Preview: 2015 – Game 16 – Baltimore Ravens

The times always-a-changing.

The last time the Steelers met the Ravens earlier this season, Ben Roethlisberger was injured and Michael Vick had 3 days (and literally one full practice) to prepare to be Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback. In that encounter, an 0-4 Ravens squad upset Pittsburgh at home, in overtime, after a pair of missed field goals by now formers Steeler kicker Josh Scobee.

That loss in particular still echoes deep into December, as the Steelers are 2 games behind the division leader and in a dogfight for a playoff berth.

But, this time around, the Steelers are completely healthy, save the absence of those players lost for the season such as Le’Veon Bell, who played in the first matchup. Big Ben is under center and Martavis Bryant will be lining up outside the numbers.

While that’s good news for the Steelers, the bad news for the Ravens is that they are still succumbing to major injuries: the parallel being, that Baltimore will be without it’s top signal caller Joe Flacco, and perhaps it’s number 2 QB Matt Schaub as well. This may even the playing field, one I suspect will be full of field goals for the Ravens, just as it was for the Steelers several Thursday nights ago.

But I don’t expect the Steelers to lay off the throttle: their high-powered offense has put up franchise numbers, scoring 30 or more points over the last 6 games, in tune to a 5-1 streak during that period. The Baltimore Ravens, conversely, feature one of the league’s worst secondaries, while not balancing out much further on offense.

However, it’s an AFC North grudge match as it always has been and just like in October, the Ravens could play spoiler to the Steelers season. The only thing left to say is, if the Steelers cannot manage a convincing win (or a win at all) against Baltimore on Sunday, then perhaps they do not deserve to play in the postseason.