Ebony Bird
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Ravens host Steelers in week 4 clash: 3 big things

By Chris Schisler

CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens watches as his team takes on the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter at Paul Brown Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens watches as his team takes on the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter at Paul Brown Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Bart Scott of the Ravens sacks Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers during the 2nd half at Heinz Field where the Ravens defeated the Steelers 31-7 in Pittsburgh, Pa on Sunday Dec. 24, 2006. (Photo by Dan Beineke/NFLPhotoLibrary)
Bart Scott of the Ravens sacks Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers during the 2nd half at Heinz Field where the Ravens defeated the Steelers 31-7 in Pittsburgh, Pa on Sunday Dec. 24, 2006. (Photo by Dan Beineke/NFLPhotoLibrary) /

2. The Ravens must take the game to the Steelers

Aggressiveness is the only way Baltimore can win this game. If the Ravens defense sits back and plays passive defense, Ben Roethlisberger will tear it apart. If the Ravens put Roethlisberger on the ground, never let him get comfortable and bully his top two weapons, they will win the game. In 19 games against the Baltimore, Roethlisberger has thrown 21 picks and been sacked 52 times. He has had some monster games against the Ravens and given them some of their most painful losses. He has also had some horrible showings in which he left with a loss and a bunch of bruises.

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In the past two seasons the Ravens have picked Roethlisberger off five times. Two of those picks came in 2015, when the purple and black were an awful 5-11. The purple and black just know how to give Roethlisberger a bad day and it isn’t by playing patty cake.

This game is a heavy weight fight:

When it comes to beating the Steelers, Dean Pees knows he has to play aggressive all across the board. The front seven has to rule over this game like an unyielding tyrant. The secondary has to bully the wide receivers. Most importantly, the Ravens have to get Roethlisberger on the ground three to five times.

Baltimore needs to be aggressive on both sides of the football. It isn’t enough to shut down the Steelers offense. This means Joe Flacco is going to need to chuck it for more than 28 yards. This means that the running game has to get going. The Ravens offensive line may be without Marshall Yanda, but they need to dominate the battle in the trenches. If the Ravens can run the ball, everything becomes possible (or at least more possible) for the offense. This isn’t expected to be a shoot out but big plays will win it.

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