What a great divisional rivalry; Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. It'll be a week sixteen showdown, one with major playoff implications and potential division title game. That's what everyone was thinking when the schedule was released. Then, the whole Ravens' team got sent to IR and this game suddenly seems like it will be a blowout. Still, there's always that rivalry aspect, where anything can happen.

Great Passing Matchup

What a day it could be for Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and company. The Ravens' secondary is not good by any stretch of the imagination. When these two teams played earlier in the season, Big Ben was hurt, Martavis Bryant was suspended, and Markus Wheaton had no clue what he was doing on offense. Now, Roethlisberger is healthy, and all of his receivers are good to go, performing at a better level than ever. Pittsburgh will have a good chance to put up a lot of points in this game.

Establish A Run Game

Last week against the Denver Broncos, the Steelers' rushing attack was practically nonexistent. It didn't matter, because Brown went on to have the game of his life against arguably the best defense in the past few years. That isn't going to happen every week though, especially come playoff time. They will need to have some form of a run game in the postseason, and this will be a great game to get DeAngelo Williams a lot of carries, as the game shouldn't be close. Pittsburgh will need to do it in two weeks, so they better start preparing now.

Contain Aiken and Givens

There are two threats on the Ravens' offense, two that could give the Steelers' shaky-but-improving secondary some issues. Kamar Aiken and Chris Givens are both speedy weapons for Baltimore. No matter who the Ravens' starting quarterback is, these two are capable of taking the top off of a defense. If Pittsburgh can contain these two, that is definitely a step in the right direction of having a great defensive day. 

Playoff Update

With two weeks left, its simple for the Steelers. Win out and make the playoffs. They can still win the division, though they will need some help. The Cincinnati Bengals would have to lose to Denver (which is definitely possible) but they would also have to lose to Baltimore (which isn't likely). Still, with just this game and a week seventeen game with the Browns remaining, the Steelers are looking like locks at this point. 

Prediction

Steelers 31-Ravens 13

Roethlisberger will eclipse 300 yards again and throw for three touchdowns. Williams will carry the ball 25+ times, preparing him for the playoffs. Baltimore manages to find the end zone on a long ball, but the Steelers defense forces three turnovers. Whatever the score turns out to be, this should not and will not be a close game