Pittsburgh Steelers

In 2005, the Steelers had dropped three consecutive games, causing some to question whether Pittsburgh was deserving of a playoff berth. The Steelers won their last four contests in the regular season and eventually the Super Bowl. Inside linebacker Larry Foote is using that memory as inspiration after Pittsburgh snapped a two-game skid with a 23-20 win against the Ravens and kept its postseason hopes alive. “The older guys, we keep telling the younger guys about this,” Foote said after the Steelers improved to 7-5 and cut the Ravens' four-game lead in the AFC North by half.

2013 preseason Game 1: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Aug. 8, 7:30 p.m. Game 2: vs. Atlanta Falcons -- Aug. 15, 7:30 p.m. Game 3: vs. Carolina Panthers -- Aug. 22, 8 p.m. -- ESPN Game 4: at St. Louis Rams -- Aug. 29, 8 p.m. 2013 regular season Week 1: at Denver Broncos -- Sept. 5, 8:30 p.m. -- NBC Week 2: vs. Cleveland Browns -- Sept. 15, 1 p.m. -- CBS Week 3: vs. Houston Texans -- Sept. 22, 1 p.m. -- CBS Week 4: at Buffalo Bills -- Sept.

It's been almost 48 hours since the Pittsburgh Steelers ruled out Ben Roethlisberger for Sunday night's AFC North showdown, but the quarterback is still on the minds of several Ravens defensive players. Answering a question about the challenge of defending Steelers wide receivers Mike Wallace and Emmanuel Sanders, cornerback Corey Graham referred to Roethlisberger, not his replacement Byron Leftwich. “We were looking at the film and all of those guys are good,” Graham said Thursday.

It wasn't easy for Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau to watch the Ravens win the Super Bowl two weeks ago. He told The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Tuesday that “it hurts to see the Ravens win anything.” And that is especially true because he feels the Steelers could have been the ones playing in the Super Bowl. “Do I feel we could have done the same thing they did? I do. I do,” LeBeau said. “It didn't break that way.” The longtime defensive coordinator and zone blitz guru pointed to injuries while bemoaning a lost 2012 season in Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger was listed as limited in Wednesday's practice, which was interpreted as a boost in the arm for the Steelers who have dropped two straight games without their franchise quarterback. But a report in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review described Roethlisberger's workout as very brief, his light throwing ending even before some of his teammates reached the practice field. Does this mean that Pittsburgh will err on the side of caution and shelve Roethlisberger for at least another week to give his dislocated ribs and sprained right throwing shoulder more time to heal?

Opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers When: Sunday, 1 p.m. Site: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh TV/Radio: Ch. 13/WJFK (1300 AM), WLIF (101.9 FM) Line: Steelers by 1 1/2

With all the AFC division winners being decided, the Ravens' opponents for the 2013-14 campaign are now set. The dates and times of the games will be determined at a later date. Home : Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings. Road : Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions.  Also, a reminder that the Pro Bowl teams will be announced live at 7 p.m. tonight on NFL Network.

2013 preseason Game 1: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Aug. 8, 7:30 p.m. Game 2: vs. Atlanta Falcons -- Aug. 15, 7:30 p.m. Game 3: vs. Carolina Panthers -- Aug. 22, 8 p.m. -- ESPN Game 4: at St. Louis Rams -- Aug. 29, 8 p.m. 2013 regular season Week 1: at Denver Broncos -- Sept. 5, 8:30 p.m. -- NBC Week 2: vs. Cleveland Browns -- Sept. 15, 1 p.m. -- CBS Week 3: vs. Houston Texans -- Sept. 22, 1 p.m. -- CBS Week 4: at Buffalo Bills -- Sept.

It wasn't easy for Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau to watch the Ravens win the Super Bowl two weeks ago. He told The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Tuesday that “it hurts to see the Ravens win anything.” And that is especially true because he feels the Steelers could have been the ones playing in the Super Bowl. “Do I feel we could have done the same thing they did? I do. I do,” LeBeau said. “It didn't break that way.” The longtime defensive coordinator and zone blitz guru pointed to injuries while bemoaning a lost 2012 season in Pittsburgh.

