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Sunday, November 04, 2001

Compiled by Gerry Dulac

TV: KDKA, WTRF, WTAJ, WKBN

Radio: WDVE-FM (102.5), WBGG-AM (970)

Ravens rank 6th in the AFC

Steelers rank 3rd in the AFC

The loss of running back Jamal Lewis, who finished sixth in the AFC in rushing (1,364 yards) as a rookie last season, has altered the way the Ravens operate offensively. Lewis sustained a torn knee ligament in training camp and is out for the season. Without him, the Ravens have not controlled the clock and the tempo of the game as well as last year and the defense has had to spend more time on the field. The Ravens have tried to replace Lewis with two backs -- Terry Allen, who leads the team with 358 yards on 99 carries, and rookie Jason Brookins, who has 268 yards on 61 carries and three touchdowns. Allen, 33, a four-time 1,000-yard rusher, missed last week's game with a lower leg injury and is listed as questionable for today. The Steelers have shut down opponents' running games -- Tennessee's Eddie George gained only 13 yards on 10 carries Monday night. The best matchup will be defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen against left tackle Jonathan Ogden. The Steelers have done a good job of collapsing the line and getting penetration and the Ravens will try to use the 340-pound Ogden to lean on von Oelhoffen.

Edge: Steelers

Ravens rank 3rd in the AFC

Steelers rank 1st in the AFC

The Steelers are preparing to face quarterback Elvis Grbac, who did not play last week against Jacksonville because of a chest injury. Grbac, who made the Pro Bowl last season when he was with Kansas City, is fourth in the conference with 1,348 passing yards and has completed 59.5 percent of his passes. But he has been intercepted eight times. If he can't play, Randall Cunningham, who is retiring after the season, will start. The mantra for the Steelers' secondary this week: No big plays. That's something the Steelers constantly strive to avoid, but particularly against the Ravens, who have burned them in the past with big plays from wide receivers Qadry Ismail and Jermaine Lewis. Ismail is second to tight end Shannon Sharpe with 33 catches and four touchdowns. The best matchup will be cornerback Chad Scott, who is not getting a lot of action these days, against the deep speed of wideout Travis Taylor. The Ravens are hurting on the offensive line. Former Steelers tackle Leon Searcy, signed in free agency, tore a biceps tendon in training camp and won't play the rest of the season. His replacement, Kipp Vickers, was moved from guard because Sammy Williams and former Pro Bowler Erik Williams did not play very well. The Steelers have done a good job recognizing offensive schemes and protections and using different linebackers to negate them. They will try to use outside linebackers Jason Gildon and Joey Porter to pressure Grbac or Cunningham.

Edge: Ravens

Steelers rank 1st in the AFC

Ravens rank 1st in the AFC

Jerome Bettis has not had a 100-yard game against the Ravens in the past five contests. He had his string of 100-yard games ended at four in Monday night's victory against the Titans. The Steelers will not try to run up the middle against the Ravens because of their mountainous tackles, Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa, and the speed of the Ravens' linebackers will keep Bettis from getting outside the tackles. The Steelers might be able to get some yards on counter plays and misdirections that exploit the Ravens' quickness, especially if backup running back Amos Zereoue (shoulder sprain/questionable) is healthy. With counters and misdirections, pulling linemen could get one-on-one matchups with middle linebacker Ray Lewis, who is the key to the Ravens' defense. Look for the Steelers to try to spread the field, perhaps lining tight end Mark Bruener out wide to draw a linebacker away from the line of scrimmage. The Ravens like to position eight players near the line of scrimmage to stop Bettis, who is averaging 5.5 yards per carry. They do it by bringing safety Corey Harris up near the line of scrimmage or taking a defensive back out of the game and using four linebackers and four defensive lineman. The key will be how well guards Alan Faneca and Rich Tylski are able to control the 700-pound combo of Adams and Siragusa so other blockers can get to the linebackers.

Edge: Ravens

Steelers rank 16th in the AFC

Ravens rank 5th in the AFC

Kordell Stewart has done well completing passes on third down and is coming off his best game of the season, passing for 232 yards and one touchdown against Tennessee. Stewart will have to throw the ball to get the Ravens off the line of scrimmage. Wide receiver Plaxico Burress is coming off a breakout game against the Titans, when he caught six passes for 151 yards. More important, Burress proved to Stewart he can win one-on-one matchups along the sidelines when he came down with three long passes of 43, 33 and 28 yards. Burress and Hines Ward, the team's leading receiver, will get a lot of single coverage against cornerbacks Duane Starks and Chris McAlister, who are fast and athletic. The Ravens sometimes leave the middle of the field open, which is why the Steelers might be able to sneak slot receiver Bobby Shaw down the seam against Pro Bowl safety Rod Woodson, the former Steeler, who tends to sit on underneath routes. Left tackle Wayne Gandy, whose hamstring was injured in practice Thursday, has the best matchup: defensive end Michael McCrary, who leads the AFC with seven sacks.

Edge: Steelers

The guy who concerns the Steelers more than any other player is punt returner/kick returner Jermaine Lewis, who has six career punt returns for touchdowns. The Steelers will have Josh Miller kick away from Lewis, who is second in the AFC with a 13.7-yard average. The Steelers rank 24th in the league in punt-return yardage, allowing an average of 11.8 yards per return. Kicker Kris Brown has converted nine of his past 10 field goals, has a conference-best 55-yarder and is fifth in the AFC in scoring. But Ravens kicker Matt Stover has made his past 11 field-goal attempts and has a field goal in an NFL-record 33 consecutive games.

Edge: Ravens

The Ravens don't want to lose another game and fall back three games back in the AFC Central. But the Steelers have not lost a game at Heinz Field and they don't want the Ravens to make it three consecutive victories in Pittsburgh.

Edge: Steelers

Bill Cowher has done a good job getting his team prepared to play road games in Kansas City and Tampa Bay, then refocusing and having them come up with their best performance to date against Tennessee. This week his job is to convince the players they haven't done anything unless they beat the defending champs.

Edge: Steelers

To win, the Ravens must ...

1. Make big plays. They've been able to do that against the Steelers, particularly with Ismail.

2. Stop the run. If the Steelers are able to get yards running counters and misdirections, that will open up more passing lanes for Stewart.

3. Contain Stewart. The Ravens tend to get aggressive and over-pursue on defense, leaving them vulnerable to long runs by the Steelers' quarterback.

To win, the Steelers must ...

1. Throw the ball. That's about the only way they're going to create some running room, especially in the second half.

2. Be patient. The Steelers don't need to win the game in the first quarter. Play consistently, let the defense make the plays.

3. Be aware of Ray Lewis. The Steelers need to know where he is on the field at all times because of his big-play potential.