By Sean Salisbury
Special to ESPN.com
I can make a case for Ray Lewis and the Ravens' run defense against any running game, any team, any league, anywhere, anytime -- in my sleep.
First of all, Lewis is the nastiest, fiercest, best-tackling middle linebacker that the NFL has seen in many years. I know Brian Urlacher and Zach Thomas are outstanding middle linebackers, but Lewis stands alone when it comes to being the Ravens' emotional leader and a tackling machine.
If the Steelers' offensive line cannot contain Lewis, he will make every tackle. The problem stopping Lewis is that the Ravens are disciplined up front. They are stout inside with Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa and quick outside with Peter Boulware and Rob Burnett. Their philosophy is to stop the run first and then turn on the pass rush.
Although the Steelers may have the best offensive line in football and Bettis is as powerful and good as any back in the league, I don't think they will be able to run on the Ravens. No matter what, the Steelers will try to run because they are committed to the ground game, but they will need to throw the ball to win.
Lewis and the Ravens have only given up one 100-yard rusher in 53 games. If the Steelers win the game, it won't be because they rushed for 160 yards. Lewis won't let that happen.
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By Merril Hoge
Special to ESPN.com
The Steelers will have success running the ball against the Ravens, but it may not be just Jerome Bettis. Pittsburgh is not just Bettis' team, something the Steelers were able to prove while he was injured.
In Bettis' absence, Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala kept the Steelers' league-best running game rolling. In the five games Bettis missed, the Steelers averaged 160.2 yards rushing a game and 4.3 yards per carry, including a 158-yard rushing effort against Baltimore in Week 14. Their offensive line -- tackles Wayne Gandy and Marvel Smith, guards Alan Faneca and Rich Tylski and center Jeff Hartings -- is terrific, perhaps the best in football.
The Steelers have several players they can count on in the running game. In addition to Bettis and Fuamatu-Ma'afala, they will run the ball well with Kordell Stewart, who is much like Donovan McNabb as a threat, both running and throwing.
I only see Bettis getting around 10 carries and Fuamatu-Ma'afala getting about 15. The Steelers need one of their backs to get into a rhythm against the Ravens, and that could be a problem if one of the backs doesn't get the bulk of the work. The Ravens have taken their defense to another level. Even at their worst this season, their defense have been one of the best.
It will be important for the Steelers to find one back to rely on. While Bettis is their No. 1 running back, he is not their best runner right now because he has been out for two months. Their best option is Fuamatu-Ma'afala because he has the rhythm and timing down with the offensive line.
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