Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: 3 predictions for SNF
1. The Ravens win 31-20
These games are always close, so this prediction is bold. In the end I just don’t think the Steelers match up well with the new look Ravens. The Ravens offense will exploit the struggling linebackers of the Steelers and Joe Flacco will pick apart that secondary. The middle of the field is where Flacco will do most of his damage. Look for Mark Andrews and Willie Snead to have a huge night for the Ravens, because that’s where the match up is.
The Steelers offense is good enough to make this a really compelling game. The Steelers will have a drive or two early in the game that will make the Ravens respond in a hostile place. Ben Roethlisberger has weapons, and those weapons include, the best receiver in the NFL. The pattern that has emerged this season is the defense takes a punch, then they adjust and win the battle. That’s exactly what happened against the Broncos and it will happen in Pittsburgh as well.
In the end I see a close first half and a second half where the Ravens pull away. This is going to be a statement win for the Ravens, who had a rough night with their first prime time game. The Ravens are a team that is showing a lot to be encouraged about. A 3-1 start would be an impressive way to end the first quarter of the season. The Steelers may think everything is fixed due to their close call with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They don’t know what’s coming for them though, this Ravens team is different.