GAME OF THE WEEK: The only two real teams in the AFC North (Pittsburgh Steelers 10-3, Baltimore Ravens 9-4) will square off Sunday in Baltimore for a showdown that could determine which of the two teams is crowned the divisional champ in two weeks.
Earlier in the season, the Steelers survived a 23-20 overtime battle against the Ravens on a 46-yard Jeff Reed field goal.
Looking back, the Ravens should have won that game and will get one last (should the two not meet in the playoffs) chance to avenge that loss.
Despite that loss and being one game behind the Steelers in the divisional standings, the Ravens are favored to win, and in my opinion they are more than capable off knocking off the division-leading Steelers.
Many people are starting to question the credibility of a Ravens playoff run led byrookie quarterback Joe Flacco, however, he has outperformed Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in nearly every single statistical quarterback category this season (more touchdowns, fewer interceptions, higher qb rating, fewer fumbles lost, more rushing yards, fewer times sacked and higher completion percentage).
Since Willie Parker is still injured, the Steelers running game won’t be highly effectively, especially against the Ravens defensive unit (No. 3 at stopping the run).
In fact, don’t expect either team to run the ball well. The No. 1 Steelers defensive (points, yards, pass yards and rush yards) will not give up much, though, I’m expecting them to give up slightly more than the top-notch Ravens defensive squad, because, after all, the game is at M&T Bank Stadium.
Look for the Ravens to fly away with a win and possibly steal the North from the Steelers.
Next week, the Ravens will play at Dallas and then finish the season at home against Jacksonville.
After this game of the next match up, the Steelers will travel to Tennessee to face the conference-leading Titans before finishing their season at Heinz Field hosting Cleveland.
If Baltimore can win out – and should the Steelers lose to the Titans next week – it will win its third AFC North divisional title.
Prediction:
Pittsburgh Steelers 17
Baltimore Ravens 24
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: This week and for the second time this season, the New England Patriots have held practice at my school (San Jose State University).
As a writer for the Spartan Daily (our school newspaper), I got the privilege of attending the Pats news conference and practice on Wednesday.
Here are some questions I asked head coach Bill Belichick:
Kimel: Is San Jose becoming like a second home for you guys?
Belichick: Yeah, kind of (he was laughing … a lot). It seems like we have spent a good part of our season out here. One quarter of our games have been on the West Coast. We have spent two solid weeks out here, so it does. It feels like home. You know your way around, know where the bus driver is supposed to turn and recognize all the little spots. It’s been fine, it’s been good.
Kimel: Any spots in particular you guys have gotten to know?
Belichick: I know that hotel like my house. I have the floor plan down.
I asked Junior Seau a similar question.
Kimel: How do you like being at San Jose State?
Seau: Is that where we are? (Seau and media laugh) I didn’t know.
New England is playing at Oakland this week and starting quarterback Matt Cassel’s father passed away earlier in the week. He was not at practice on Wednesday, but he returned on Thursday. His status for Sunday’s game is not yet known. With Cassel or not, I expect the Raiders to fall to the Pats.
I spoke to several other Patriots at the news conference and should have my own multimedia video done shortly.
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