1 Force turnovers. The Ravens' defense has started taking the ball away again, delivering five turnovers the past two weeks. The Steelers have 19 give-aways (10 interceptions and nine fumbles), which is the 11th most in the NFL. 2 Hit Ben Roethlisberger. The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback suffered concussion-like symptoms Sunday and had to leave the game. The Ravens need to take advantage of a less-than-healthy Roethlisberger and an offensive line that has allowed 30 sacks (third most in the NFL)

As a lifelong fan of football, history and the Pittsburgh Steelers, I was compelled to root against the New England Patriots Monday because their owner and coach once received just a slap on the wrist for their lack of integrity. I remember the AFC Championship in 2005, when it seemed as if their coach seemed to know in advance every defensive play the Steelers called - and how his cheating was later proved. It reminded me of how, once upon a time, true sports commissioners such Bart Giamatti and Judge Landis took proper steps to protect the integrity of their games, and I found myself hoping the Ravens would do what Commissioner Roger Goodell had not - that is punish the cheaters.

No one would confuse Andrew Luck with the Washington Redskins' Robert Griffin III, the Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton or the Seattle Seahawks' Russell Wilson - three quarterbacks who finished the regular season at the top of the NFL at their position in rushing. But that doesn't mean that the Indianapolis Colts rookie can't take off when he wants to or has to. Luck ranks second in the AFC and eighth in the league in rushing, compiling 255 yards. His five rushing touchdowns put him in a third-place tie with the San Francisco 49ers' Colin Kaepernick behind Newton (eight)

With all the AFC division winners being decided, the Ravens' opponents for the 2013-14 campaign are now set. The dates and times of the games will be determined at a later date. Home : Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings. Road : Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions.  Also, a reminder that the Pro Bowl teams will be announced live at 7 p.m. tonight on NFL Network.

Coach John Harbaugh and several players quickly offered the reminder after Sunday's embarrassing 34-17 loss to the Denver Broncos that the Ravens still have everything that they wanted to accomplish this season right in front of them. Then, several hours later, the Ravens finally put one goal behind them, courtesy of their biggest rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers. With the Steelers' 27-24 overtime loss to Dallas, the Ravens clinched a playoff berth despite being in the midst of a three-game losing streak.

Head coach John Harbaugh and several players quickly offered the reminder after today's embarrassing 34-17 loss to the Denver Broncos that the Ravens still have everything that they wanted to accomplish this season right in front of them. Then, several hours later, the Ravens finally put one goal behind them, courtesy of their biggest rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers. With the Steelers' 27-24 overtime loss to Dallas, the Ravens clinched a playoff berth despite being in the midst of a three-game losing streak.

In the first meeting between the Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens escaped with a 13-10 win on the strength of a 63-yard punt return for a touchdown by Jacoby Jones in the first quarter. Keeping Jones' prowess on returns - he leads the NFL in kick return touchdowns with three this season - in mind, the Steelers did their best to limit Jones' opportunities in their 23-20 win against the Ravens Sunday. Jones returned three kicks for a total of 74 yards, but he didn't get past the Ravens' 26-yard line.

Baltimore Sun staffers analyze the Ravens ' 55-20 win over the Oakland Raiders. Jeff Zrebiec, reporter: I'm not sure the fake field goal was necessary, but the Ravens did exactly what they should have done -- and needed to do -- against an overmatched opponent. The offense got its swagger back and several players who have been quiet recently, like Dennis Pitta, Ed Dickson and Jacoby Jones, made their presence felt. The defense caused some turnovers and was generally solid.

Update 9:48 p.m.: With the Jets picking North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples, it creates more of an opportunity for the Ravens to land either Alabama linebackers Courtney Upshaw or Dont'a Hightower. The Ravens also like South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram, who had 10 sacks in 2011. Ingram could also play outside linebacker.    Update 9:28 p.m.: Like most teams and fans around the NFL, the Ravens couldn't predict the amount of trades in the top 10 picks, but they at least have been able to match up the teams with the players they chose.

In 2005, the Steelers had dropped three consecutive games, causing some to question whether Pittsburgh was deserving of a playoff berth. The Steelers won their last four contests in the regular season and eventually the Super Bowl. Inside linebacker Larry Foote is using that memory as inspiration after Pittsburgh snapped a two-game skid with a 23-20 win against the Ravens and kept its postseason hopes alive. “The older guys, we keep telling the younger guys about this,” Foote said after the Steelers improved to 7-5 and cut the Ravens' four-game lead in the AFC North by half.

As Charlie Batch stood at a podium in a sweat-soaked black T-shirt Sunday night, he took in the scene after quarterbacking the Pittsburgh Steelers past the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. The third-string quarterback, who will celebrate his 38th birthday Wednesday, might not be needed to make another start in his NFL career. But if that is the case, he will have fond memories of his final start. Filling in for Steelers quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Byron Leftwich, who are out with injuries but are expected to return as early as next weekend, Batch completed 25 of 36 passes for 276 yards, one touchdown and one interception as the Steelers rallied from 10 points down to beat the Ravens, 23-20.