Baltimore offense vs. Pittsburgh defense

	RAVENS OFFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	Run	15
	Pass	24
	Tot. Yds.	23
	Scoring	16
	Int's allowed	13
	Sacks allowed	39
	STEELERS DEFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	vs. Run	21
	vs. Pass	2
	Total yds. allowed	6
	# of Ints.	17
	# of Sacks	14
	Turnover differential	+7

Tony Banks has put together solid back-to-back performances, but continues to turn the ball over. Pittsburgh's 3-4 defensive scheme is ranked sixth in the NFL and likes to rush the passer with their highly touted zone-blitz. Baltimore has given up a whopping 41 sacks, so Banks will need to protect the football when under duress, because the Steelers will be targeting his release.

Errict Rhett left last week's game with bruised ribs and is questionable this week against the Steelers. His backup, Priest Holmes, surpassed the century mark filling in, gaining 101 yards on nine carries. Rhett was atop the AFC's rushing leaders early in the year, but his north/south running style was slowed by the Ravens inability to have success throwing the ball. Rhett doesn't have the speed to be a threat to turn the corner outside, but Holmes does, as witnessed in his 72-yard jaunt against the Titans last week.

The Steeler defenders have experienced more success rushing the passer than stopping the run this season, as they rank 21st stopping the run, giving up 110 yards per outing on the ground. Pittsburgh NT Joel Steed's lack of aggression up front has been the root of the Steelers' troubles facing the run. Penetration from Steed's NT position is vital to the Steelers' ability to stop the run out of the 3-4 and he has been noted for his ability to stuff the run, but hasn't been capable of late.

Raven OC Jeff Mitchell fights to finish off every block, but doesn't have the athletic ability of a Joel Steed. If Steed is to break out of his slump, this is the game for him to do so. But if Mitchell can neutralize Steed it will free FB Chuck Evans to locate Steeler ILB's Levon Kirkland and Earl Holmes on isolation plays, allowing either Rhett or Priest Holmes to have running room inside.

Brian Billick's Ravens are ranked 23rd in total offense, but have played well against two formidable defensive units, (Jacksonville and Tennessee) over the past two weeks. The arrival of Baltimore's offense is a direct result of their passing game. Recently, Billick has urged Banks to check off plays at the line of scrimmage before taking the snap, the result has been proficient play from Banks and the Raven WR corps.

Pittsburgh's secondary has been playing poor, CB's Dwayne Washington and DeShea Townsend will be picked on by Banks and for good reason. Washington has been overaggressive in coverage all season and paid for it last week, getting beat for a 27-yard TD by Jimmy Smith after biting on an out-and-up rout. DeShea Townsend has been filling in for the injured Chad Scot, and will give up size and speed in man-to-man coverage across from Raven WR Patrick Johnson, who is expected to play after bruising his calf against Tennessee.

While the Ravens WR unit is bit short on talent but complimentary to one another. Look for Justin Armour to run his crisp ten to fifteen yard patterns and Qadry Ismail and Jermain Lewis to pose a deep threat to the Pittsburgh secondary by trying to get vertical. The good news for the Steeler DBs is that Chad Scott is back and may play on Sunday.

Jerome Bettis has been having trouble running the football and the main problem lies just a few feet ahead of him under center. Like any good back, Bettis needs a passing threat to keep the linebacking corps and secondaries honest.

Early in the season, when teams were concerned with Stewart, Bettis had opportunities and room to run. Since Stewart has fallen apart and Pittsburgh's passing game has sunk to 27th ranking in the NFL, Bettis' numbers have gone south. Now Bettis is struggling, facing eight-men in the box every week. However, the Steeler running woes is not only a result of the unproductive passing game.

The Steeler offensive line has been decimated with injuries. OC Dermontti Dawson has been bothered by a hamstring injury all season and the right tackle spot has seen the loss of Justin Strzelczyk lead to three players splitting time, none of whom have pulled their weight. All this spells trouble at the hands of a Raven defense that ranks 2nd in the entire league against the run, allowing just 80 yards total a game.

Baltimore's run defense just keeps improving. Once a linebacker who had to beat blockers to the spot to make every tackle, Ray Lewis has mastered the craft of shedding blocks on the way to making stops. Steeler FB Jon Witman takes poor blocking angels to begin with, but even if he does get to Lewis, he'll have his work cut out.

Expect to see Michael McCrary have another big one Sunday against Steeler LOT Wayne Gandy, Gandy is the quickest offensive lineman the Steelers have, but he'll have trouble handling McCrary's speed bursts off the LOS. If McCrary can beat Gandy on a consistent basis, Bettis will be forced to cut back to the right side of the LOS where Pittsburgh has been having all of their problems up front.

Steeler offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride is promoting the deep ball to his QBs and WRs -- thinking his offense needs to stretch the field in order to open up Tomczak's strength, underneath routes and Bettis running game. The problem with this strategy surfaced last week: Tomczak's 37-year-old arm.

Even as a young quarterback in Chicago, Tomczak couldn't put enough zip on the ball to complete the deep route and he still can't. Troy Edwards was open down field on several occasions last week, but Tomczak couldn't get him the football. However, Gilbride will stick to this plan because he knows that even if the passes are not completed, Baltimore must respect the possibility of WR Troy Edwards beating RCB Duane Starks to the deep third of the field. Starks has the speed to keep up with Edwards, but Fernando Bryant was supposed to be able to last week and couldn't.

The Steelers passing game will need to find a way to score a few TDs and stretching the field will be a start. If Pittsburgh cannot complete some passes early, Ravens' defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis will come with a lethal blitz package, sending LB Peter Boulware up the field from his LOLB spot. Boulware has been getting good pressure lately, but has trouble beating blocking backs when he's picked up.

Ravens FS Rod Woodson has been playing well lately, as he picked off a Steve McNair pass and brought it in for a score last week. But Woodson has been to quick to bite on crossing routes all season and this leaves the middle of the field wide open. The Steelers may gameplan to send WRs Hines Ward or Courtney Hawkins across the middle as a decoys and then send Edwards or TE Bruener over the middle, which will have been vacated by the zealous Woodson.

Pittsburgh punter Josh Miller has come around this year and is possibly the most valuable asset Bill Cowher has right now, averaging over 45 yards a punt. Kris Brown has been solid throughout the season, but could work on his follow-through. Will Blackwell's injury hurts the Steeler return units.