Monday Night Match Up
I'm anxious to see the Steelers offensive game plan. Their chances of being able to run on the Ravens are slim to none, so why not spread the field and go after a secondary that will be missing starters Dawan Landry and Samari Rolle.
Doesn't it makes sense to put the game in Ben Roethlisberger's hands instead of the feet of rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall who has had issues holding on to the ball?
My hunch, the Steelers use the run as a change of pace to cut down the pass-rush and throw the rock 35-40 times, but here's where it gets interesting, while the Steelers game plan should call for a pass-happy offense, their pass protection has been horrible!
Big Ben got eaten alive by the Eagles last week and the Ravens' attacking defense could inflict just as much punishment. Defensive Coordinator Rex Ryan's dilemma, keep the foot on the accelerator with his aggressive blitz packages or back-off and help his depleted secondary in coverage?
On offense the Ravens' productive running game will get their biggest test of the young season. You gotta believe Steelers Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau will commit to stuffing the run, thus putting pressure on Joe Flacco to throw the football.
The Steelers have a big advantage if it comes down to a battle of the Quarterbacks,
The Ravens recipe to win is to be able to have some success running the ball and to
limit big plays in the Pittsburgh passing game.
The Steelers are a 3-point favorite. Tom Matte, Bruce Laird and I will break it down with you tomorrow morning from 8-10 on MASN's Monday (Tuesday this week) Morning Quarterback.
Sunday Stuff
Best Win: Redskins get the Cowboys IN Dallas
Worst Loss: Aaron Rodgers, the Packers' QB down with a shoulder injury, his replacement Matt Flynn, a 7th-round rookie. Ouch!
How Ironic: While Green Bay's season may have been crashing, Brett Favre was throwing for a career-high six TD passes.
4 And Out: The Bengals and Scott Linehan (outscored 147-43).
There are only two 4-0 teams in the NFL and one of them will be in Baltimore next Sunday. The Ravens will have a short week to get ready for the Titans while the Bills will try to go 5-0 at Arizona.
The NFC East, the best division in the league, and the NFC South are the only 2 divisions without a team under .500. They also are the only two divisions where all four teams have scored more points than they've given up.
3 and out!
Scott
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