Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers - Sunday, January 18, 2009 - 6:30 PM ET
CBS (Jim Nantz, Phil Simms), Westwood One Radio (Dave Sims, Dennis Green, John Dockery)
Ravens Steelers Series History
Series began in 1996 Overall: Pittsburgh leads 16-10 (postseason record not included in overall series record) At Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh leads 9-4 At Baltimore: Pittsburgh leads 7-6 Last Regular-Season Meeting: Dec. 14, 2008 (in Baltimore) Pittsburgh 13, Baltimore 9 Postseason Series: Pittsburgh leads 1-0 (2002 Divisional) Mike Tomlin is 3-1 vs. the Ravens John Harbaugh is 0-2 vs. the Steelers
AFC Championship Game Facts
Head coaches JOHN HARBAUGH (16) & MIKE TOMLIN (32) 48 games stand as 2nd fewest combined regular season career
games for opposing coaches in conference league championship game in Super Bowl era (42; John McCafferty & John Madden) Since 1970, home teams are 50-26 (.658) in conference championship games Marks 2nd meeting between NFL’s top 2 defenses in conference championship game since 1970 (Los Angeles vs. Dallas,
1978).
Ravens & Steelers in 2008 NFL Regular Season
|
Category | Baltimore Ravens | Pittsburgh Steelers | |
2008 Record | 11-5 | 12-4 | |
Season’s Longest Streak | 4 Wins | 5 Wins | |
Points Scored | 385 | 347 | |
TDs Scored | 42 | 38 | |
Rushing TDs Scored | 20 | 16 | |
Passing TDs Scored | 16 | 19 | |
TDs on Returns | 6 | 3 | |
Points Against | 244 | 223 | |
TDs Allowed | 26 | 21 | |
Rushing TDs Allowed | 4 | 7 | |
Passing TDs Allowed | 17 | 12 | |
TDs Allowed by Return | 5 | 2 | |
Turnover Ratio | +13 | +4 | |
Red Zone TD Pct. For | 47.1% | 55.1% | |
Red Zone TD Pct. Against | 35.9% | 33.3% | |
KOR Avg. For | 20.1 | 20.3 | |
KOR Avg. Against | 22.6 | 19.1 | |
PR Avg. For | 8.6 | 6.0 | |
PR Avg. Against | 6.4 | 6.2 | |
PITTSBURGH STEELERS 2008 AFC/NFL RANKINGS
The following table of statistics indicates how dominate the Steelers defense was this year relative to the AFC and NFL.
|
Team Defense | Statistic | Rank (AFC/NFL) | |
Total Yards/Game | 237.2 | 1st/1st | |
Yards/Play | 3.9 | 1st/1st | |
Rushing Yards/Game | 80.3 | 1st/2nd | |
Rushing Yards/Attempt | 3.3 | 1st/1st | |
Passing Net Yards/Game | 156.9 | 1st/1st | |
Passing Net Yards/Play | 4.7 | 1st/1st | |
Sacks (Total) | 51 | 1st/2nd | |
First Downs/Game | 15.0 | 2nd/2nd | |
First Downs (Total) | 240 | 2nd/2nd | |
Third-Down Efficiency | 31.4 | 1st/1st | |
Points/Game | 13.9 | 1st/1st | |
Points/Game Differential | 7.8 | 3rd/5th | |
Net Yards/Game Differential | 74.7 | 1st/2nd | |
Red-Zone Efficiency | 33.3 | 1st/1st | |
First-Down Plays/Opponent | 3.93 | 1st/1st | |
Interceptions | 20 | T-3rd/T-6th | |
TOP NFL DEFENSIVE RANKINGS (Since 2000)
The Steelers and Ravens defenses finished 2008 ranked 1-2, respectively, in yards allowed
per game (Pittsburgh - 237.2 and Baltimore - 261.1).
Continuing to uphold their strong defensive traditions, Baltimore and Pittsburgh have produced 2 of the NFL’s top
defenses this decade. Here’s how they rank since 2000:
TOTAL DEFENSE (Fewest Yards Allowed)
|
1. Pittsburgh | 277.8 | |
2. Baltimore | 282.5 | |
3. Tampa Bay | 288.8 | |
POINTS PER GAME (Fewest Allowed)
|
1. Pittsburgh | 17.0 | |
2. Baltimore | 17.1 | |
3. Tampa Bay | 17.6 | |
RUSH YARDS PER GAME (Fewest Allowed)
|
1. Baltimore | 88.4 | |
2. Pittsburgh | 89.0 | |
3. San Diego | 100.7 | |
2008 STAT LEADERS Ravens - Steelers
|
| Baltimore Ravens | Pittsburgh Steelers | |
PASSING | Flacco:
257-428-2,971-14-12-80.3 | Roethlisberger:
281-469-3,301-17-15-80.1 | |
RUSHING | L. McClain: 232-902-3.9-10 | Parker: 210-791-3.8-5 | |
RECEIVING | D. Mason: 80-1,037-13.0-5 | Ward: 81-1,043-12.9-7 | |
OFFENSE | 324.0 | 311.9 | |
TAKE/GIVE | +13 (3rd NFL) | +4 | |
DEFENSE | 261.1 (2nd NFL) | 237.2 (1st NFL) | |
SACKS | Suggs: 8.0 | J. Harrison: 16.0 (2nd AFC) | |
INTs | Reed: 9 (1 NFL) | Polamalu: 7 (Tied 2nd NFL) | |
PUNT
RETURNS | Figurs: 6.0 | Holmes: 6.6 | |
KICK OFF RETURNS | Figurs: 21.0 | Russell: 23.2 | |
PUNTING | Koch: 45.0 | Berger: 41.3 | |
KICKING | Stover: 122 (41/41 PAT; 27/33 FG) | Reed: 117 (36/37 PAT; 27/31 FG) | |
Baltimore Ravens AFC Championship Game Notes
Ravens have won 11 of their past 13 Ravens have 5-1 (.833) road record in postseason In past 13 (including playoff win at Tennessee), Ravens average 147.0 rush yards per game (1,911 total rush
yards) With playoff win last weekend, rookie QB JOE FLACCO (1st round, No. 18) became 1st rookie QB to win 2 playoff games
