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I don’t feel completely burned by the Ravens’ success this postseason ( I was at least behind them at Miami ), but last week’s win at Tennessee is still a little hard to stomach. So many things had to go one way for that game to turn out the way it did. The turnovers, the penalties, the no-delay-of-game call, and still a narrow 13-10 victory.

The Ravens were outgained 211 to 391, averaged only 1.7 yards per rush, and held the ball for just 26 minutes.

But live on they do, so here are the Baltimore Ravens, into their 18th straight week without rest. They list 17 players currently on IR. 12 more on the injury report. And those are big names too. Both starting WRs, their starting TE, their most effective RB, their blocking FB, three of their four starting LBs, the best FS in the game, their best cover CB.

“It’s very hard for a good NFL team to beat another good NFL team three times in a single season.”

It is, but it’s not impossible. And having a team like this, unrested and unhealthy, against a healthy-as-can-be group like the Steelers, is how it can be done.

The Ravens are surely still ticked over their week 15 home loss vs Pittsburgh where Santonio Holmes goal line catch was ruled a TD, but that’s just not enough to lift the dead here.

For a rookie QB and rookie coach to have won two straight playoff road games is a great season. But if you’ve backed the Ravens the last two weeks, it’s time to step away from the table. Look at the good fortune you were granted, and buy yourself a nice dinner.

I haven’t seen this year’s Pittsburgh offense protect their quarterback as well as they did last week. They list just two players on their injury report, both as probable. The motivation factor here is neutralized. Both are playing for Tampa. This game is more a matter of who can stay on their feet the longest.

Against Miami, the Ravens knew all they had to do was shut down Joey Porter and they’d hold back the Dolphins pass rush. Against Tennessee, the Ravens knew all they had to do was get the front four blocked and they’d hold back the Titans pass rush.

Against Pittsburgh, the Ravens are going to focus on stopping Harrison like their focused on Porter (double tackles to one side, or a TE staying in), but there just too many weapons beyond Harrison.

And the Ravens’ offense has this problem too ( from Football Outsiders ):

“The Steelers are also a tougher defensive matchup for the Ravens because the Ravens’ tendencies on offense match up with what the Steelers do best. The Ravens run play action on 28 percent of their passing plays, the most of any team; unfortunately for them, the Steelers give up 3.2 yards per play with play action, as opposed to 4.6 yards per play without. (Both numbers are the best in the league, but the gap between the Steelers and the rest of the NFL is much larger on play-action passes.) On the 21 play action passes the Ravens ran against the Steelers this year, Joe Flacco was sacked four times, hurried four more times, and was successful only four times.”

Barring three red zone turnovers, bad officiating, and lightning strikes, I expect the Steelers will ride their trips bunch offense, and their healthy defense to the Superb Owl. Trips bunch! It’s the new awesome.

-Steelers -6