The Ravens say goodbye to Ray Rice and hello to Pittsburgh in the first game since the video of the RB punching his wife was released.
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Ray Rice elevator video – Video of former Ravens RB Ray Rice punching wife in hotel elevator Antonio Brown diving kick – Steelers WR kicks Browns punter in the face Pittsburgh Steelers – Steelers extend CB Cortez AllenLocation: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD
Head-to-Head record: Steelers lead 20-16 (Steelers 3-0 in playoffs)
Last Meeting: November 28, 2013 – Ravens won 22-20
The Baltimore Ravens host their bitter division rival Pittsburgh Steelers in a Thursday night matchup to begin Week 2 of the NFL season.
The Ravens have had a rough week to say the least: losing in the final minutes to Cincinnati on Sunday (a divisional game), the Ray Rice video and the storm of chaos that came after it, and now they have to face one of their toughest rivals on only 4 nights rest.
The Steelers, on the other hand, are surging. Despite giving up a big lead against the Cleveland Browns, the Steelers offense is running on all cylinders with QB Ben Roethlisberger continuing to play at a high level as he enters a contract year. The defense was sketchy but otherwise solid for the first half of the game against the Browns.
The two teams have faced each other twice in the playoffs since John Harbaugh took over for the Ravens in 2008 and have played in the AFC Championship game a combined 5 times. The two teams are an even 3-3 at Baltimore since 2008 (they are also 3-3 on the road).
Expect Baltimore to air it out more now that they no longer have a franchise RB and will be using a RB by committee system with Bernard Pierce and Justin Forsett.
Prediction: Ravens – Baltimore has the right coaching and leadership to overcome the distractions and win this game. And the Steelers blew a 24-point lead to the Cleveland Browns – a team that was worse in nearly every element of the offense. The Ravens have more than enough firepower to win this game.
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