sacks | 129 yards rushing | 1 TD’s)
Running Backs
- Alex Collins (358 yards rushing | 5 rushing TD’s | 14 receptions | 101 yards receiving | 1 receiving TD’s)
- Javorius Allen (100 yards rushing | 3 rushing TD’s | 30 receptions | 188 yards receiving | 2 receiving TD’s)
- Ty Montgomery (105 yards rushing | 1 rushing TD’s | 15 receptions | 170 yards receiving | 0 receiving TD’s)
Wide Receivers
- Michael Crabtree (38 receptions | 440 receiving yards | 2 receiving TD’s)
- Willie Snead IV (38 receptions | 390 receiving yards | 1 receiving TD’s)
- John Brown (31 receptions | 586 receiving yards | 4 receiving TD’s)
- Chris Moore (11 receptions | 98 receiving yards | 2 receiving TD’s)
Tight End
- Mark Andrews (18 receptions | 194 receiving yards | 2 receiving TD’s)
- Nick Boyle (14 receptions | 136 receiving yards | 0 receiving TD’s)
- Maxx Williams (14 receptions | 127 receiving yards | 0 receiving TD’s)
Kicking
- Justin Tucker (Extra Point: 20-21 | FG: 13-15 | 0-19: 0-0 | 20-29: 2-2 | 30-39: 4-4 | 40-49: 4-6 | 50+: 3-3 | Long: 55)
*Injured
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Steelers – Ravens: Offense vs Defense Match-Up
- Steelers Offense: Steelers average 427.1 YPG | Ravens defense allows 293.8 YPG
- Rushing: Steelers average 100 YPG | Ravens defense allows 98.1 YPG
- Passing: Steelers average 327.1 YPG | Ravens defense allows 195.6 YPG
- Scoring: Steelers average 29.1 PPG | Ravens defense allows 17.1 PPG
- Steelers Defense: Steelers allow 359.7 YPG | Ravens offense averages 388.4 YPG
- Rushing: Steelers allow 94.4 YPG | Ravens offense averages 96.6 YPG
- Passing: Steelers allow 265.3 YPG | Ravens offense averages 291.8 YPG
- Scoring: Steelers allow 24.6 PPG | Ravens offense averages 24.6 PPG
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Injury Report (11/2/2018)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Out: N/A
- Doubtful: OT Marcus Gilbert (Knee)
- Questionable:CB Coty Sensabaugh (Toe), CB Artie Burns (Ankle)
Baltimore Ravens
- Out: T James Hurst (Back), T Ronnie Stanley (Ankle), LB Tim Williams (Ankle)
- Doubtful: N/A
- Questionable: G Bradley Bozeman (Calf), RB Alex Collins (Foot), CB Marlon Humphrey (Thigh), S Tony Jefferson (Hamstring), WR Jordan Lasley (Hamstring), G Alex Lewis (Neck), LB C.J. Mosley (Thigh)
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Pittsburgh Steelers 2018 Schedule
PRESEASON (3-1)
Thursday, Aug. 9 @ Philadelphia W, 31-14 (KDKA)
Thursday, Aug. 16 @ Green Bay L, 51-34 (KDKA)
Saturday, Aug. 25 TENNESSEE W, 16-6 (KDKA/NFL Network)
Thursday, Aug. 30 CAROLINA W, 39-24 (KDKA)
REGULAR SEASON (4-2-1)
Sunday, Sept. 9 @ Cleveland 1 p.m. | TIE- 21-21
Sunday, Sept. 16 KANSAS CITY 1 p.m. | L- 42-37
Monday, Sept. 24 @ Tampa Bay 8:15 p.m. | W- 30-27
Sunday, Sept. 30 BALTIMORE 8:20 p.m. | L- 26-14
Sunday, Oct. 7 ATLANTA* 1 p.m. | W- 41-17
Sunday, Oct. 14 @ Cincinnati* | W- 28-21
Sunday, Oct. 21 BYE WEEK
Sunday, Oct. 28 CLEVELAND* | W- 33-18
Sunday, Nov. 4 @ Baltimore* 1 p.m. (CBS)
Thursday, Nov. 8 CAROLINA 8:20 p.m. (FOX/NFL Network/Amazon)
Sunday, Nov. 18 @ Jacksonville* 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Sunday, Nov. 25 @ Denver* 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, Dec. 2 LOS ANGELES CHARGERS* 1 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, Dec. 9 @ Oakland* 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Sunday, Dec. 16 NEW ENGLAND* 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Monday, Dec. 23 @ New Orleans* 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, Dec. 30 CINCINNATI* 1 p.m. (CBS)
* – Times may change due to flexible scheduling
POSTSEASON
Sat.-Sun., Jan. 5-6 Wild Card Weekend
Sat.-Sun., Jan. 12-13 Divisional Playoff Games
Sunday, Jan. 20 Conference Championships
Sunday, Jan. 27 Pro Bowl (Orlando, Fla.)
Sunday, Feb. 3 Super Bowl LIII (Atlanta, Ga.)
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Author Profile
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From Midland, "The Basketball Capital of Pennsylvania", located 35 miles NW of Pittsburgh along the Ohio River. This former steel town was home to storied athletes such as Dave Alston, Norm Van Lier, Simmie Hill, and the legendary 1965 Midland High School Basketball Team.
There's nowhere on earth that is more dedicated to its sports teams like Western Pennsylvania and the city of Pittsburgh. The passion and pride of Pittsburgh's fan base is second to no one. From the NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA football and basketball, to W.P.I.A.L. high school sports, "The City of Champions" has it all!
As Editor of Pittsburgh SportsNation, Mike Drakulich provides top notch opinions and coverage of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pitt Panthers football & basketball, Robert Morris Colonials basketball, and Duquesne Dukes basketball, as well as all sports teams that represent Western Pennsylvania, including WPIAL High School Football.
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