Perhaps the best NFL game this week happens Sunday night. The Pittsburgh Steelers head south to take on the Baltimore Ravens in a match-up predicted to be dominated by defense.

The Ravens and Steelers are tied for the AFC North lead with an 8-3 record. Both defenses have been outstanding. The Ravens have given up a measly 188 points and the Steelers 181.

If the Steelers win, they would own the tiebreaker – for now- due to the Ravens division loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2.

In the first meeting on Oct 3, the Ravens won 17-14 at Heinz Field, but that was without Ben Roethlisberger, who missed the first 4 games of the 2010 NFL season to do a league suspension.

But in the second meeting on Sunday, Big Ben is expected to play even though he has a sprained right foot he suffered in last week’s game against Buffalo.

In the first meeting, the Ravens were without safety Ed Reed, who has 4 interceptions and a forced fumble since returning from a hip injury in late October.

Offensively, the Ravens have scored 250 points, averaging 22.7 points per game. The Steelers have score 254 and are averaging 23.1 ppg.

The Ravens are 5-0 at home while the Steelers are 5-1 away. Both are 2-1 in their division and 6-2 in the AFC.

The Steelers offensive leaders are QB Ben Roethlisberger (137-220, 1825 yards, 12 TDs), running back Rashad Mendenhall (238 carries, 962 yards, 9 TDs) and wide receiver Mike Wallace (36 rec, 792 yds, 8 TDs).

The Ravens offense is lead by QB Joe Flacco (231-365, 2722 yds, 18 TDs), running back Ray Rice (204 carries, 815 yds, 3 TDs) and wide receiver Anquan Boldin (51 rec, 652 yds, 6 TDs).

PACKERS FALCONS: GAME DAY PARTICULARS
Visitors	Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)
Home	Baltimore Ravens (8-3)
When	Sunday Dec 6 08:20 pm EST
Where	M&T Stadium, Baltimore, MD
TV COVERAGE	NBC
WEATHER	42º/32º 10% Precip
Favorite	Ravens -3
Under/Over	40

STEELERS RAVENS TRENDS AGAINST THE SPREAD (ATS)

STEELERS RAVENS AVERAGES
Both teams are very evenly matched offensively and defensively. However, the Steelers show an advantage in defense against the rush (64 yds per game vs. 101)

Pittsburgh OFFENSE		Baltimore DEFENSE
Rush Yds/Gms	126.0	Rush Yds/Gms	101.7
Pass Yds/Gms	208.5	Pass Yds/Gms	205.6
Tot Yds/Gms	334.0	Tot Yds/Gms	307.4

Baltimore OFFENSE		Pittsburgh DEFENSE
Rush Yds/Gms	114.4	Rush Yds/Gms	64.0
Pass Yds/Gms	233.9	Pass Yds/Gms	240.5
Tot Yds/Gms	348.0	Tot Yds/Gms	304.5

STEELERS RAVENS INJURIES
The Baltimore Ravens Offensive left tackle Michael Oher has a sprained right knee but is expected to play and fullback Le’Ron McClain is doubtful after spraining his ankle last week.

Perhaps the bigger story regarding Baltimore’s injury report is on defense. Two of the Ravens safeties are questionable; Dawan Landry (concussion) and Tom Zbikowski (heel).

STEELERS RAVENS GAME PREDICTION
Both teams are evenly matched, have great defenses and better-than-average quarterbacks.
Expect Joe Flacco and Ray Lewis to lead the Ravens in a low scoring win.

RAVENS 21, STEELERS 17

Sources: espn.com New York Post, New York Daily News

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, acting as juror, judge and executor, sentenced Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to a six game suspension without pay for violating the NFL personal conduct policy. Roethisberger was also ordered to undergo a behavioral evaluation.

Goodell handed down the decision after a 20 year-old college student accused Roethlisberger of sexually assaulting her in a Georgia nightclub back in March. Ben was suspended even though Georgia prosecutors decided not to charge Roethlisberger for sexual assualt.

Goodell, in a letter sent to the former 2-time Super Bowl champ said, “I recognize that the allegations in Georgia were disputed and that they did not result in criminal charges being filed against you,”

“My decision today is not based on a finding that you violated Georgia law, or on a conclusion that differs from that of the local prosecutor. That said, you are held to a higher standard as an NFL player, and there is nothing about your conduct in Milledgeville that can remotely be described as admirable, responsible, or consistent with either the values of the league or the expectations of our fans.”

As part of the suspension, Roethlisberger must undergo a behavioral evaluation by medical professionals before he can participate or attend any team off-season activities.

Goodell left open the possibility that he could reduce the suspension from 6 games to 4. The Steeler QB could lose close to $3 million in salary if he sits out 6 games.

