Steelers at Ravens
PSINet Stadium
Baltimore, Md.
Sunday, Dec. 16, 2001
AT A GLANCE: In the first matchup, the Steelers dominated
the game but lost because of four missed field goals by PK Kris Brown. Pittsburgh has the
best record in the AFC and a two-game lead in the AFC Central over Baltimore.
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| OVERVIEW: If you’re a fan of defensive dominance,
the Steelers-Ravens matchup should fit the bill for you. Pittsburgh is coming off its
fifth straight win, an impressive 18-7 win over the Jets.
However, the game marked the first time this season that the Steelers had no
interceptions or sacks in a game.
Baltimore is coming off a well-timed bye week that gave them time off to rest several
banged-up players. RB Terry Allen (hand), DT Sam Adams (knee), DE Rob Burnett (calf) and
nickel back James Trapp (groin) are all expected to return this week.
The Ravens have won two straight and 5-of-6 after starting the season 3-3.
Their offense has improved as well, gaining more than 350 total yards and more than 100
rushing yards in each of the past three games.
When the Steelers have the ball:
Heading into the Week 13 game, RB Jerome Bettis had promised he’d be back for this
game. Given Bettis’ history against the Ravens, though, Baltimore may not be too
concerned — Bettis hasn’t rushed for more than 100 yards against them since
1997, when he did it twice.
On the odd chance that Bettis does not return, backups Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala and
Amos Zereoue will step in. They performed well enough last week against the Jets,
combining for 80 yards on 28 carries. If Bettis is healthy, they’ll still spell
Bettis on some snaps.
Ravens MLB Ray Lewis has been playing out of his mind as usual, and he is coming off an
18-tackle performance against a pass-happy Colts offense in Week 12. Lewis revels in
playing against the league’s premier running backs and should be amped to face Bettis
again. |
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| PSINet Stadium |
| Baltimore, Md. |
| Date: Sunday, December 16, 2001 |
| 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time |
| Type Of Turf: Natural |
| Meeting Of The Year: Second |
| Previous Meeting: |
| |
Pittsburgh |
10 |
| |
Baltimore |
(0) 13 |
| Season Record: |
| |
Pittsburgh |
10-2-0 |
| |
Baltimore |
8-4-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Pittsburgh |
8-3-1 |
| |
Baltimore |
6-5-1 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Pittsburgh (R) |
5-1-0 |
| |
Baltimore (H) |
4-1-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Pittsburgh (R) |
4-1-1 |
| |
Baltimore (H) |
3-2-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf: |
| |
Pittsburgh |
8-2-0 |
| |
Baltimore |
8-4-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
Pittsburgh |
6-3-1 |
| |
Baltimore |
6-5-1 |
|
| When Bettis struggled in the past, adjusting to a
pass-oriented gameplan was a tough thing for the Steelers to do. But the passing game has
come around progressively, led by a rejuvenated Kordell Stewart and emerging WRs Hines
Ward and Plaxico Burress. Stewart could be asked to do more if Bettis is shut down by
the Ravens. Stewart has responded well to added pressure this season, and he’s
playing with the utmost confidence. He has matured into the offense’s leader and has
played very well lately, recording a 5-1 TD-interception ratio over the past seven games.
The Ravens’ defensive line has done a good job putting pressure on opposing
quarterbacks lately, but it must not overpursue against Stewart, who is always a threat to
run with the ball. LB Peter Boulware and DE Adalius Thomas have 2½ sacks apiece in the
last two games. Thomas has played very well in place of Michael McCrary, who is out for
the year.
The Ravens’ problem on defense has been their penchant for giving up big plays. CB
Duane Starks has been picked on often and burned. The Steelers likely will try to get Ward
and Burress in man-on-man situations with Starks.
When the Ravens have the ball:
The Ravens’ running game has been up and down all season, but that won’t stop
Baltimore from trying to establish the run. Neither will the fact that it will be facing
one of the top defenses in the league.
The running game is led by a trio of backs, all of whom are still trying to replace RB
Jamal Lewis, who was lost in the preseason. Jason Brookins seemed about to emerge, but he
broke his foot vs. the Colts and could be out for the season.
Terry Allen had some early-season success but has missed five of the last six games.
Obafemi Ayanbadejo had only 49 rushing and receiving yards vs. the Colts, but he scored
twice and is very serviceable if needed. Moe Williams ran very well in the Colts game,
giving the Ravens their second 100-yard rusher this year. But he’ll face a much
tougher test this week than he did vs. Indianapolis.
The Steelers have been very good vs. the pass, though CB Chad Scott has been burned on
several occasions. Opposite him, Dewayne Washington has been fabulous. The Ravens have
gotten magnificent play from WR Qadry Ismail and TE Shannon Sharpe, but other receivers
have been inconsistent.
Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Tim Lewis loves bringing blitzers from all over the
field, confusing opposing quarterbacks and forcing them into making mistakes. This
strategy could work against Ravens QB Elvis Grbac, who has had turnover problems all year.
He’s thrown an interception in six straight games and has a 12-15 TD-interception
ratio this season.
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Dec. 9. |
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 |
| FB |
38 WITMAN, 35 Kreider |
Defense |
| DLE |
91 A. SMITH, 73 Combs, 76 Hoke* |
| 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 |
| OLB |
55 PORTER, 37 Kurpeikis* |
| CB |
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 |
|
|
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*, 77 Vickers, 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, 23 M. Williams, 44 Brookins |
| 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, 73 Gregg |
| 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 |
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