in NFL history In past 13 (including last weeks playoff game), Flacco has completed 187 of 329 passes (56.8 pct.) for 2,423 yards
with 14 TDs vs. 5 INTs & 88.0 passer rating. Club has 7-1 (.875) record in past 8 on road & Flacco has 10 TDs vs. 2
INTs & 95.8 passer rating RB WILLIS MC GAHEE has 3 rush TDs in 4 career games vs. Steelers. Playing in his 1st postseason, McGahee has 94
rush yards on 19 att. (4.9 avg.), including long of 48 yards In past 4 (including last week's playoff game), FB LE’ RON MC CLAIN averages 74 rush yards per game (296 total) &
has for 4 TDs. McClain selected to 1st career Pro Bowl Since 2003, WR DERRICK MASON ranks 2nd in NFL with
549 regular season receptions (TORRY HOLT, 573). Last week, registered postseason long 48-yard TD. Mason posted 8
receptions for 137 yards (17.1 avg.) in last meeting at Steelers TE TODD HEAP registered career high 146
yards at Steelers. (12/22/09) Club led NFL with 26 INTs (2nd most in Ravens history) in 2008 regular season
& has 9 INTs in past 4 games Club aims for 11th consecutive game with INT in playoffs In 4 career
postseason games, S ED REED has 5 INTs. Reed tied career-high with 9 INTs in 2008 & has 4 in past 2 games. In past 8
games (including Divisional game), Reed has 10 INTs, 2 FRs & 3 TDs (2 INT-TDs; 1 FR-TD) Ravens have not allowed
RB to gain 100+ rush yards in 10 consecutive postseason games (3rd longest active streak) LB RAY LEWIS had 2
FF in only playoff meeting vs. Steelers CB SAMARI ROLLE registered 3rd career postseason INT last week Club had 5 players selected to Pro Bowl (Lewis, McClain, Reed, special teamer BRENDON AYANBADEJO & DE TERRELL
SUGGS).
Pittsburgh Steelers AFC Championship Game Notes
The Steelers have a 29-19 (.604) postseason record & is 17-9 (.654) at home in playoffs Including postseason, Steelers have won 7 of past 8 home games against Ravens Club
clinched AFC North title for 2nd consecutive season under head coach MIKE TOMLIN QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER has 6-2 (.750) postseason record & has completed 135 of 215 passes (62.8 pct.) for
1,728 yards with 13 TDs vs. 11 INTs & 86.7 passer rating. Including postseason, Roethlisberger has 30-10 (.750)
career record at home. Including playoffs, team is 29-2 (.935), when Roethlisberger has 100+ passer rating.
Roethlisberger has 5-3 (.625) record vs. Bal In past 2 postseason games, RB WILLIE PARKER totaled
239 rush yards (6.5 avg.), including 75-yard TD run (longest run from scrimmage in SB history). Last week,
Parker registered 3rd highest postseason rushing total in franchise history with 146 yards & had 2 rushing TDs.
Club has 5-0 record with Parker in postseason With 70 yards last week, WR HINES WARD ranks 1st among
active players with 966 postseason receiving yards & needs 34 yards to become only 8th player since 1970 to
record 1,000 career postseason receiving yards. In past 5 home playoff games, Ward has registered 4 100+
receiving yards (104, 105, 109, 135) and has 104.6 yards per game average. Ward (1,043) posted 5th season
with 1,000 receiving yards in 2008. In 6 career games vs. Ravens, WR SANTONIO HOLMES averages 18.7 yards per
catch (22 rec. for 411 yards) & 5 TDs In 6 playoff games, TE HEATH MILLER has 18 receptions for
229 yards (12.7 avg.) with 2 TDs Aims for 3rd consecutive playoff game with TD. Has 4 TDs
against Ravens (most vs. any opponent) Defense ranked 1st in NFL allowing 13.9 points per
game in 2008 Pro Bowl LB JAMES HARRISON set franchise record with 16 sacks LB LA
MARR WOODLEY has posted 4 sacks in 1st 2 postseason games & aims for 3rd consecutive postseason game with
2 sacks Pro Bowl S TROY POLAMALU totaled career-high 7 INTs in 2008.
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE – JANUARY 18
(All times Eastern)
Sunday, January 18
NFC: Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers, 3:00 PM (FOX)
AFC: Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers, 6:30 PM (CBS)
NFL DIVISIONAL ROUND RESULTS – JANUARY 10-11
(Home team in CAPS)
Saturday, January 10
Baltimore Ravens 13, TENNESSEE TITANS 10
Arizona Cardinals 33, CAROLINA PANTHERS 13
Sunday, January 11
Philadelphia Eagles 23, NEW YORK GIANTS 11
PITTSBURGH STEELERS 35, San Diego Chargers 24
NFL WILD CARD WEEKEND RESULTS – JANUARY 3-4
(Home team in CAPS)
Saturday, January 3
ARIZONA 30, Atlanta 24
SAN DIEGO 23, Indianapolis 17 (OT)
Sunday, January 4
Baltimore 27, MIAMI 9
Philadelphia 26, MINNESOTA 14
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