Baltimore at Pittsburgh (01/18/2009)

First let me say that I hate both these teams with a passion. With that said..... I think that Baltimore will prevail in this one. Pitts has not seen a defense like Baltimore. This is going to be SMASH MOUTH football! I will be buying points in this one.  The line right now is +5 si I will more than likely bu 10 and take Baltimore +15. I'm looking forward to this game!

could not have said it better.....

Flacco is not being asked to throw 40 times..... he is just being asked to not turn the ball over...

Baltimore +6.... these games are always close

He has averaged about 30 pass attempts in both games against the Steelers this year and is only completing around 45% of  those.  The Ravens don't want him to throw that much but the Steelers defense has done a good job of stopping the run early and forcing Flacco to beat them, which he has been unable to do so far.

I'd expect them to do the same in this game, especially if McClain is still going to be nursing that sore ankle. Flacco is struggling right now as you can see by his postseason numbers, 9-23 in the Miami game and 11-22 last week. The guy is only completing 44% of his passes in the playoffs. That isn't going to cut it against this Steelers defense. The Baltimore offense as a whole has been bad this postseason. They only outgained Miami by 10 yards and Tennessee outgained them by 180 yards.

Baltimore won their first two playoff games by relying heavily on their defense and their ability to cause turnovers. They can only do that for so long and right now I think that defense is tired and beat up. Flacco is eventually going to have to win a game on his own, much like Ben did in their second meeting this year. I just don't think he's going to be able to do that against this Steelers D, in Pittsburgh, in wintry conditions. I expect the Ravens to hang with the Steelers for a half like the Chargers did. But the Steelers will eventually pull away in the second half as that Ravens defense starts to fatigue.

PITT ML AND -6

I'm a Ravens fan, but have to agree Balt would need a couple of lucky bounces/ big plays to beat Pitt. I think Pitt wins and covers over a beat up Baltimore. (SUGGS Rolle McClain all iffy)

Pitt 26  Balt 13

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easy with the lame jokes. EAGLES are gunna ruin zona and Baltimore is gunna give Pitt a run for the money in this one. GL tho pal.

yes it's true that Flacco is averaging 30 attempts per meeting with the Steelers... but lets evaluate his play...

1st meeting.... he played really well in his first MNF game in hienz field and realized that you can't run like he did in college.... they could have won that game.... 1 td no picks....

2nd meeting... In Baltimore.... he throws two picks..... but the Baltimore Defense lost that game due to Big Ben's 4th quarter drive.... and the td that heard round the world

neither matchup covered 6 points....

so if he throws 30 times.... turns it over twice.... then you are flirting with a 6 point spread....

if he plays controled football... doesn't make bad decisions... and doesn't let the Steeler DEFENSE score.... then he can manage the game well and they can probably cover....

understand I'm not saying WIN... I am saying Cover....

realistically in the 4th quarter I'd rather have my money on Big Ben than Flacco....

but not laying 6 points.....

If the Baltimore Defense plays the way the have been playing all year, then we are looking at a low scoring game with the difference being in a 3 or 4 plays....

Flacco completing 45% of his passes in the postseason doesn't phase me at all.... the reason why is because he has NO TURNOVERS....  the kid averages 150 yards and doesn't turn the ball over and they win....

another reason why I'm not worried about the completion percentage is because he makes the throws that count.... against TENNESSEE he throw that PURDY ball to Mason low to the ground for a crucial 3rd down play.... that was 1 of his 11 for 22 completions.... and by the way he has a CANNON....

Baltimore really should have lost against TENN... but they didnt'.... they caused turnovers.... they got outplayed and still won...

these matchs are always down to the wire... I dont' see a difference here.....

San Diego didn't have LT in.... that's a huge difference.... and the COLTS would not have won that game in those conditions either... not taking anything away from PITT, because they are a great football team.... but the difference I see is PITT's O-line vs. Balt's D-line which I think Baltimore has the advantage....

Good luck to all

Ravens +7 buying the point

Yeah but he got hurt during warm-ups and played the whole game after that. He's not even listed on the injury report. They'll rest him during the week to make sure he's ready to go Sunday.

I'd be more worried about the list of Ravens coming into this game injured. Antwan Barnes is still out, Suggs has a bad shoulder and might be out, Rolle has a groin problem, Leonhard got a concussion last game, Heap has bad ribs and a sore back, McClain has a bad ankle, Reed has a bad knee, and I could go on but I think you get the point.