Steelers Week (Modified)
You know by now that tonight’s Steelers-Ravens match won’t be quite what was expected.
In place of the quarterback everyone loves to hate, Pittsburgh will send Dennis Dixon to the wolves. The same Dennis Dixon who has virtually zero NFL experience and who has until today been the third quarterback for his entire (and entirely short) professional career.
No way to spin that development into anything other than a huge boon for the Ravens. I thought of them as the favorites anyway, owing to the continued absence of Troy Polamalu. This just seals it.
That said, I’d caution anyone against considering this a lock. Nobody really knows what Dixon might bring to the table. It’s highly unlikely that he’ll step in and throw for three TDs and 300 yards, but it’s almost equally unlikely that he’ll be afraid. He played in a big-time program at Oregon and was a Heisman candidate before tearing his ACL. He was a fairly efficient passer (better than 60%) who did a lot of damage on the run. Not to say that means anything for tonight, but it’s not as if the kid hasn’t been on stage before. He knows what he’s up against.
Games like this are completely unpredictable, and usually very interesting. A Ravens win by two scores wouldn’t surprise me at all, but I think it’ll be a fun game to watch.
Some quick hits, based on what I’ve seen from the two teams so far this year and plugging that into tonight’s scenario:
How the Ravens Will Win
Staying disciplined and efficient. Containing the run and forcing Dixon to make plays, then capitalizing when he makes mistakes. Keeping their own mistakes at or near zero. Playing cool — not taking anything for granted or letting their emotions get the best of them.
How the Ravens Will Lose
Playing stupid. Taking unnecessary penalties, particularly pass interference and personal fouls. Assuming too much about their ability to take advantage of Dixon. Poor clock management if the game is close. Boneheaded coaching.
How the Steelers Will Win
Getting Mendenhall and Parker and Moore going to take pressure off the young QB. Taking what the defense gives them and utilizing it in an efficient fashion. Generating turnovers and making big plays on D.
How the Steelers Will Lose
Mistakes and turnovers on offense. Playing “trying too hard” defense which results in gaps for Joe Flacco and the RBs to exploit. Trying too hard in general.
I’m not making a prediction for this one. I welcome yours, however. I have a feeling pretty much all of them will run something along the lines of 24-10 Ravens.
I think we’ve learned, though, that you can throw most conventional wisdom out the door when these two teams meet. It’ll be a battle the same as always. Just not the battle we thought it would be.
In the immortal words of my sensei Mister Miyagi, “Different, but same.”
ravens 55-2
I like that you’re calling a safety. Bold move.
Oh my god…it’s finally all over.
I honestly thought my Gamecast wasn’t working as all I kept seeing on most recent play was:
But apparently that WAS the entire game.
It’s games like these that I don’t even feel satisfied that they won; it’s such a Pyrrhic victory considering they were supposed to wipe the floor and looked so anemic.
I HATE THE STEELERS, but damn if I don’t respect them. Their 2 best players are out for the game, start a 3rd string qb, and we have a full staff…..and it goes to overtime. It didn’t matter who they threw out there tonight, we all knew it was gonna be a tough game. Anybody who thought this game was gonna be easy is lying. I HATE THE STEELERS.
(And Neal, I had that Willie Gaston card sitting next to me the whole game)
dude when the ravens play the steelers nothing matters. last year the steelers went 3-0 by a combined 11 points and the ravens had 20 damn players on i.r. including their starting corners.
also people forget that all three games were started by the ravens 3rd string quarterback!
I dunno what people are talking about, this game was freaking great.
Going for it on 4th down with a Flacco missile in the middle of the field to Ray Rice? GUTS.
Not to mention the return of McClain and McGahee (if only for a quarter or so, but still) and young #5 finally remembering that spreading it around is encouraged.
Also, Webb is here to stay.
GREAT game. I was on edge the whole time, and that’s what I ask of sports (well…and winning).
But going forward, the only thing to feel good about the Ravens’ win last night was that it was a win and not a loss. They just aren’t impressive, and aren’t anywhere near the level of the Patriots, Colts, or Bengals (what the…) this year.
@Andrew – No, you’re right about that. They aren’t impressing anyone. Except Ray Rice – he’s damn impressive. But whatever gun-slinging offensive juggernaut we saw in the first few weeks has gone away for whatever reason.
flacco got his ankle rolled in minnesota and hasn’t played well since. he’s throwing off his back foot, sailing passes, etc. evidently it got tweaked last night which sucks. one annoying thing about harbaugh is he comes from the dumb andy reid school of never disclosing injuries unless a player is inactive.
@dan the man – Meh, it happens when you have no TV and just Gamecast to depend on. I trust you guys now that the game was awesome, but it was bizarre keeping up on Gamecast and watching nothing but “Joe Flacco Incomplete Pass” constantly.