Steelers, Ravens add hate to clash

December 14, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

Pittsburgh can clinch a second straight division title plus a playoff bye.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Even if the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers were out of contention and couldn’t play defense worth a lick, their acrimonious rivalry would make this game meaningful.

Given that the AFC North lead is at stake and the teams are ranked 1-2 in total defense, the importance of today’s matchup can hardly be understated.

“Realistically, you really can’t ask for a better scenario, period,” Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said. “No matter who it was.”

Oh, but it’s the hated Steelers.

Baltimore played a so-called rivalry game against the Washington Redskins last Sunday and treated the confrontation with indifference. The mood is decidedly different this week.

“I don’t think I need any extra boost for this one,” Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs said. “Since the 2006 playoff game [against Indianapolis], this is probably the biggest game I’ve played in.”

The Steelers (10-3) can clinch their second straight division title with a victory, and they couldn’t think of a better place to get it done.

Pittsburgh is winless in Baltimore since 2002, including a 27-21 loss last season to a team that finished 5-11.

“I think even when we’re down we play each other tough,” Steelers defensive end Aaron Smith said.

This is not one of those seasons. Pittsburgh has won four in a row and the Ravens (9-4) are 7-1 over the last eight weeks.

Asked whether sewing up the division title is more important than beating their rivals, Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward couldn’t decide between the two.

“For whatever reason, it’s hard to win in Baltimore. So, we’re trying to get that monkey off our back, trying to stay undefeated in our division and we’re playing for a home-field bye,” he said. “We could get a home game and a bye week at the same time.”

Baltimore’s only defeat within the division was a 23-20 overtime decision in Pittsburgh on Sept. 29. The Ravens are in position to make the playoffs as a wild card, but would far prefer to enter the postseason as division champs.

“I think everyone in the state of Maryland understands and everyone in the state of Pennsylvania understands what this game means to both teams,” Ravens receiver Derrick Mason said.

Arguably no NFL team plays defense better than Pittsburgh and Baltimore, as their 1-2 ranking would indicate.

Being second to the Steelers in anything doesn’t sit well with the Ravens, who intend to let Pittsburgh know which unit really is more dominant.

“Nobody defends them better than we do, so bring ’em on,” Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan said. “They had what, seven three-and-outs in the first game? So I think we know how to stop them.”

The Steelers had four three-and-outs in the first meeting. Baltimore had six. Expect more of the same.

“They have a tenacious attitude about themselves. They do bring it,” Ravens center Jason Brown said. “You see them on film and they’re relentless.”

Pittsburgh leads the NFL in overall defense (241.9 yards per game), rush defense (73 yards) and pass defense (168.9 yards). The Steelers are vying to become the first team since the 1991 Philadelphia Eagles to lead the league in all three categories.

The Ravens have an opportunity to show they’re just as good, although Ryan insists that won’t be a motivating factor Sunday.

“Our body of work over the years speaks for itself,” he said. “We don’t have anything to prove to anybody in the league. We just go out and play.”

In the first game, the Steelers focused on harassing Baltimore rookie quarterback Joe Flacco. They sacked him five times, but Flacco directed a nine-play, 76-yard drive in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter to force overtime.

Although the Steelers prevailed, they walked off the field with a genuine respect for the first-round draft pick from Delaware.

“The main thing he showed me from that first game is that he can’t easily be rattled,” Pittsburgh linebacker James Farrior said. “We showed him a lot of different looks and it didn’t really confuse him. He played pretty well and it surprised me.”