It's ratbird week (aka Most Wonderful Time of the Year)

Well, we escaped Cincitucky with a victory, even after only playing 15-20 minutes of solid football.

This week, the ratbirds come to town and we're down a few players.

This team needs to show it's resolve and I'm hoping Ju-Ju will win his appeal (or at least have it delayed one week).

Maybe the team can use the Shazier injury as a rallying point for this game.

I'm less optimistic about this game, team is banged up, on a short week, and the ravens are playing for their playoff lives. It's not going to be an easy out, but since when are the ravens ever? I just hope no more injuries

Fire Arians wrote:

I'm less optimistic about this game, team is banged up, on a short week, and the ravens are playing for their playoff lives. It's not going to be an easy out, but since when are the ravens ever? I just hope no more injuries

Steelers offense got to get off to a fast start and help out the wounded defense. blitz the hell out of Flacco from the start get in his head early.

Ben Roethlisberger: 'Always a respect' for Steelers-Ravens rivalry

Jamison Hensley
ESPN Staff Writer

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says there is more of a mutual respect in the Pittsburgh Steelers' rivalry with the Baltimore Ravens than the one they have with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Roethlisberger's comments in a conference call with Baltimore reporters came two days after two players were disciplined for illegal hits made during Monday night's game between the Steelers and Bengals.

"In that one [with the Bengals], it feels like almost, just, you're out there to hit people, and we don't feel the same respect from them that Baltimore and we have," Roethlisberger said Wednesday. "I'm not really sure why."

to read rest of article:

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21689839/ben-roethlisberger-says-pittsburgh-steelers-respect-baltimore-ravens-more-cincinnati-bengals

That respect shows in the massages from the Ravens, their players and their fans right after the Shazier injury. Even Ray Lewis managed to say some nice words for once by calling Shazier young lion in his tweet.

All the years we played against the Ray Lewis led Ravens I hated the guy. Fact is he was never dirty a player. Looking back I used his personal life (past) to justify my hate. I now believe they kept him around because he was a leader, and a team player with huge talent.
Burfict has that huge talent but is not a leader (unless you want chaos) and not a team player.He's nothing more than a thug playing the game. He is a big part of their problem and Marvin Lewis will loose his job at the end of this season because of his loyalty to this idiot.
I predict whoever takes over will trade/release both Burfict and Adam Jones . Jones will be released because he is Burfict's minion and has that same mindset.
Lewis proved that you could intimidate your opposition by dropping them in the backfield,disrupting plays and winning the war of attrition. He didn't see the need to brake legs or take heads off. He didn't kick people or twist body parts in the pile.
All this being said I still don't like Ray Lewis. Just sayin'!

There was also never whining by either side after a Ravens Steelers game. Just good hard nosed football by both sides and no complaining by anyone afterwards.

I agree completely with you solardave, but want to add that Adam Jones is a complete douche off the field but actually never did something wrong on the field.

About next game, I think that we can expect a close game and I predict a Steelers win, something like 20-17, because if the Steelers have proved one thing the last couple of weeks it's that they are resilient and can fight back in games. A Boswell fg in the dying seconds will seal the deal

From the Ravens board, a rivalry summary in 25 moments.

