Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
Sunday, December 5, 2010, 8:20 pm EST, TV: NBC
Opening Line: Ravens -2.5
Current Line: Ravens -3
Opening Total: 39.5
Current Total: 39.5
Money Line: Ravens -170 / Steelers +150
First place in the AFC North will be on the line when the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) visit the Baltimore Ravens (8-3) on Sunday Night Football. The Ravens (-3) won the first meeting back in Week 4 at Pittsburgh 17-14, but the Steelers were without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in that game due to a suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. This time around, Roethlisberger is dealing with a foot injury that he said will not keep him from playing.
Pittsburgh has denied that Roethlisberger has a broken foot and listed him as questionable on the injury report with a sprain. He reportedly re-aggravated an old injury in last week’s 19-16 overtime win at Buffalo and could very well be the key to deciding whether or not the Steelers win the rematch. His team has lost all four meetings he has missed and is 7-2 with him under center.
Another important player who missed the first meeting is Baltimore safety Ed Reed, who has four interceptions and a forced fumble since returning from a hip injury in Week 7. Reed has three interceptions and one forced fumble in 13 career games against Pittsburgh.
However, the Ravens are dealing with a couple key injuries offensively that could affect how quarterback Joe Flacco plays. Left tackled Michael Oher sprained his right knee in a 17-10 home win against Tampa Bay last week while fullback Le’Ron McClain sprained his ankle. Oher is expected to play but McClain is listed as doubtful.
Flacco completed 25 of 35 passes last week against the Bucs with two touchdowns and one interception. He won the first meeting with the Steelers on an 18-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh with 32 seconds remaining for the biggest play of his three-year career. Flacco ended up with 256 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception in that game, and he has thrown five touchdowns and four picks in five career games vs. Pittsburgh.
If it comes down to which team can run the ball better, the Steelers may have the advantage. Pittsburgh running back Rashard Mendenhall rushed for a season-high 151 yards on 36 carries last week against the Bills and scored a touchdown. Mendenhall has averaged 60 yards on the ground in four career games against Baltimore with three touchdowns. Meanwhile, Ray Rice has not scored for the Ravens in four career games and has averaged 62.3 yards per game. Rice has rushed for more than 88 yards only once this season, scoring in just two games.
The Steelers are 3-1-1 against the spread in the last five meetings but 2-4 ATS in their last six games overall. Baltimore has not swept the season series since 2006.
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