The AFC North is going to be a fun division to watch in 2014. After each team played in a thriller against a divisional opponent in week 1, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens are set to lock horns in what will be the formal start of Thursday Night Football, renewing their age-old rivalry. Can Big Ben Roethlisberger and his high-flying offense keep rolling against Joe Flacco and the Ravens? Can Baltimore avoid starting their season off 0-2? Read on for everything you need to know to bet on this huge AFC North game and check out our complete AFC North preview and predictions for more on one of the most interesting groups in the NFL. [sc:Football ]
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens Game Preview
When: Thursday, September 11, 2014, 8:25PM ET Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore Line: Pittsburgh Steelers (+2.5) vs. Baltimore Ravens (-2.5); total 44.0 – view all NFL lines
Betting on the Pittsburgh Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger loves playing against the Cleveland Browns, and in Week 1 he showed why, throwing for 365 yards on 24-for-35 passing and a beautiful touchdown to wideout Antonio Brown. [sc:NFL240banner ]Repeatedly escaping pressure to make big plays, Big Ben led an offense that almost ran out of gas after Cleveland stormed back from a 24-point deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter. In the last play of the game, Roethlisberger found Marcus Wheaton to get the ball in comfortable field goal range before Shaun Suisham could seal it. Offensively, the Steelers will carry a number of positives into this game. Running back Le’Veon Bell ran for 109 yards and a touchdown, and 2013 second-round pick Wheaton caught as many passes against the Browns (six) as he did all of last season. Still the star was Antonio Brown, whose strong opening game (five catches, 116 yards, TD) showed that last season’s performance (1,499 yards, 2nd in the NFL) was no fluke. Brown caught several tough passes and then literally ran right over Browns punter Spencer Lanting. Indeed, the concern for the Steelers coming into Baltimore will not be their offense but their defense, which allowed a so-so Browns team to run for 183 yards and 6.1 yards per carry. While that may not prove to be much of a concern, with the Ravens’ rushing attack having ranked last in the league last year, the showing in Week 1 left much to be desired.
Betting on the Baltimore Ravens
Speaking of disappointing, say hello to the 2014 edition of Joe Flacco, Ravens fans. The 2013 Super Bowl MVP went 35-for-62 as the Ravens chased the Bengals in their Week 1 game, and–outside of an 80-yard bomb to newly-acquired Raven Steve Smith–reminded fans of why Baltimore seemed ready to pass on Flacco before he put together a remarkable playoff run two seasons ago. Flacco finished with a strong 345 yards passing, but looked decidedly rusty in throwing an interception and ending the game by being sacked twice as the Ravens pushed to tie it. The Ravens should get a boost from the return of cornerback Ladarius Webb in Week 2. Webb led the league in passes broken up last season (16), and will allow Baltimore to put Chykie Brown on the bench. Brown was beaten badly on the huge 77-yard A.J. Green touchdown that proved to be the game-winning play in Week 1. In the meantime, the questions continue for the Ravens’ rushing game. With Ray Rice still suspended coming into Week 2, it may be Justin Forsett that sees more action against the Steelers, after the veteran back ran for 70 yards and a touchdown on just 12 carries, good for 6.1 YPC and far better than starter Bernard Pierce (six carries for 14 yards). If Forsett can expose a seemingly-soft Pittsburgh rushing defense, the pressure could be off for Flacco to find Smith for key plays against the Steelers. If not, this could be a long day for the Ravens.
Writer’s Prediction
The Steelers (+2.5) show that they are the team that will challenge the Bengals in this division, not the Ravens. Take Pittsburgh to win and cover. [sc:NFL490Banner ]