1. The defending champion Ravens open their 2001 season with a 17-10 home win agains the Bears just two days before the attacks of 9/11. Fourteen weeks later the Steelers would pick off Elvis Grbac three times in a Sunday night to win 26-21 at Heinz Field to knock Ravens out of playoff race and assure no Super repeat.
2. Before their final meeting of 2002 Shannon Sharpe refers to receiver Plaxico Burress as "Plexiglass." Burress cathches eight passes for 164 yards and a touchdown as the Steelers clinched the AFC Central title with another score of 26-2. Bill Cowher would refer to the trash talking surrounding this season as the start of the Ravens-Steelers rivalry
3. Defensive back James Trapp jumps up and down with his cleats on the stomach of Burress in that 2002 game.
4. With Joey Porter missing a 2003 game as he recovered from a shotgun wound inflicted outside a Denver bar, Ray Lewis “disrespects” him by mocking Porter’s trademark “boot kick” gesture after making a tackle. Porter tries to go after Lewis on the team bus after the game. (Ravens lose 34-15)
5. Jamal Lewis goes over the 2,000-yard mark in an overtime win in Baltimore to close out a ten-win 2003 season (before losing to the Steve McNair-led Titans 20-17 in the Wildcard game.)
6. In 2004, Joes Porter delivers a blatant cheap shot on Todd Heap as the Ravens were spiking the ball, sending Heap to the sidelines to receive medical attention
7. With the Steelers backed-up in their own territory, Bart Scott comes untouched off the left side of the Ravens line and crushes an unsuspecting Ben Roethlisberger for the last of a nine-sack day for the Ravens in this 2006 contest. Roethlisberger would later call it the hardest he ever absorbed.
8. To open the 2008 season, Ray Lewis breaks the shoulder of rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall after Mendenhall had texted his buddy Ray Rice, predicting a bit game against the Ravens D.
9. Cornerback Frank Walker spits in the mouth of Pittsburgh punter Mitch Berger in that 2008 game
10. In 2008 Terrell Suggs has to respond to revelation the Ravens had put a bounty on Hines Ward
11. 2008 AFC Championship game Troy Polamalu surfed the pileup on the line of scrimmage with the Ravens going for it on fourth and short on the Steelers 34 to grab Flacco and stop him short.
12. In the locker room after the game in 2008 Bart Scott threatens to kill Hines Ward
13. 2009 AFC Championship game Ryan Clark delivers a knockout hit on Willis McGahee.
14. With the Steelers up 35-7 in 2010 Monday Night game in Pittsburgh, Hines Ward bypasses one defender to deliver a helmet-to-helmet (unflagged) knockout of an unsuspecting Ed Reed.
15 In the other 2010 game, in Baltimore, Haloti Ngata breaks Roethlisberger’s nose during a sack so swift the refs failed to see the blow to the head. (Ngata was later fined $15K)
16. Also in that December 2010 game--with the AFC North crown at stake, and the Steelers down 10-6, with Baltimore milking the final 3:22--Troy Polamalu shoots around left side unblocked and strip sacks Flacco. LaMarr Woodley returns it inside the Ravens' 10 and Roethlisberger throws the TD for the 13-10 win, propelling the Steelers en route to Super Bowl XLV.
17. In the opening game of 2011 in Baltimore, on a broken play by the Steelers offense, Jarret Johnson, cuts Hines Ward in half as Ward tries to slip down the line of scrimmage, looking back to Roethlisberger as he was rolling out. Ed Reed picks off the pass at the goal line.
18. With the Ravens en route to blowing out the Steelers 35-7 in that 2011 game, the normally mild mannered Troy Polamalu incites a brawl in the third quarter by taking Ray Rice to the ground and fighting him well after the play was over.
19. In their second match-up in 2011 the Ravens double down on Ward when Ray Lewis separates him from the ball after a near completion over the middle on what would today be an illegal blow to the head of a defenseless receiver. Ward tries to get up but can only manage to slowly raise his toes toward the sky. Ward failed to finish either game against the Ravens that year, permanently removing that stupid grin from his face.
20. That 2011 Sunday Night contest was also the Torrey Smith redemption game. After the Ravens had blown a 10-point lead, and Smith had dropped 4 passes, including a sure, rainbow touchdown, Flacco goes back to Smith with the game winning 23-20 score with 8 seconds left in regulation.
21. Mike Tomlin steps across the sideline and attempts to trip up Jacoby Jones to stop a kick-off return TD in 2013, earning a $100K fine from the league.
22. After a 2015 match up Steve Smith Sr. accuses Mike Mitchell of spearing him in the back after a catch and then gloating about the hit as Smith winced in pain with broken ribs.
23. Before the 2016 first rematch Mitchell insinuates that he has a bounty on Smith.
24. Josh Scobee misses two fourth-quarter field goals at Heinz Field and Justin Tucker kicks a 42-yard field goal to send the game into overtime and a 52-yard field goal in overtime to give the Ravens their first win after a franchise-worst three losses to start the 2015 season.
25. Antonio Brown stretches the ball across the goal line, breaking through three Ravens defenders, to cap off a 10 play, 75-yard scoring drive in less than 70 seconds that knocked the Ravens out of the playoffs Christmas night, 2016.

He forgot the Polamalu pick 6 in the 2009 AFCCG

Adam Jones is a damn scumbag. When I was at the Cinci game for Week 2 of last season I sat right next to the visitor's tunnel. Security had to escort Jones off as he was actively arguing and making threats towards fans on his way out.

F$%^ that guy.

Bo$well has been money when we needed him, and I anticipate Sunday night's game to come down to him $ecuring another victory.

I'm anticipating the defense to be on edge and balling out.

