AFC divisional
playoff game |
Ravens at Steelers
Heinz Field
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Sunday, Jan. 20, 2002
AT A GLANCE: The third meeting between these bitter AFC
Central foes should not disappoint in its excitement and trash talk, both during the game
and in the week leading up to it. The season series is split.
|
| OVERVIEW: The Ravens pounded the Dolphins last week,
playing conservatively on offense and shutting down Miami on defense. The Steelers are
coming off their first-round bye. The Steelers won seven of their eight home games this
season, with their only loss coming against the Ravens in Week Eight. The Ravens are 5-4
on the road, including last week’s wild-card game.
In the teams’ first meeting this season, PK Kris Brown missed four of five FG
attempts, including the game-tying try with just seconds left, while his counterpart,
Ravens PK Matt Stover, hit two field goals in the fourth quarter to seal the deal. RB
Jerome Bettis ran well in that game, and QB Kordell Stewart had a very efficient outing.
The road team has won the last six meetings in this series by an average of 6.2 points
per game.
While Stewart performed well against the Ravens this year, he had a disturbing 3-6
TD-interception ratio in the final two games of the regular season.
When the Ravens have the ball:
The Ravens were able to pound the Dolphins into submission last week with their running
game, and they must find a way to weaken the Steelers’ top-notch front seven.
If Pittsburgh’s awesome pass rush is allowed to unleash its fury on Ravens QB
Elvis Grbac, then the Steelers’ suddenly susceptible secondary won’t be under
nearly as much pressure.
Teams had been throwing shorter passes against the Steelers, preventing them from
harassing the quarterback. Pittsburgh needs to find a way to get to Grbac and rattle him,
because he can be prone to mistakes when pressure is applied. Against the Ravens’
average offensive line, the Steelers could have success.
Ravens TE Shannon Sharpe led all tight ends in receptions and remains one of
Baltimore’s top weapons. WR Travis Taylor had a fine game vs. the Dolphins.
The Ravens have had success in the running game in the past six games, averaging 4.4
yards per carry. But they’ll face a Steelers defensive line that has improved with
the addition of rookie NT Casey Hampton, a big run-stuffer who has held the point of
attack very well this season. |
|
|
| Heinz Field |
| Pittsburgh, Pa. |
| Date: Sunday, January 20, 2002 |
| 12:30 Eastern Time |
| Type Of Turf: Natural |
| Meeting Of The Year: Third |
| First Meeting: |
| |
Baltimore |
13 |
| |
Pittsburgh |
(0) 10 |
| Second Meeting: |
| |
Baltimore |
21 |
| |
Pittsburgh |
(+3) 26 |
| Season Record: |
| |
Baltimore |
11-6-0 |
| |
Pittsburgh |
13-3-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Baltimore |
9-7-1 |
| |
Pittsburgh |
11-4-1 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Baltimore (R) |
5-4-0 |
| |
Pittsburgh (H) |
7-1-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Baltimore (R) |
4-4-1 |
| |
Pittsburgh (H) |
6-2-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf: |
| |
Baltimore |
11-6-0 |
| |
Pittsburgh |
11-3-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
Baltimore |
9-7-1 |
| |
Pittsburgh |
9-4-1 |
|
| RB Terry Allen is a bruiser who will get the
majority of the carries, and there could be some monster collisions with hard-hitting
rookie ILB Kendrell Bell. When the Steelers have the ball:
Pittsburgh finally gets to drive "The Bus" now that it’s in good working
condition. Bettis missed the last five games of the regular season with groin and hip
injuries.
The Steelers are not worried that Bettis will be physically unable to carry the
offense. What might be of concern is his timing and conditioning.
But if Bettis doesn’t run as well as he did before he was hurt, Pittsburgh will
feel comfortable handing the ball to backup RB Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala, who has proved
he can take Bettis’ place. He averaged 4.1 yards per carry over the last three games.
Change-of-pace RB Amos Zereoue will be involved no matter who is featured.
The Ravens shut down Miami last week, but in the four games prior to the wild-card
game, they gave up an average of 129.3 rushing yards per game. Baltimore will have to do a
better job against Bettis, who hasn’t performed well against them historically but
had a solid game in Week Eight.
Prior to the Week 14 matchup, a war of words ensued involving Bettis and Steelers WR
Plaxico Burress and Ravens LB Ray Lewis and TE Shannon Sharpe. Lewis and Bettis both get
very amped for big games such as this one, and since Bettis didn’t play in Week 14,
there could be some extra motivation for these players.
