Steelers

PASSING GAME: Quarterback Joe Flacco couldn't get much done against the Pittsburgh Steelers two weeks ago as he completed 20 of 32 passes for 164 yards and no touchdowns. Pittsburgh cornerback Ike Taylor held Torrey Smith, the Ravens' top downfield threat, to one 7-yard catch, even though Smith was targeted seven times. The Ravens passing attack is ranked 11th in the NFL, but only one team (the Dallas Cowboys) has held Flacco under 300 passing yards at M&T Bank Stadium this season.

Live Ravens chat with The Baltimore Sun's Jeff Zrebiec

When two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger dislocated some ribs and sprained his right throwing shoulder in the Pittsburgh Steelers' 16-13 overtime win against the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 12, the offense was forced to turn to a pair of venerable veterans in Byron Leftwich and then Charlie Batch. Another option could have been Dennis Dixon, a fifth-round pick by the Steelers in 2008 who spent four seasons with the team. Pittsburgh could have signed Dixon from the Ravens' practice squad, but no such overture was extended.

Earlier in the week, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's chances of playing Sunday's game against the Ravens were gauged at less than 50 percent. The Steelers' odds of qualifying for the postseason may not be much better. At 6-5, Pittsburgh is mired in a two-game losing skid, trailing the AFC North-leading Ravens by three games. And now the Steelers will have to meet the Ravens on Sunday without their two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback, who was ruled out. But there's no pity party going on with the Steelers.

I don't see how the Pittsburgh Steelers can beat the Ravens without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. In fact, I think one of head coach Mike Tomlin's biggest mistakes in the last couple of seasons has been holding on to Charlie Batch and Byron Leftwich as backup quarterbacks. Basically, because of his style of play, you can assume Roethlisberger will miss a couple of games every season because of injuries. So, instead of having two ancient statues as backups, why not have a more mobile quarterback?

Kevin Cowherd Ravens 20, Steelers 17 Ray Rice says to throw out the records when these teams play. Fine. But the Ravens are on a roll and the Steelers look like they're rolling off a cliff. If Pittsburgh plays without Ben Roethlisberger, it's toast. Edward Lee Ravens 17, Steelers 13 The Steelers won't be an easy out despite the injuries that have wreaked havoc on both sides of the ball. But the Ravens are just too strong at home and should be able to squeak out a close one. Mike Preston Ravens 14, Steelers 6 The Ravens are on a roll and the Steelers are on the decline.

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?

The Pittsburgh Steelers' decision to list wide receiver Mike Wallace as a co-starter with Emmanuel Sanders on the team's updated depth chart didn't draw much of a reaction from Wallace. “I don't really have anything to say about it,” he said during a conference call with Baltimore media Wednesday. “It is what it is.” But the move could benefit the Ravens, who would be thrilled not to have to worry about the 6-foot, 199-pound speedster this Sunday. Playing Sanders over Wallace would seem to rob Pittsburgh of its best deep threat.

As if the Ravens offense didn't have enough to worry about in Sunday's showdown against the NFL's top-ranked defense, the Pittsburgh Steelers might just welcome back a seven-time Pro Bowler to the fold. Strong safety Troy Polamalu fully participated in Wednesday's practice, his first since straining his right calf during a 16-14 win against the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 7. It would appear that the league's Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 is moving forward towards returning for Sunday's contest at M&T Bank Stadium.

Steelers @ Ravens preview chat with the PG's Jerry Micco & Ron Fritz of the Baltimore Sun