Sunday's matchup analysis for the game against the Ravens
Steelers (4-3) at Baltimore Ravens (5-3), 1 p.m.
WHEN THE RAVENS HAVE THE BALL
Ravens run offense vs. Steelers run defense
Ravens rank 13th in the NFL
Steelers rank 5th in the NFL
The Ravens have a new starter at running back since the first meeting - rookie No. 1 Jamal Lewis, the fifth overall pick in the draft. After missing part of training camp, Lewis has replaced Priest Holmes in the backfield and rushed for 437 yards on 107 carries, second among rookie backs in the NFL. Lewis is a similar runner to Holmes, but faster, and he will try to get outside the tackles against the Steelers defense which is allowing an average of 84.7 yards per game. Like the Steelers, the Ravens are also without their starting fullback, Obafemi Ayanbadejo. The difference is, the Ravens can replace him with veteran Sam Gash, a former Pro Bowler. The Steelers needs to take advantage of some of the injuries on the Ravens' offensive line, where left tackle Jonathan Ogden has been bothered by a sprained ankle and center Jeff Mitchell has missed the past two games. Right guard Mike Flynn, who has moved to center, has to keep nose tackle Kimo von Oelhoffen out of the backfield. This will have to be another big game for the Steelers linebackers, who, as a group, have been outstanding. Jason Gildon and Joey Porter have been getting outside pressure and Levon Kirkland is back playing like a dominant Pro Bowler, despite two tender ankles. Their biggest task will be forcing Lewis inside and keeping him from getting on the flanks.
Edge: Steelers
Ravens pass offense vs. Steelers pass defense
Ravens rank 23rd in the NFL
Steelers rank 7th in the NFL
The Steelers have been very lucky with opposing quarterbacks. This will be the third time in the past five games they will face the other team's backup. Trent Dilfer, who was signed from Tampa Bay in free agency, has replaced Tony Banks as the Ravens starter. Banks has not produced a touchdown of any kind in the past four games after throwing for eight in the first four games, and was yanked from the starting lineup by Coach Brian Billick. Dilfer had not appeared in any game this season until last week when he replaced Banks and completed 7 of 13 passes for 58 yards with one interception in a loss to Tennessee. He is a different type of quarterback than Banks. Of course, if the Ravens' passing game is to get well in a hurry, they feel there is no better team to be facing than the Steelers. Certainly that must be the attitude of wide receiver Qadry Ismail, who has 13 catches for 360 yards and four touchdowns in the past two games and five touchdowns in the past three against the Steelers. Ismail always manages to get behind the secondary for deep passes, and that's something the Steelers have worked very hard to prevent the past four games. They haven't allowed a pass longer than 22 yards during their four-game winning streak. Tight end Shannon Sharpe leads the team with 32 catches, and, despite the Ravens outside speed and deep threats, leads with a 12.8-yards per catch average. Rookie Travis Taylor, their other No. 1 pick, leads the team with three touchdowns, but speedster Patrick Johnson has been slow recovering from a collarbone injury. The Steelers have eight interceptions in their past four games and have held three quarterbacks - Ray Lucas of the New York Jets, Cincinnati's Akili Smith and Cleveland backup Doug Pederson - to under 100 yards passing.
Edge: Steelers
WHEN THE STEELERS HAVE THE BALL
Steelers run offense vs. Ravens run defense
Steelers rank 6th in the NFL
Ravens rank 1st in the NFL
Jerome Bettis is averaging more than 100 yards in his last six games and has 628 yards on 167 carries to rank fourth in the AFC. But he had only 8 yards on nine carries in the first meeting against the Ravens and just 41, 46 and 39 in the three meetings prior to that. Not only did Bettis lose starting fullback Jon Witman (broken leg) for the season, but backup Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala (mid-foot fracture) is out as well for a minimum of four weeks. He has been replaced by rookie Dan Krieder, an undrafed free agent who was on the practice squad just two weeks ago. That makes it difficult to run inside against tackles Tony Siragusa and Sam Adams and middle linebacker Ray Lewis, perhaps the beefiest middle in the NFL. The Steelers will not have success running outside against the Ravens because their team speed is too good. They will use a lot of two-tight end formations with Mark Bruener and Corey Geason, something they do with a lot of regularity anyhow, to try to ease the loss of their fullbacks. The Ravens, who haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in the past 25 games, lead the league with a 61.9-yard average against the run.
Edge: Ravens
Steelers pass offense vs. Ravens pass defense
Steelers rank 28th in the NFL
Ravens rank 9th in the NFL
Kordell Stewart gets the start in the yo-yo rotation because, among other reasons, the team is on the road and Bill Cowher wants a player in there who can run and move around in the pocket against the Ravens' quick defense. Stewart led the team to both road victories and appears to have given the players a spark. What's more, he looks more relaxed and more sure of himself in the pocket. But he Steelers have received little production from their young wideouts, Troy Edwards and Plaxico Burress, and they're going to have to be able to throw the ball against the Ravens, who will stack the line of scrimmage to stop the run. So Stewart will look for other alternatives. One of those is No. 3 receiver Bobby Shaw, would get open down the seam if the Ravens bring eight players up to stop Bettis. Rookie RT Marvel Smith had a tough time with defensive end Rob Burnett in the season opener, but Smith has been replaced by veteran Larry Tharpe, who is starting his third game in a row. Left tackle Wayne Gandy, who has been bothered by a partial tear in his bicep, has to have another good game against Pro Bowl defensive end Michael McCrary. The Ravens are tied for the AFC lead with 13 interceptions. Safety Rod Woodson, the former Steeler, is tied for the team lead with three, but he has never had a pick against his former team.
Edge: Ravens
SPECIAL TEAMS
In an expected tight defensive game, this area could decide the game. Of course, Ravens kicker Matt Stover has accounted for all the scoring the past four games with 12 field goals. And Steelers kicker Kris Brown has converted his last 10 FG attempts. But the player who concerns the Steelers in PR Jermaine Lewis, who averages 12.1 yards. However, the Ravens need to be concerned with rookie returner Hank Poteat, who had a 54-yarder last week and is second in the conference with a 15.1-yard average. And they need to be concerned because they have already allowed several long returns this season. The Steelers have always had punter Josh Miller, who is tied for the AFC-lead with Baltimore's Kyle Richardson with 18 punts inside the 20, kick away from Lewis. But it is the Ravens who might start employing a similar strategy against Poteat.
Edge: Steelers
KEYS TO VICTORY
To win, the Ravens must ...
1. Get a touchdown. Their failure to produce any in the past four games will put a lot of pressure on the offense and the new starting quarterback, Dilfer.
2. Contain Stewart. If he is allowed to make plays with his feet, that will loosen the secondary and open up the middle of the field for the passing game.
3. Throw it to Ismail. He always has big games against the Steelers.
To win, the Steelers must ...
1. Hurry Dilfer. He is making his first start and they don't want to give him time to sit in the pocket and wait for his receivers to come open.
2. Score first. If they can do that, the defense that hasn't allowed a TD in 12 quarters can frustrate a Ravens offense that has managed just 10 field goals in the past 16 quarters.
3. Get a big punt return from Poteat. In a low-scoring game, a scoring return from the Pitt rookie could decide the outcome.
Sunday's matchup: Steelers vs. Ravens 
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