Cowher warns his team: Don't assume Ravens will be an automatic 'W'

Often, the most desperate opponent is a dangerous one.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- If coach Bill Cowher is trying to send a message to his players through the media before Monday night's game against Baltimore, it's this: don't assume.
Don't assume this will be an easy game because the Steelers (4-2) are coming off their biggest victory of the season, beating AFC leader Cincinnati (5-2) on the road 27-13 Sunday, and the injury-depleted Ravens (2-4) lost to Chicago 10-6.
And don't assume that playing the first Monday night game in Pittsburgh since 2002 means the attention to detail and the ability to overcome setbacks they displayed in Cincinnati will automatically be there at home.
Despite going 8-0 at home during a 15-1 season a year ago, the Steelers are 1-2 at home this season with consecutive losses to New England (23-20) and Jacksonville (23-17 in overtime). Before those losses, the Steelers had won 11 consecutive home games and 12 of 13.
"We've lost our last two football games at home, and that's disappointing," Cowher said Tuesday. "I know people don't like to come in here and play, but we've got to make it that way and not just assume it's going to take place by just showing up. I don't care if it's Monday night, Sunday night or Sunday afternoon, we've got to come out with that same type of focus, that same type of energy and apply it, and not just assume that because you're playing at home, it's going to be there."
Respect all, fear none
And, in what seemed to be a reference to the surprise loss to Jacksonville, Cowher said, "We have to come in every time respecting everybody we play. Don't worry about too much more than the opponent we have this week."
While the Ravens could be without two former NFL defensive players of the year, injured safety Ed Reed and linebacker Ray Lewis, from the defense that has allowed the second fewest yards in the NFL, the Steelers expect linebacker Clark Haggans to return. He missed three games following groin surgery.
But while the Ravens look to be shorthanded for what once figured to be a matchup of the two best teams in the division, Cowher said the most dangerous opponent often is the most desperate opponent.
"Every time we play them, I don't care about the records. It's going to be a physical contest and these are two teams that respect each other but have a genuine dislike for one another," Cowher said.
The Steelers will be playing the second of their three Monday night games -- they also play at Indianapolis on Nov. 28 -- and are 32-20 overall on Mondays and 19-5 at home. They also are 10-0 in Monday night home games under Cowher.
YSU's Stuvaints re-signed
But Cowher said the Steelers can't underestimate how important the game is to Baltimore.
"Like I said, they are 2-4 and that makes them a lot more dangerous," he said. "Certainly, from their standpoint, they cannot afford to fall 31/2 games back because Cincinnati is the team we're all chasing. This is a team that's used to winning and we're going to get their best shot, no doubt about that."
With safety Mike Logan (hamstring) expected to be out 3-4 weeks, the Steelers re-signed safety Russell Stuvaints, who was released during the final preseason cuts, and waived tight end Matt Kranchick.
Cowher hopes to keep a roster spot open for Logan, but said it will be a week-to-week decision based on the health of the club.
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