Location: Lincoln Heinz Field, Pittsburgh
Time: 4:30 pm
Road Team: Baltimore Ravens
Home Team: 2010 AFC North Champions Pittsburgh Steelers
W-L Records: Ravens 12-4, Steelers 12-4
Avg Points Scored: Ravens 22.3, Steelers 23.4
Avg Points Allowed: Ravens 16.9, Steelers 14.5
How the Ravens will win: Everyone knows what the Ravens can do on defense. If there is a QB in the NFL physically capable of taking the punishment the Ravens can dish out, it's Roethlisberger. If the Ravens get to him, they need to hit him hard. If you can rattle Roethlisberger and get him off his game, the Ravens will be able to shut down the rest of the Steelers offense. Offensively, it's all about Ray Rice. How the Ravens offense will perform depends on what they get out of Rice. If Rice has a good game, he will be able to open up the passing game for Joe Flacco and his weapons at WR (Bolding, Mason, Houshmandzadeh) and Todd Heap at TE.
How the Steelers will win: Expect the Steelers running game to get shut down by the Ravens so it's all up to Big Ben to make plays. As mentioned earlier, Roethlisberger has shown to be able to take the Ravens heat and hard hitting. Big Ben will have to make plays in order for the Steelers to advance. On defense, the Steelers need to keep Ray Rice in check, which in turn will keep the other Raven offense weapons in check.
The Pick: While the Ravens defeated the Steelers in Pittsburgh earlier this year, Roethlisberger did not play. With the Steelers at home and Roethlisberger behind center, I'm going with the Steelers, 17-14.
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