Preview: Steelers (2-1) limp into Monday Night Tilt against the Ravens

Game Information:
Teams: Steelers (2-1) vs Ravens (2-0)
Date: Monday, September 29, 2008
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. EST
Site: Heinz Field

The Pittsburgh Steelers are just one of many teams who have suffered key injuries. The NFL season is getting more wide open by the week. This week the Steelers will host the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football.

With the injury to “Fast” Willie Parker, rookie Rashard Mendenhall is being thrusted into the spotlight. He will have his work cut out for him when he faces the NFL’s #2 defence against the run. Coach Tomlin was not batting an eye when asked if Mendenhall was ready or not;

“Ready or not, huh?” Tomlin said at his news conference yesterday. “No, Rashard is ready. He is a talented guy and he has been practicing well. He gets his opportunity, and I think that is what team football is all about.”

The Steelers will also be without Casey Hampton at the nose tackle position. Chris Hoke will take his place this Monday. Hoke and Kirschke are the most experienced when it comes to delivering for the Steelers. Hoke started 10 games for the team in 2004 when Hampton injured his knee, and that Steelers defense finished No. 1 in the NFL against the run. Kirschke came to the Steelers in 2004 as an unrestricted free agent, and even though he has started only six games in four-plus seasons, the coaches consider him a valuable component of the roster.

 

It will be interesting to see if the Steelers have done anything to sure up the offensive line. If they resemble anything to this past Sunday, then they are in for a long night. The Steelers took both meetings against the Ravens last season and here is how they match up statistically so far this season:

BAL 19TH OFF; PIT 2ND DEF

BAL 2ND RUN; PIT 2ND VS. RUN;

BAL 30TH PASS; PIT 9TH VS. PASS

BAL 16TH PTS; PIT 3RD PTS ALLOWED

PIT 29TH OFF; BAL 1ST DEF

PIT 18TH RUN; BAL 5TH VS. RUN;

PIT 29TH PASS ; BAL 1ST VS. PASS

PIT 22ND PTS ; BAL 2ND PTS ALLOWED

PIT 2ND TO/TA; BAL 9TH TO/TA

This game is basically for 1^st place in the division and may very well decide who will win it. It’s going to pit two great defences against each other, but I can’t help but feel a bounce back performance by the Steelers offence. I say the Steelers take this one.

Prediction: Steelers 20 Ravens 10

 

INJURY UPDATE: THe news on WIllie Parker is better than first thought. There ony appears to be a small tear, that could see the pro-bowl running back in action in a few short weeks. Here’s hoping.

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