Dennis Dillon
The last time the Steelers and Ravens met, they were playing for the AFC championship. This time, they will be playing to survive in the AFC’s wild-card playoff race.
The defending Super Bowl champion Steelers are 6-4 and have lost two in a row; the Ravens are 5-5 and have dropped five of their last seven games and both teams trail the surprising Bengals in the AFC North.
“We know the road ahead of us,” Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason told The Baltimore Sun after last week’s 17-15 loss to the Colts. “We have to win every game from here on out. However you cut it, dice it. Anyone that thinks differently is lying to themselves.”
Here are five factors that will help determine the outcome of Sunday’s game:
1. Big Ben’s head
It appears as if the Steelers might be forced to play without either of their top two quarterbacks. Ben Roethlisberger had concussive-like symptoms after he was kicked in the head during last week’s game against Kansas City.
Although Roethlisberger was declared symptom free on Monday and practiced throughout the week, there’s a good chance he’ll be ruled out of the game. He reportedly had second thoughts about playing after he got post-practice headaches Wednesday and again Thursday. Second-year QB Dennis Dixon took most of the snaps Friday.
Backup Charlie Batch is out with a broken wrist, so the starting job likely will fall to Dixon — with Tyler Palko, signed earlier this week, as his backup. Dixon has played in only one NFL game and thrown just one pass, so the Steelers’ offense will have to be abridged significantly.
“No question that we would have to do some things to help him if he plays in this game and plays extensively,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.
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