The Steelers’ passing game was forced to step up after Bettis got hurt, and it
responded. In the last game vs. the Ravens, Stewart torched Baltimore’s secondary,
posting his first 300-yard game since the 1997 season. But Stewart could see added
pressure from LB Peter Boulware, who has been used more as a defensive end recently and
performed quite well in that role.
CBs Duane Starks and Chris McAlister played very well last week, and they’ll have
something to prove against Burress and WR Hines Ward. Check the status of nickel back
James Trapp (groin), who would give a huge boost to the secondary.
The Steelers’ offensive line is one of the top lines in the league and does an
excellent job overall.
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Jan. 13. |
Offense |
| WR |
87 ISMAIL, 80 Stokley |
| OLT |
75 OGDEN, 77 Vickers |
| OLG |
64 MULITALO, 77 Vickers |
| C |
62 FLYNN, 74 Bobo, 61 Rabach* |
| ORG |
66 ANDERSON*, 74 Bobo, 65 J. Thomas |
| ORT |
77 VICKERS, 78 S. Williams |
| TE |
82 SHARPE, 86 Heap*, 88 Jones |
| WR |
89 TAYLOR, 84 J. Lewis, 83 Johnson |
| QB |
18 GRBAC, 1 Cunningham, 7 Redman |
| RB |
29 ALLEN, 44 Brookins, 23 M. Williams |
| FB |
32 GASH, 30 Ayanbadejo, 39 Ricard |
Defense |
| DLE |
90 BURNETT, 96 A. Thomas |
| DLT |
95 ADAMS, 79 Webster, 73 Gregg |
| DRT |
98 SIRAGUSA, 91 Dalton |
| DRE |
96 A. THOMAS, 94 Douglas |
| LLB |
58 BOULWARE, 50 Jackson, 54 S. Taylor |
| MLB |
52 R. LEWIS, 56 Hartwell* |
| RLB |
55 SHARPER, 50 Jackson |
| LCB |
22 STARKS, 24 Porter* |
| RCB |
21 McALISTER, 38 Trapp |
| SS |
45 HARRIS, 37 Lake, 42 Mitchell |
| FS |
26 WOODSON, 28 Baxter* |
Specialists |
| PK |
3 STOVER, 12 Kight |
| P |
5 RICHARDSON |
| H |
5 RICHARDSON, 18 Grbac |
| PR |
84 J. LEWIS, 21 McAlister, 22 Starks |
| KR |
84 J. LEWIS, 45 Harris, 44 Brookins |
| LS |
59 MAESE*, 61 Rabach* |
* Rookie |
|
|
Offense |
| WR |
80 BURRESS, 81 Edwards, 82 Shaw |
| OLT |
72 GANDY, 78 Nkwenti* |
| OLG |
66 FANECA, 76 Vincent* |
| C |
64 HARTINGS, 62 Duffy, 56 Okobi* |
| ORG |
65 TYLSKI, 76 Vincent* 62 Duffy |
| ORT |
77 M. SMITH, 60 Ross* |
| TE |
84 TUMAN, 48 Cushing, 85 Geason |
| WR |
86 WARD, 83 Jackson |
| QB |
10 STEWART, 8 Maddox, 17 Martin |
| RB |
36 BETTIS, 21 Zereoue, 45 Fuamatu-Ma'afala, 33 Bowers* |
| FB |
38 WITMAN, 35 Kreider |
Defense |
| DLE |
91 A. SMITH, 73 Combs |
| NT |
98 HAMPTON*, 96 Clancy |
| DRE |
67 VON OELHOFFEN, 94 Bailey* |
| LOLB |
92 GILDON, 53 Haggans |
| LILB |
50 HOLMES, 57 Fiala |
| RILB |
97 K. BELL*, 51 Jones |
| ROLB |
55 PORTER, 37 Kurpeikis* |
| LCB |
30 SCOTT, 23 Simmons |
| RCB |
20 WASHINGTON, 26 Townsend, 22 Poteat |
| SS |
41 FLOWERS, 40 M. Bell |
| FS |
27 ALEXANDER, 31 Logan |
Specialists |
| P |
4 MILLER |
| PK |
3 K. BROWN |
| H |
4 MILLER, 8 Maddox |
| KR |
81 EDWARDS, 21 Zereoue, 22 Poteat |
| PR |
22 POTEAT, 81 Edwards |
| LS |
54 SCHNECK, 62 Duffy |
* Rookie |
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