My Take on Ravens vs. Steelers on Monday Night Football

The time is fast approaching, Ravens fans!  The bright lights of Monday Night Football call the purple and black, and it’s time to answer that call.  This week on ESPN Monday Night Football, the Ravens will travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers.  In order for the Ravens to be successful, here are my keys to the game for the Ravens:

Always attack a team weaknesses: The Steelers are banged up, from the quarterback position all the way to the defensive line.  As many of you know, the Steelers will be without star running back Willie Parker and pro bowl defensive tackle Casey Hampton. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is playing with a partially separated shoulder and an injuried hand.  ot only that, according to NFL.com, Troy “So Easy A Cave Man Can Do It” Polumalu did not practice due to a quadricep injury as well as CB Deshea Townsend.  Ravens365.com will keep you posted on these injuries and if they will have any impact on the game.

Run, Run, Run: The Steeler defense currentley has the second best run defense in the NFL, one spot ahead of the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens will need to establish that explosive and brusing running game with the Three Headed Monster if they are to be successful on offense. With Hampton out for this game, the Ravens will look to expose that weakness.

Hey Rookie, Welcome to Smash Mouth Football!: Rookie running back Rashard Mendenhall will get the start for the injuried Willie Parker this monday night.  So far, his stats are not impressive with just ten carries for 28 yards.  That will not get it done against the Ravens defense.

Blitzkreg!: Blitz the living hell out of Roethlisberger!  He’s hurt and one hit the wrong way could send him to the sidelines and Leftwitch in to flounder misearbly.

Lift the curse: Monday Night Football has not been kind to us, Ravens fans. The last Monday Night game the Ravens won was back in 2005 against the Green Bay Packers.

Matt ”Money” Stover: This is gonna be a close game and it will come down to a field goal. Stover needs to step up and deliver a stong leg and boot some field goals to help out this young offense against a tough Steeler defense. 

This game will come down to field position and turnovers.  With the various injuries to the Steelers offense and defense, the Ravens will find a way to expose these weaknesses.  Look for the running game to be solid and the passing game to be efficent and safe.  If the offense cannot carry the load, a healthy Ravens defense will step up and deliver the knockout blow to the Steelers on Monday night.  Roethlisberger, historically, has not thrown well against a healthy Ravens defense.  Mendenhall will not do anything against the #1 defense in the NFL either.  Don’t forget, the Ravens secondary hasn’t allowed a reciever to go over 100 yards so far this season and that includes Ocho Cinco, Housmenzadeh, Edwards, and Winslow (all four pro bowlers), bad news for Guy Smiley Ward.  The Ravens will expose the defensive line with McGahee, Rice and McClain running the ball right down the throat of the Steeler defense.  Do me a favor, whenever Kornheiser talks during this game,  put it on mute and play a recording of a donkey making that noise he makes, you know the one I’m talking about.  And when Jaws talks, go ahead and smother yourself if you wish to avoid the pain of listening to him drag on and on about the quarterback’s role in the football game.  I’ll listen to Trent Dilfer about how to be an effective quarterback, at least he won a Super Bowl.

Ravens 13         Steelers 10