#Shalieve
#WinItForShazier

solardave wrote:

All the years we played against the Ray Lewis led Ravens I hated the guy. Fact is he was never dirty  a player. Looking back I used his personal life (past) to justify my hate. I now believe they kept him around because he was a leader, and a team player with huge talent.
Burfict has that huge talent but is not a leader (unless you want chaos) and not a team player.He's nothing more than a thug playing the game. He is a big part of their problem and Marvin Lewis will loose his job at the end of this season because of his loyalty to this idiot.
I predict whoever takes over will trade/release both Burfict and Adam Jones . Jones will be released because he is Burfict's minion and has that same mindset.
Lewis proved that you could intimidate your opposition by dropping them in the backfield,disrupting plays and winning the war of attrition. He didn't see the need to brake legs or take heads off. He didn't kick people or twist body parts in the pile.
All this being said I still don't like Ray Lewis. Just sayin'!

closet man crush

effyou515 wrote:

solardave wrote:

All the years we played against the Ray Lewis led Ravens I hated the guy. Fact is he was never dirty  a player. Looking back I used his personal life (past) to justify my hate. I now believe they kept him around because he was a leader, and a team player with huge talent.
Burfict has that huge talent but is not a leader (unless you want chaos) and not a team player.He's nothing more than a thug playing the game. He is a big part of their problem and Marvin Lewis will loose his job at the end of this season because of his loyalty to this idiot.
I predict whoever takes over will trade/release both Burfict and Adam Jones . Jones will be released because he is Burfict's minion and has that same mindset.
Lewis proved that you could intimidate your opposition by dropping them in the backfield,disrupting plays and winning the war of attrition. He didn't see the need to brake legs or take heads off. He didn't kick people or twist body parts in the pile.
All this being said I still don't like Ray Lewis. Just sayin'!

closet man crush

: Yeah right. Love me some Ray Ray. HA HA.

solardave wrote:

All the years we played against the Ray Lewis led Ravens I hated the guy. Fact is he was never dirty  a player. Looking back I used his personal life (past) to justify my hate. I now believe they kept him around because he was a leader, and a team player with huge talent.
Burfict has that huge talent but is not a leader (unless you want chaos) and not a team player.He's nothing more than a thug playing the game. He is a big part of their problem and Marvin Lewis will loose his job at the end of this season because of his loyalty to this idiot.
I predict whoever takes over will trade/release both Burfict and Adam Jones . Jones will be released because he is Burfict's minion and has that same mindset.
Lewis proved that you could intimidate your opposition by dropping them in the backfield,disrupting plays and winning the war of attrition. He didn't see the need to brake legs or take heads off. He didn't kick people or twist body parts in the pile.
All this being said I still don't like Ray Lewis. Just sayin'!

I agree, I probably talked more crap about Lewis as a player than anyone else, but his play was never dirty. He was just a great player (as much as I still don't like the guy), I have to admit, a big part of why I hated him was because he was that good. But dirty he was not, and I do respect what he's accomplished over his career. Definitely one of the best and Hall of Fame worthy is an understatement, he's definitely one of the best to ever play his position.

Burfict is someone who is good at the game, however, I don't have that same respect for him because he looks like he's intentionally trying to injure people. His forearm to Brown in the playoffs was as blatantly flagrant as it gets, as well as his ankle lock against Cam Newton. That's totally not football and I have zero respect for things like that. The sad thing is Burfict would be a star in this league if he didn't resort to that crap. He's a highly talented player that doesn't need to be doing that BS.

And if I were Lewis, I would have cut both Burfict and Jones from the team. I mean, wasn't a playoff loss DIRECTLY caused by these 2 players enough already? I will say that the win against them in the playoffs was a gift. They had that game won, but those 2 gave us penalty yardage to allow a chip shot FG win. And that's not the only time that's happened. This year they had 2nd half collapses due to unsportsmanlike penalties by Burfict that should have won them the game. With the talent they have on the Bengals, they should have been coming into the game vs us at 7-4ish, not 5-6. However, the lack of discipline has them losing games, and you could also say, cost them last weeks' game as well. 170+ yards from penalties is inexcusable, and WILL lose you a game.

With Shazier out, Moats is moving to ILB.

https://twitter.com/MarkKaboly/status/938871668503654400

I heard that Debo will get some time in on Sunday.

https://247sports.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/Bolt/Pittsburgh-Steelers-LB-Arthur-Moats-expects-James-Harrison-to-get-a-hat-vs-Ravens-111925876

I look for Butler to rotate Alualu in as well. If we keep the front seven as fresh as possible we can get pressure on Fliasco but we have to tackle much better and cover (57 yr old) Wallace. He's had some good games lately.

Establish the run and make this a short game. Ben also has to play smart. You know ignore Haley.

Lots of South American visitors coming to Pittsburgh for the game.

https://twitter.com/acereros/status/939607646721671168

The subreddit for the Steelers on Reddit is blown up with people from South America looking to do "Pittsburgh" things.