Baltimore Ravens (0-3)
at Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1) - Sky Sports Friday 01.25
Instead of Ben
Roethlisberger facing Joe Flacco on Thursday Night Football, it will be Michael
Vick taking the snaps for the Steelers. Roethlisberger was injured against the
Rams and looks likely to be out for at least four weeks, so the Steelers contingency
strategy when they brought in Vick will be now be put to the test.
The last time Vick
started for a team was in Week 10 last year for the New York Jets against the
Steelers when he threw for just 132 yards, but earnt a 20-13 win.
The rivalry between
these two teams is immense. It was epitomised in 2003 when an injured Joey
Porter, upset that some of the Ravens' players mocked his trademark "boot
kick" while he was on the sideline, went to the Ravens' team bus and
challenged Ray Lewis to get off and fight.
Ex-Steeler Hines Ward,
who had his moments when playing the Ravens, put the rivalry into perspective. "It's
just pure hatred – just like two old-fashioned bullies meeting in an
alley," Ward said. "I tried to tell young guys, 'When its Baltimore
week, you tend to stay in the weight room longer because it's going to be a
hard-fought, physical battle.'"
Fellow ex-Steeler Ike
Taylor sought an analogy from Hollywood to describe the rivalry, “If you know anything about horror movies, it’s ‘Jason vs. Freddy
Krueger.’ It's Steelers vs. Ravens. It’s just that kind of atmosphere. If you
go to sleep, you know Freddy Krueger is going to come. And you know you can’t
ever beat Jason.”
Looking ahead at the game, Ravens Coach
John Harbaugh said, “We’re preparing for the Steelers, not Michael Vick.”
Really? I guess they have Le’Veon Bell to concern themselves with. Fresh and
with a game under his belt and with the dual threat with DeAngelo Williams, you
would imagine the Steelers will focus on their ground game.
Harbaugh added, “It’s
Baltimore at Pittsburgh. That’s our sole focus. It’s the same every week; you
focus on the game at hand. We have to go in there and be at our best. That’s
the only way to win the next game. We have to play winning football, which we
have not done this season. We are in position in the fourth quarter to win, and
we haven’t gotten the job done in all three games.”
Ball security is the
biggest challenge for Vick and the Ravens will surely put some emphasis on that
with their defensive preparation.
Roethlisberger’s
absence won’t stop the fans from tailgating. This rivalry will ensure
Pittsburgh will be lit up Thursday evening with tailgating as only Steelers
fans know in full swing starting midday.
Roethlisberger is
itching to be on the sideline Thursday to offer advice and support to Vick and
the rest of the offense. Surely he would better off in a coaching booth resting
his knee and watching the plays develop so he can see the game from a different
perspective?
Who can win the game
for the Steelers? Le’Veon Bell, now back and should be at his peak. The
improved Steelers defense can also make an impact on the result. Who can lose
the game for the Steelers? Michael Vick.
Who can win the game
for the Ravens? Joe Flacco, he has Steve Smith to aim at. Who can lose the game
for the Ravens? Michael Vick, if he tunes into the Steelers offense, game over.
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