Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: 3 predictions for week 8

The BaltimoreRavens have a huge battle with the Pittsburgh Steelers: Here are three big predictions for the big game:

1. Yannick Ngakoue steals the ball away from Ben Roethlisberger:

I think the biggest thing about this Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers game is what is fresh about this game. Ben Roethlisberger is back. Yannick Ngakoue is now a Raven. Ngakoue is the most notable pass rusher in Baltimore since Elvis Dumervil (counting Terrell Suggs as more of a well rounded machine).

The Ravens and Steelers games have often come down to a battle between the Ravens’ pass rush and the incredible will of Ben Roethlisberger to stay upright and make throws under duress. Why should this game buck that trend? Who cares if the Steelers are using a more quick strike passing game, we know what we’re getting into. It’s Ravens vs. Steelers and muscle memory will get Roethlisberger into that backyard football mentality.

Roethlisberger will hold the football too long, because the Ravens are going to take away the quick strike with their elite secondary, Remember, the season opener? The Browns have actually been a quick strike passing machine this year, but Baltimore shut them down completely. Don Martindale will call a great game and the back end of the defense will give the pass rush the time to make a huge impact against the Steelers.

Ngakoue will make a huge impact right away. It’s worth noting that he already has five sacks on the year and the Steelers offensive line is good, it’s just not impenetrable. It’s been good for a reason, Big Ben has stayed on schedule. The Ravens will knock them off that schedule and Ngakoue will make the Steelers pay. Give me three sacks from the newest Raven, including one where he dislodges the football from Baltimore’s least favorite opposing quarterback of all-time.