This week is a little different for the Baltimore Ravens as they prepare to face their bitter rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Players won’t admit it, but it just means more when they face their biggest AFC North rival.
This week the matchup features a Steelers team that sits on top of the division with a 7-2 record, just above the Ravens at 7-3.
“If you want to win the division, you have to win division games, so that’s the deal,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said. “The Steelers have had a great season. They’ve done a great job against the people they’ve played against, and they’ve found ways to win [in] different kinds of ways.”
Harbaugh categorizes every game as a big one. The division will be on the line when the Ravens travel to Pittsburgh for this clash. It’ll be the first time former Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson was traded eight months ago. Johnson initially played for the Carolina Panthers before being moved again, this time to the Ravens.
“Man, I had a great career there. I loved it,” Johnson said Monday. “Great city, people great there. I know what they’re about. I can’t wait to get to Sunday to just be back in that stadium.”
“I’m ready to get back there just to see the good people that I made relationships with and stuff like that,” Johnson said. “But other than that, it’s a big moment for me.”
This go-around will also be different because it features running back Derrick Henry. Both Henry and quarterback Lamar Jackson are legitimate contenders for the MVP award.
Quarterback Russell Wilson is a newcomer for the Steelers. Wilson has the team on a four-game win streak. His deep passing ability is highlighted by big play receiver George Pickens and new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s playcalling.
Pittsburgh is also very stout on the defensive side of the ball, led by outside linebacker TJ Watt.
It will be a tough matchup for the Ravens. But they’re ready.
“It means a lot. We’ve been here before. We know the task at hand, so we just have to go do our job,” Johnson said.
“I just know that it means a lot to the organization, to the division, to the conference. We also know that it’s a rivalry – it means something to the fans. So, there’s a lot to play for, whether it’s the division, whether it’s for the fans or our community. So, there’s definitely a lot to play for [in] this game.”
