Steelers

1. Protect Joe Flacco. The Ravens have to attack the NFL's 22nd-ranked pass defense in order to win. But they can't stick to that game plan if Flacco is taking a beating. 2. Play disciplined. The Steelers have been hurting themselves by committing 24 penalties the past two weeks. If the Ravens don't make the same mistakes, that's a huge advantage. 3. Don't let Pittsburgh receiver Mike Wallace get behind the defense. It always seems as if the Ravens' games with the Steelers come down to one big play.

Pittsburgh will prevail Kevin Van Valkenburg Baltimore Sun Are you ready to live in a world where the Steelers have seven Super Bowl trophies? Where Ben Roethlisberger is considered Tom Brady's equal? Because that's where we'll be Sunday night. I'm not sure I'm ready. But I'd better get ready, because I'm convinced it's going to happen. This Steelers seem to be the perfect blend of style and grit. Their quarterback, whatever personal misgivings I may have about him, is a winner on the field.

1 Santonio Holmes hurts Ravens again. The Pittsburgh wide receiver has scored a touchdown in five straight games against the Ravens, reaching the end zone a total of six times. Holmes has put a dent in the Ravens' secondary with touchdowns of 38, 59 and 65 yards. 2 Joe Flacco continues to struggle against Steelers. In his past two meetings with Pittsburgh, Flacco completed 41 percent of his passes and threw five interceptions. He hasn't thrown a touchdown in three straight games, the longest drought of his career.

Each morning, Monday through Friday, I'll hook you up with reading material to skim through as you slug down coffee and slack off at the start of your workday -- that way I'll have an excuse to do the same at the start of mine. Running it back: As a second Steelers game nears, the season-opening win is a distant memory for the Ravens . ... John Harbaugh defended the Ravens offensive line on Monday. ... The Ravens coach doesn't understand the taunting penalties called Sunday . ... Steelers linebacker James Harrison says he won't play against the Ravens . ... The Orioles interviewed Tony LaCava for a second time . ... Navy football should get needed reinforcements for Senior Day . ... CC Sabathia is staying with the Yankees . ... The Nationals are keeping Davey Johnson as manager . ... OMG!

Mini-suspension likely Sam Farmer Los Angeles Times On the where-there's-smoke-there's-fire scale, Big Ben is smokier than a teachers' lounge. He hasn't been convicted of anything, true, but that's not the standard by which the NFL suspends its employees. Under the league's personal conduct policy, discipline may be imposed in lots of different circumstances, including with conduct that "undermines or puts at risk the integrity and reputation of the NFL, NFL clubs or NFL players."

As if the rivalry between Baltimore and Pittsburgh needed to be ratcheted up a few notches, the NFL is ratcheting away -- months before football season even starts. The football league has just released an intense, movie-style trailer for the November rematch between the Steelers and the Ravens as if the game is the season's cinematic blockbuster. Like any trailer worth its salt, the short film starts with the rating: "The following preview has been approved for all football fans by the national football league," is how it begins.

New England 39, Pittsburgh 26 PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Tom Brady maintained his mastery of the Steelers, throwing three touchdown passes to tight end Rob Gronkowski and scoring once himself, and the Patriots bounced back from an embarrassing 20-point loss by beating the Steelers 39-26 on Sunday night. No NFL team wins more on its home field than Pittsburgh, but no opposing player wins there like Brady, who has won six of seven overall against the Steelers and four of five at Heinz Field.

Kevin Cowherd Steelers 24,: Ravens 17: The Steelers are salivating at the opportunity to damage the Ravens' playoff chances. Jamison Hensley Steelers 20,: Ravens 16: The way to beat the Steelers' defense is to spread it out. The Ravens aren't healthy enough at wide receiver to do that. Edward Lee Steelers 27,: Ravens 17: The Ravens are 1-8 in their past nine games in Pittsburgh. That record and Ben Roethlisberger are not a good match.