NFL Playoffs Divisional Style! (BAL v. PIT)
AFC Divisional Round: Baltimore Ravens (12-4) v. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)
Saturday 4:30pm, CBS
A REAL wild card weekend last week! But, this round should be just as good! The Ravens and Steelers meet up for the THIRD time this NFL season, in which they split the series against each other (BAL W 17-14, PIT W 13-10.) Not at all close right? These two teams mirror each other with top 5 defenses, a solid playoff QB and a great ground game. So, your question is: "What will make the difference this year around?" Layover. Baltimore is coming off a major beat-down on KC while Pittsburgh sat on a BYE week playing only with themselves (tee-hee.)
Key Matchup
(BAL TE) Todd Heap v. (PIT S) Troy Polamalu
Every season these two well traveled veterans battle through all 16 games getting nicked and bruised but always make a big play when it matters. Todd Heap is 30 and was 'on his way out' a few seasons ago but has made quite a comeback in 2010. Heap snagged 599yds and 5TD this year; that's the most yards he's had since 2006 (765yds.) Against KC he had 10rec for 108 yards, a lot of that had to do with him being matched up on rookie KC safety Eric Berry. Meanwhile, Troy Polamalu had another Pro-Bowl year despite only playing in 14 games. He had: 63tkls, 1sck, 11pdef, 1ff, 7int and a TD, not too bad. Stop me if you've heard this before! Polamalu was limited in practice this week due to an Achilles injury. With Heap slipping in under the blanket of: Derrick Mason, Donte' Stallworth, Anquan Boldin and TJ Houshmanzadah, he may get a lot of looks like he did last week.
Difference Maker
(BAL K) Billy Cundiff/(PIT K) Shaun Suisham- I hate it when it comes down to a kicker, everyone does, except kickers. But, the every time these two teams face each other is seems to always come down to a last second field goal. Both guys have been in and out of football, in fact, both have been the Cowboys kicker at one point during their career. Billy Cundiff has been with 4 teams and missed 2 seasons 'out of football.' But, had a very good year in 2010: 26-of-29, 89.7%, season long 49. His career long came in 2005 with Dallas when he hit a 56 yarder. Cundiff had a good enough 2010 to be the AFC Pro Bowl placekicker this season [oh boy.] Shaun Suisham has been with 3 different teams and this year he: went 14-of-15, 93%, season long 48. His career long was 50. Both kickers are solid but when the swirling winds of Heinz Field hit, who knows.
Outcome
I talked about kickers... still can't get over that. Vegas likes the Steelers by 3 1/2. Which, sounds like a very passive spread that will shrink by Saturday. According to http://www.weather.com/ it should be old school frozen tundra [cliche explosion] with the high being 32 and a chance of snow. Both teams have a good ground game BUT I think the Ravens' rushing attack is a tad better, by .5% better... and that is a deal breaker for the Godfather of Sports. Baltimore has three RB with totally different styles of running and a good passing attack at the short-mid-long range level I think that edges him over to the AFC Championship: Ravens-23 Steelers- 17.
Next Blog: NFL Playoffs Divisional Style! (GB v. ATL)
Stats courtesy of ESPN Stats and Information Links courtesy of http://www.steelers.com/ http://www.baltimoreravens.com/ http://www.weather.com/
Saturday 4:30pm, CBS
A REAL wild card weekend last week! But, this round should be just as good! The Ravens and Steelers meet up for the THIRD time this NFL season, in which they split the series against each other (BAL W 17-14, PIT W 13-10.) Not at all close right? These two teams mirror each other with top 5 defenses, a solid playoff QB and a great ground game. So, your question is: "What will make the difference this year around?" Layover. Baltimore is coming off a major beat-down on KC while Pittsburgh sat on a BYE week playing only with themselves (tee-hee.)
Key Matchup
(BAL TE) Todd Heap v. (PIT S) Troy Polamalu
Every season these two well traveled veterans battle through all 16 games getting nicked and bruised but always make a big play when it matters. Todd Heap is 30 and was 'on his way out' a few seasons ago but has made quite a comeback in 2010. Heap snagged 599yds and 5TD this year; that's the most yards he's had since 2006 (765yds.) Against KC he had 10rec for 108 yards, a lot of that had to do with him being matched up on rookie KC safety Eric Berry. Meanwhile, Troy Polamalu had another Pro-Bowl year despite only playing in 14 games. He had: 63tkls, 1sck, 11pdef, 1ff, 7int and a TD, not too bad. Stop me if you've heard this before! Polamalu was limited in practice this week due to an Achilles injury. With Heap slipping in under the blanket of: Derrick Mason, Donte' Stallworth, Anquan Boldin and TJ Houshmanzadah, he may get a lot of looks like he did last week.
Difference Maker
(BAL K) Billy Cundiff/(PIT K) Shaun Suisham- I hate it when it comes down to a kicker, everyone does, except kickers. But, the every time these two teams face each other is seems to always come down to a last second field goal. Both guys have been in and out of football, in fact, both have been the Cowboys kicker at one point during their career. Billy Cundiff has been with 4 teams and missed 2 seasons 'out of football.' But, had a very good year in 2010: 26-of-29, 89.7%, season long 49. His career long came in 2005 with Dallas when he hit a 56 yarder. Cundiff had a good enough 2010 to be the AFC Pro Bowl placekicker this season [oh boy.] Shaun Suisham has been with 3 different teams and this year he: went 14-of-15, 93%, season long 48. His career long was 50. Both kickers are solid but when the swirling winds of Heinz Field hit, who knows.
Outcome
I talked about kickers... still can't get over that. Vegas likes the Steelers by 3 1/2. Which, sounds like a very passive spread that will shrink by Saturday. According to http://www.weather.com/ it should be old school frozen tundra [cliche explosion] with the high being 32 and a chance of snow. Both teams have a good ground game BUT I think the Ravens' rushing attack is a tad better, by .5% better... and that is a deal breaker for the Godfather of Sports. Baltimore has three RB with totally different styles of running and a good passing attack at the short-mid-long range level I think that edges him over to the AFC Championship: Ravens-23 Steelers- 17.
Next Blog: NFL Playoffs Divisional Style! (GB v. ATL)
Stats courtesy of ESPN Stats and Information Links courtesy of http://www.steelers.com/ http://www.baltimoreravens.com/ http://www.weather.com/
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