Many in the NFL expressed shock at the length of the suspension, given he was not charged with a crime. However, this is not the first time Ben Roethlisberger has been accused of improrieties. Back in the summer of 2008, a woman named Andrea McNulty in Nevada accused Roethlisbeger of sexual assault.

Will the suspension of Ben Roethlisberger mean the Steelers won’t make the NFL playoffs in 2010? Not necessarily, especially if the sentence is reduced to 4 games. The Steelers are scheduled with a bye in NFL Week 5, allowing the Steelers to give Roethlisberger all the reps to get ready for NFL Week 6. Here is Steelers schedule for the first six games in 2010.

Sunday, September 12 – Atlanta Falcons – Home
Sunday, September 19 – Tennessee Titans – Away
Sunday, September 26 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Away
Sunday, October 3 – Baltimore Ravens – Home
Sunday, October 10 – BYE
Sunday, October 17 – Cleveland Browns – Home
Sunday, October 24 – Miami Dolphins – Home

source: foxsports.com, espn

The Pittsburgh Steelers came back with less than 2:00 minutes in the fourth quarter to beat the Arizona Cardinals by the score of 27-23 in Super Bowl XLIII. Ben Roethlisberger connected with Santonio Holmes, the Super Bowl MVP, on a 7 yard TD pass to secure the win. 

The Arizona Cardinals owned the fourth quarter, up until the 2:00 minute warning, taking the lead on a touchdown pass from Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald with 2:47 seconds left to play to give the Cardinals a lead of 23-20.

The other big highlight for the Pittsburgh Steelers was a 100 yard interception return by linebacker James Harrison with 18 seconds left in the second quarter with the Arizona Cardinals on the Pittsburgh Steeler 2 yard line.  With no timeouts left, and the score Pittsburgh 10 and Arizona 7, the Cardinal quarterback, Kurt Warner, threw a pass across the middle.  But Harrison, seeing that Warner was going to pass, backed up and stepped in front of the Arizona Cardinal receiver.   That began a 100 yard romp to the End zone that ended the first half scoring with the Steelers ahead 17 to 7. It was the longest play in Superbowl history.

But again, the first 13 minutes of the fourth quarter belonged to the Arizona Cardinals.  QB Kurt Warner hooked up with Wide Receiver Larry Fitzgerald for a one yard TD pass with 7:41 left to play. The Steeler took the next kickoff and turned it right back to the Cardinals.  The Cardinals got the punt and started their drive on their own 25 yard line.  A critical 15 yard penalty by Pittsburgh Steeler defensive back Taylor cost the Steelers 15 yards but the Cardinals could not finish the drive and ended up punting the ball away.

On the punt, the Cardinals downed the ball on the Steelers 3 yard line.  After a holding penalty on the Steelers and a loss on the run, the Steelers were facing a third and 11 from the 1 yard line.  Then a holding penalty on the Steelers in the endzone resulted in a Safety to make the score 20-16.

Then after the punt back to Arizona, Kurt Warner hooked up with Larry Fitzgerald for a touchdown pass to give the Cardinals a 23-20 lead.

Then Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh offense drove down the field and scored on a 7 yard Touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes.
Scoring Recap
1st Quarter
FG Jeff Reed, 18 yd field goal , 09:50. Drive: 9 plays, 71 yards in 5:15  Pittsburgh 3, Arizona 0

2nd Quarter
TD Gary Russell, 1 yd run (Jeff Reed kick is good), 14:09. Drive: 11 plays, 69 yards in 7:12  Pittsburgh 10, Arizona 0
TD Ben Patrick, 1 yd pass from Kurt Warner (Neil Rackers kick is good), 08:43. Drive: 9 plays, 83 yards in 5:27 Pittsburgh 10, Arizona 7
TD James Harrison, 100 yd interception return (Jeff Reed kick is good), 00:18.  Pittsburgh 17, Arizona 7

3rd Quarter
FG Jeff Reed, 21 yd field goal , 02:16. Drive: 16 plays, 79 yards in 8:39 Pittsburgh 20, Arizona 7

4th Quarter
TD Larry Fitzgerald, 1 yd pass from Kurt Warner (Neil Rackers kick is good), 07:41. Drive: 8 plays, 87 yards in 3:57 Pittsburgh 20, Arizona 14
 S Penalty on J.Hartwig enforced in end zone for a Safety, 03:04. Pittsburgh 20, Arizona 16
TD Larry Fitzgerald, 64 yd pass from Kurt Warner (Neil Rackers kick is good), 02:47. Drive: 2 plays, 64 yards in 0:21 Pittsburgh 20, Arizona 23
TD Santonio Holmes, 6 yd pass from Ben Roethlisberger , 00:42. Drive: 8 plays, 78 yards in 2:02 Pittsburgh 27, Arizona 23