Ravens' and Steelers’ comments should have fans ready for a 'bloodbath'
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens rivalry remains one of the best in sports. When you see that game coming up in the schedule, you not only think about how it's a guaranteed close, competitive game but you also realize that's a physical, old-school, smash-mouth football kind of match-up. It's big-boy football. At least, that's […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens rivalry remains one of the best in sports. When you see that game coming up in the schedule, you not only think about how it's a guaranteed close, competitive game but you also realize that's a physical, old-school, smash-mouth football kind of match-up.
It's big-boy football. At least, that's one way of putting it. But Steelers linebacker Myles Jack describes AFC North football even better.
"It is real," Jack told 93.7 The Fan earlier this week. "I thought it was like hype or hoopla or just like a marketing scheme. No. AFC North is a bloodbath.”
December makes it all the more dramatic. Ravens-Steelers is one thing. But Ravens-Steelers in the cold? There's nothing like it in this league.
Clearly, fans care a lot about this rivalry. But this week, players from both teams have made a fantastic job taking us behind the scenes of the eternal tug-of-war to let us know how much it really means to them even as professionals.
How about Ravens' star linebacker Patrick Queen? Already in his third season in the NFL, Queen says he doesn't even consider himself a Raven because of what the Steelers have done to him. He's 0-4 against Mike Tomlin's team.
"I think that is the true mantra around here," said Queen. "Until you beat the Steelers, you're not a Raven."
What makes the game even more special is how unique it is. In an NFL filled with gunslingers and pass-happy offenses, Ravens-Steelers games have a different identity.
So much so that Ravens' OLB Tyus Bowser actually outlined what the path to victory looks like in a game like this:
"I forgot who it was, but one of the sayings was, ‘If you can run the ball and your defense can stop the run, you have a high chance of winning the game.’ So, I feel like that’s just how it’s going to be this upcoming Sunday; it’s just a straight slugfest on who can control the run game and who can go out there and stop them.”
Ravens safety Chuck Clark isn't new to the rivalry with this being his sixth year in the league.
He understands very well that facing the Steelers isn't about coming up with a gameplan for one weekend. The rivalry is so deep that it trickles down to each team's roster-building philosophy.
"So, [we] play each other twice a year, and then I feel like both teams go out and get tough players, gritty players," explained Clark. "When those two teams clash on the field, that’s what the result is; you see a tough, hard-fought game all the time."
Former Steelers LB Ryan Shazier perfectly summed up the rivalry on the Up & Adams Show earlier this week.
"There's a level of respect but there's also a level of disrespect," said Shazier. "It really reminds me of Ohio State-Michigan."
As the much-anticipated game between the Ravens and Steelers inches closer and closer, fans from both fan bases and around the NFL are getting ready for a 'bloodbath.'
Featured image via Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY
