AFC Championship: Ravens at Steelers Stats & Game Notes

2008 AFC Championship Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers January 18, 2009

Here goes Round 3, with the 1st 2 rounds going to the Steelers. Winner represents the AFC in the Super Bowl.

Pittsburgh stopped the Ravens twice this season: 23-20 in overtime in a Monday nighter on 9/29 at Heinz Field and 13-9 in Baltimore on 12/14.

The 1st Ravens - Steelers matchup featured the 1st road game of Joe Flacco's pro career and the 2nd is remembered for the overturning of a last minute, 4th-quarter play that was reversed and called the winning TD for the Steelers.

In the last 6 seasons, the Steelers have won the AFC North 3 times, including back-to-back under Mike Tomlin (2007 and 2008) and 2004, while the Ravens have won twice (2003 and 2006.)

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

Source: NFL
CategoryBaltimore RavensPittsburgh Steelers
2008 Record11-512-4
Season's Longest Streak4 Wins5 Wins
Points Scored385347
TDs Scored4238
Rushing TDs Scored2016
Passing TDs Scored1619
TDs on Returns63
Points Against244223
TDs Allowed2621
Rushing TDs Allowed47
Passing TDs Allowed1712
TDs Allowed by Return52
Turnover Ratio+13+4
Red Zone TD Pct. For47.1%55.1%
Red Zone TD Pct. Against35.9%33.3%
KOR Avg. For20.120.3
KOR Avg. Against22.619.1
PR Avg. For8.66.0
PR Avg. Against6.46.2

 

Pittsburgh Steelers 2008 AFC/NFL Rankings

Here's how dominate the Steelers defense was this year relative to the AFC and NFL.

Source: NFL
Team DefenseStatisticRank (AFC/NFL)
Total Yards/Game237.21st/1st
Yards/Play3.91st/1st
Rushing Yards/Game80.31st/2nd
Rushing Yards/Attempt3.31st/1st
Passing Net Yards/Game156.91st/1st
Passing Net Yards/Play4.71st/1st
Sacks (Total)511st/2nd
First Downs/Game15.02nd/2nd
First Downs (Total)2402nd/2nd
Third-Down Efficiency31.41st/1st
Points/Game13.91st/1st
Points/Game Differential7.83rd/5th
Net Yards/Game Differential74.71st/2nd
Red-Zone Efficiency33.31st/1st
First-Down Plays/Opponent3.931st/1st
Interceptions20T-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)

Source: NFL
1. Pittsburgh277.8
2. Baltimore282.5
3. Tampa Bay288.8

 

POINTS PER GAME (Fewest Allowed)

Source: NFL
1. Pittsburgh17.0
2. Baltimore17.1
3. Tampa Bay17.6

 

RUSH YARDS PER GAME (Fewest Allowed)

Source: NFL
1. Baltimore88.4
2. Pittsburgh89.0
3. San Diego100.7

 

2008 Stat Leaders Ravens - Steelers

Source: NFL
Baltimore RavensPittsburgh 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.

 

 

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