AFC Championship: Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

With a shot at the Super Bowl on the line, the No. 1 & No. 2 defenses meet in the AFC Championship Game.

Ravens vs. Steelers Overview:
With dynamic offenses and rules that favor protecting the quarterback, defense has taken a huge step back in the NFL. Two teams that buck this trend and ride their defense to victory are the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens. No. 1 in total defense, the Pittsburgh Steelers are back to their traditional spot as top dogs on defense. The Baltimore Ravens defense just trails them at No. 2 but adds even more aggression to the mix. Fans with NFL playoffs tickets inside Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, will see the third meeting this season of these defensive titans.

Baltimore Ravens Offense:
It may not be pretty or glamorous, but the Baltimore Ravens offense gets it done. As subtle as a kick in the teeth, the Baltimore Ravens power-run attack uses the powerful offensive line and the running-back duo of Willis McGahee and Le’Ron McClain to bash opponents into the ground. Fans with Baltimore Ravens playoff tickets love the run but have also gotten behind rookie QB Joe Flacco. Though the offensive may not light up the scoreboard, Joe Flacco keeps the chains moving thanks to veteran WR Derrick Mason, who is playing great in the NFL playoffs.

Baltimore Ravens Defense:
Without a doubt, the No. 2 defense punched the Baltimore Ravens playoff tickets. The 4-3/3-4 hybrid system enables the Baltimore Ravens to shift perfectly to every offensive game plan or situation. ILB Ray Lewis led the 2000 Baltimore Ravens to the Super Bowl, and the first-ballot Hall of Famer wants to do the same in 2009. OLB/DE Terrell Suggs and NT Haloti Ngata enable the defensive flexibility as they cause chaos on the line of scrimmage. FS Ed Reed has two interceptions in the NFL playoffs, and his speed enables him to shut off all deep routes, stunting whole offenses.

Pittsburgh Steelers Offense:
The Pittsburgh Steelers offense runs at a higher clip but remains at its core a power-run team. With one of the biggest offensive lines in football, the Pittsburgh Steelers rarely are not able to impose their will on the defense. RBs Willie Parker and Mewelde Moore are dangerous in the open field, but powerful RB Gary Russell is coming into his own as well. QB Ben Roethlisberger has a Super Bowl win under his belt and an arm that can stretch the defense. WRs Santonio Holmes and Derrick Ward team with TE Heath Miller to give Big Ben solid targets on every down.

Pittsburgh Steelers Defense:
As the No. 1 defense in the NFL, there is no weakness to the 3-4 alignment of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fans with Pittsburgh Steelers playoff tickets would make defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau a saint if they could as his famous zone blitzes terrorize QBs with masking movements. NT Casey Hampton doesn’t stand out on the stat sheet, but his impressive frame opens holes for ILBs to track down the ball carrier. NFL Defensive MVP OLB James Harrison bookends with OLB LaMarr Woodley to form the NFL’s best pass-rushing duo. SS Troy Polamalu can hit or hawk the ball.

Baltimore Ravens Keys to Victory:
The Baltimore Ravens have lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers twice, but the margin was only three and four points. The running attack of the Baltimore Ravens needs to get on track in order to protect rookie QB Joe Flacco. RB/FB Le’Ron McClain has had great success against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the past and will use his large body to plow through linebackers once again. Fans with Baltimore Ravens playoff tickets saw Joe Flacco win the playoff game against the Tennessee Titans after the run was stuffed but know that their best chance for victory is ruling the trenches.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are masters at running the football, but the Baltimore Ravens have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in two years. When NT Haloti Ngata is not enough to control the line, then Rex Ryan will bring in more beef in the form of the 4-3. The Baltimore Ravens expect to keep the run under control so the big adjustments will be against QB Ben Roethlisberger. DE/OLB Terrell Suggs is leading the NFL playoffs in sacks and needs to get consistent pressure. The great play in the front seven should free Ed Reed to patrol the field like a centerfielder and limit deep routes.

Pittsburgh Steelers Keys to Victory:
The Pittsburgh Steelers are 6-0 against 3-4 defenses because they can overpower any three-man line in their way. The Baltimore Ravens flexibility enables them to stuff the run so the game will be back into the hands of Ben Roethlisberger. The presence of Ed Reed deep means that the Pittsburgh Steelers will have to target the lower ranges of the field with slants and crosses. The Baltimore Ravens CBs are mediocre and getting them one on one will lead to big yards. Fans with Pittsburgh Steelers playoff tickets can expect to see an impressive air attack.

The size of FB/RB Le’Ron McClain has been a pain in the defensive game plan of the Pittsburgh Steelers all year, and it must be corrected. The first solution will be getting more blitzes in the interior with the ILBs as the bruiser is not likely to make many runs to the outside. The other solution is to bring in more strength to the front three and to keep a good rotation going in order to have fresh bodies on the field. OLB James Harrison has to get consistent pressure on Joe Flacco. SS Troy Polamalu would like to blitz more but will be forced to help double WR Derrick Mason.

Ravens vs. Steelers Outlook:
Fans with NFL playoffs tickets expecting a high-scoring affair will be disappointed. Those that love seeing the football equivalent of a bar fight should be ecstatic. The Pittsburgh Steelers own two wins over the Baltimore Ravens, but each was by a small margin and could have gone either way. The playoffs bring a different kind of urgency and passion to games that the regular season cannot touch. Fans with Pittsburgh Steelers playoff tickets and their terrible towels will pack Heinz Field, but Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens will not be fazed by the crowd or the cold.

With defense, running backs, and special teams all being even, more or less, the difference again falls to the quarterbacks. Ben Roethlisberger has proven to be solid gold in the postseason and has two great targets in Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes. Joe Flacco still lacks experience and so far has been asked to manage games, not win them. Against the teeth of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense, Joe Flacco is simply overmatched at this stage in his career. Fans with NFL playoffs tickets will see a brutal contest in the cold, but the Gold & Black will take the AFC Championship.