NFL Preview - Baltimore (2-4) at Pittsburgh (4-2)

(Sports Network) - Last Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers showed one member of the AFC North who the king of the division truly was. On Monday night, Bill Cowher and company will look to reinforce that message within the friendly confines of Heinz Field.

Division rival Baltimore will make its way to the Steel City on Monday, and Pittsburgh, a 27-13 winner in Cincinnati in Week 7, will look to end a rare two-game home losing streak when they face the struggling Ravens. The Steelers have lost consecutive games at Heinz Field for the first time since 2003, dropping back-to-back tilts against New England (23-20) and Jacksonville (23-17 in overtime). Last Sunday's win over Cincinnati made Cowher's club 3-0 on the road in 2005, including a Monday night triumph over San Diego in Week 5.

The Ravens, meanwhile, will be seeking to halt their road losing streak at six games dating back to last season. That task will be extra difficult as Baltimore will be without its top two defensive stars, linebacker Ray Lewis (hamstring) and strong safety Ed Reed (high ankle sprain). Baltimore comes off a 10-6 loss in Chicago last Sunday.

SERIES HISTORY
The Steelers hold a 12-6 edge in the all-time regular season series with the Ravens, and were 20-7 home winners when the teams last met, in Week 16 of last season. Baltimore dealt Pittsburgh its only regular season loss of 2004, a 30-13 setback in Charm City in Week 2. The Ravens have lost in their last three regular season trips to Pittsburgh, with their most recent win at Heinz Field coming by a 13-10 margin in 2001. Baltimore is 3-6 on the road against the Steelers all-time, excluding playoffs.

Pittsburgh won the only postseason meeting between the teams, a 27-10 triumph in a 2001 AFC Divisional Playoff at home.

Cowher is 13-6 against Baltimore all-time (including postseason), while the Ravens' Brian Billick is 5-8 overall against both Cowher and Pittsburgh.


No. 1 wideout Derrick Mason (37 receptions, 1 TD) was limited to two grabs for 38 yards, and fellow wideout Randy Hymes (6 receptions) had two catches for 25 yards. Rookie Mark Clayton (12 receptions), who missed last week with an ankle injury, is questionable for Monday night. A porous Raven line has allowed 15 sacks thus far in 2005, including four against the Bears. Baltimore was 20th in the league in passing offense (199.7 yards per game) heading into Week 8.

The Pittsburgh secondary did a fine job against Bengals QB Carson Palmer last Sunday, intercepting Palmer twice and holding him to a sub-100 passer rating for the first time in 10 contests. Safety Chris Hope (39 tackles, 2 INT) had an interception to go along with six solo tackles in the win, and end Aaron Smith (12 tackles, 1 sack) posted a rare interception on the day. Cornerbacks Deshea Townsend (17 tackles, 1 sack) and Ike Taylor (42 tackles) will likely be responsible for slowing Mason and the receiving corps on Monday, with Hope and fellow safety Troy Polamalu (33 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT) lending support.

The Steelers had a pair of sacks against Palmer last week, with ends Travis Kirschke and Kimo von Oelhoffen both breaking through for their first of the year. Pittsburgh has 20 sacks through its first six games, and outside linebacker Joey Porter (20 tackles) is the team leader with four. Cowher's team is 18th in NFL passing defense (206.2 yards per game).

Former All-Pro running back Jamal Lewis (326 rushing yards, 11 receptions, 2 TD) has yet to get untracked in 2005, and admitted to reporters earlier this week that his contract situation and ankle problems have affected his performance on the field. Lewis, who is averaging just 2.9 yards per rush, carried 15 times for 34 yards against Chicago. Lewis' lack of production and questionable effort could lead to more touches for backup Chester Taylor (223 rushing yards, 16 receptions), who is averaging 6.0 yards per carry and had two rushes for 21 yards last Sunday.

Complicating matters for the running backs is a calf injury that will sideline fullback Alan Ricard, while backup fullback Ovie Mughelli is questionable with an ankle injury. Rookie Justin Green, who had one catch against the Bears, could be pressed into service as a blocker for Lewis and Taylor. Baltimore was 20th in NFL rushing offense (96.8 yards per game) as Week 8 began.
Seeking to continue Lewis' misery will be a Steeler defense that ranked sixth in NFL rushing defense (90 yards per game) as Week 8 began. Pittsburgh limited the Bengal rushing game to just 91 yards a week ago, including 65 yards on 12 carries for Rudi Johnson. Inside linebackers James Farrior (53 tackles, 1 sack) and Larry Foote (36 tackles) combined for 11 tackles in the win. Up front, nose tackle and No. 1 Pittsburgh run-stuffer Casey Hampton (18 tackles) had three stops against Cincinnati.

