Go to http://mmqb.si.com/2014/12/31/nfl-playoffs-wild-card-weekend-preview/2/ for the other games.
BALTIMORE RAVENS @ PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Steelers’ offense vs. Ravens’ defense
When these teams met in Week 9, Ben Roethlisberger was under siege early on, at one point taking three straight sacks in a first half that also saw the Steelers open with a trio of three-and-outs. But Big Ben sharpened in the second half, showing that he’s not only the AFC’s best downfield touch-passer while on the move, but also a significantly more refined pocket passer. Roethlisberger finished that game with six touchdowns.
Now the Steelers come in with an even more refined passing game. Antonio Brown is still the league’s most difficult one-on-one route runner to defend, and youngsters Markus Wheaton and Martavis Bryant are even more comfortable in a Todd Haley system that does a great job incorporating deep shots in its quick screen and “counter run” foundation.
The Ravens, meanwhile, have one of the league’s thinnest secondaries. It’s sturdier now than it was in Week 9, which was Baltimore’s first game without No. 1 corner Jimmy Smith (now on IR with a bad foot). But the Ravens are still forced to moonlight safety Matt Elam at slot corner and they’ve vacillated at every other position save for Will Hill’s safety spot. Expect Antonio Brown to line up in the slot early and often in this game.
The question is whether Pittsburgh’s passing attack can carry the load in the event that a hyperextended knee keeps running back Le’Veon Bell out of action. The Ravens—and specifically rookie linebacker C.J. Mosley—have already learned the hard way that Bell is an integral part of Pittsburgh’s aerial assault. If the passing game gets the kind of protection that Mike Munchak’s soaring offensive line has provided as of late, Bell’s absence won’t be ruinous in this contest.
Ravens’ offense vs. Steelers’ defense
Thanks in large part to the renaissance of James Harrison, the Steelers’ pass rush exploded in Week 9, giving the Ravens trouble with stunts and zone blitzes (one leading to a Jason Worilds interception). Left guard Kelechi Osemele and tackle Eugene Monroe (who sat out Week 17 with an ankle injury) were particularly strained here.
The Ravens should have this cleaned up come Saturday night, and it’s unlikely the Steelers will erupt like this again. While the front seven has been better than a year ago, it’s still an inconsistent group. And the absence of Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel (triceps injury) diminishes many of the stunt concepts that haunted Osemele and Monroe.
Expect Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak to also nullify the Steelers’ pass rush with more moving pocket concepts and play-action. This is the heart of Kubiak’s scheme, and something that the cannon-armed Joe Flacco is mobile enough to conduct. In this case, however, it’s vital that Baltimore get its zone running game back on track. It posted 129 yards last week against Cleveland’s subpar run D, but in the two previous games it averaged only 63 yards. The best way to attack the Steelers’ sixth-ranked run defense is to get the front seven playing laterally. That’s done through stretch handoffs, which can also set up the crossfield play-action concepts that naturally defeat many of Pittsburgh’s matchup zone coverages.
BALTIMORE RAVENS @ PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Steelers’ offense vs. Ravens’ defense
When these teams met in Week 9, Ben Roethlisberger was under siege early on, at one point taking three straight sacks in a first half that also saw the Steelers open with a trio of three-and-outs. But Big Ben sharpened in the second half, showing that he’s not only the AFC’s best downfield touch-passer while on the move, but also a significantly more refined pocket passer. Roethlisberger finished that game with six touchdowns.
Now the Steelers come in with an even more refined passing game. Antonio Brown is still the league’s most difficult one-on-one route runner to defend, and youngsters Markus Wheaton and Martavis Bryant are even more comfortable in a Todd Haley system that does a great job incorporating deep shots in its quick screen and “counter run” foundation.
The Ravens, meanwhile, have one of the league’s thinnest secondaries. It’s sturdier now than it was in Week 9, which was Baltimore’s first game without No. 1 corner Jimmy Smith (now on IR with a bad foot). But the Ravens are still forced to moonlight safety Matt Elam at slot corner and they’ve vacillated at every other position save for Will Hill’s safety spot. Expect Antonio Brown to line up in the slot early and often in this game.
The question is whether Pittsburgh’s passing attack can carry the load in the event that a hyperextended knee keeps running back Le’Veon Bell out of action. The Ravens—and specifically rookie linebacker C.J. Mosley—have already learned the hard way that Bell is an integral part of Pittsburgh’s aerial assault. If the passing game gets the kind of protection that Mike Munchak’s soaring offensive line has provided as of late, Bell’s absence won’t be ruinous in this contest.
Ravens’ offense vs. Steelers’ defense
Thanks in large part to the renaissance of James Harrison, the Steelers’ pass rush exploded in Week 9, giving the Ravens trouble with stunts and zone blitzes (one leading to a Jason Worilds interception). Left guard Kelechi Osemele and tackle Eugene Monroe (who sat out Week 17 with an ankle injury) were particularly strained here.
The Ravens should have this cleaned up come Saturday night, and it’s unlikely the Steelers will erupt like this again. While the front seven has been better than a year ago, it’s still an inconsistent group. And the absence of Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel (triceps injury) diminishes many of the stunt concepts that haunted Osemele and Monroe.
Expect Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak to also nullify the Steelers’ pass rush with more moving pocket concepts and play-action. This is the heart of Kubiak’s scheme, and something that the cannon-armed Joe Flacco is mobile enough to conduct. In this case, however, it’s vital that Baltimore get its zone running game back on track. It posted 129 yards last week against Cleveland’s subpar run D, but in the two previous games it averaged only 63 yards. The best way to attack the Steelers’ sixth-ranked run defense is to get the front seven playing laterally. That’s done through stretch handoffs, which can also set up the crossfield play-action concepts that naturally defeat many of Pittsburgh’s matchup zone coverages.