RAVENS OFFENSE VS. STEELERS DEFENSE Ravens quarterback Anthony Wright (1177 passing yards, 5 TD, 7 INT) will make his sixth start in place of the injured Kyle Boller this week, though Boller (hyperextended toe) could serve as the team's No. 2 quarterback for the first time since being injured in Week 1. Wright carries a 73.2 passer rating with him into Week 8, and comes off an 18-of-32 for 164-yard aerial performance against Chicago. Wright did not throw a touchdown pass or an interception in the loss. Tight end Todd Heap (28 receptions, 2 TD) was Wright's favorite target against the Bears, catching seven passes for 71 yards in the loss.

STEELERS OFFENSE VS. RAVENS DEFENSE
The Pittsburgh running game put together a performance for the ages last Sunday, when it churned up 221 ground yards against the Bengals. Willie Parker (539 yards, 3 TD) was at the forefront of that effort, piling up 131 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, while veteran Jerome Bettis (114 rushing yards, 1 TD) spelled Parker with 56 carries on 13 totes. Third running back Verron Haynes (98 rushing yards, 1 TD) got in on the action with 11 carries for 35 yards. Veteran Duce Staley, who has appeared in just one game this season and does not have a touch in 2005, is likely to be inactive on Monday. The Steelers ranked seventh in the league in rushing offense (136.3 yards per game) heading into Week 8.

Stopping the Steeler running attack will be a major chore for a Baltimore defense that will be without middle linebacker and future Hall-of-Famer Ray Lewis (46 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT), who will be out with a hamstring injury. Outside linebacker Tommy Polley (17 tackles, 2 sacks) will shift to Lewis' spot, and special teams ace Bart Scott (11 tackles) will be the new starter on the outside. Baltimore will need a major run-stopping effort from its defensive line, with tackles Kelly Gregg (20 tackles, 0.5 sacks) and Maake Kemoeatu (10 tackles) at the forefront of that mission. The Ravens allowed Chicago's Thomas Jones to amass 139 ground yards on 25 carries last Sunday, and now rank ninth in the league against the run (98.8 yards per game).

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (1006 passing yards, 9 TD, 1 INT) gave the Steelers his usual spark last Sunday, when he returned from a one-game absence due to a hyperextended knee and completed an efficient 9-of-14 passes for 93 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Roethlisberger's scoring strikes went to wideout Hines Ward (21 receptions, 5 TD) and tight end Heath Miller (16 receptions, 4 TD), who were the only two Steelers to catch passes in the win. Miller had six grabs for 58 yards against the Bengals, and Ward posted the other three receptions for 35 yards. Roethlisberger will look to get No. 2 wideout Antwaan Randle El (13 receptions, 1 TD) more heavily involved this week. The Steelers rank just 24th in the league in passing offense (182.7 yards per game), but Roethlisberger has a league-best 120.7 passer rating.

Even the Ravens' top-ranked NFL passing defense (152.8 yards per game) could have trouble on Monday night, as Pro Bowl strong safety Ed Reed (19 tackles) will be on the shelf with an ankle injury. Chad Williams (11 tackles) will take Reed's spot in the lineup. Cornerbacks Chris McAlister (19 tackles, 1 INT) and Samari Rolle (9 tackles) will contend with Ward and Randle El. The Baltimore pass rush has just 13 sacks on the year, including two recorded against Chicago last Sunday. Outside linebacker Adalius Thomas (29 tackles) had one of the sacks last week, boosting his team-leading total to three on the year. The team's best 2004 pass rusher, Terrell Suggs (31 tackles, 1.5 sacks) has made more headlines with untimely penalties than with strong play thus far in '05.

OVERALL ANALYSIS
The Ravens weren't a very good team with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed in the lineup earlier this year, and they'll be far less of one without them. The Steelers will simply dominate both lines of scrimmage in this contest, the inept Baltimore offense will get nothing going against the playmaking Steelers defense, and Monday Night viewers should be able to turn in around halftime knowing that this one is safely in the bag for the home team.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Steelers 25, Ravens 6