Rashard Mendenhall has had a rough go of it lately for the Pittsburgh Steelers.  He did rush for 2 TDs last week but he didn’t play well as he carried the ball 20 times for 46 yards (2.3 ypc).  He also caught 1 pass for 13 yards against the Ravens.  But, just five weeks ago, Mendenhall rushed for 99 yards on 17 carries (5.8 ypc) with a TD run against the Jets.  The Steelers are going to need another solid game out of Mendehall if they are going to get to the Super Bowl.  Another poor effort like he had last weekend will put too much pressure on Ben Roethlisberger’s right arm

The Pittsburgh Steelers made a choice that smoking pot was worse than raping women.  That is why they dealt 26-year old WR Santonio Holmes to the Jets for a paltry 5th round pick.  He is coming back to Heinz Field with a chip on his shoulder and he’s ready to make them pay.  He only caught 6 passes for 40 yards (6.7 avg) against the Steelers five weeks ago at Heinz Field.  This is going to be personal for Santonio Holmes tomorrow.  Holmes played in 60 games in his four years with the Steelers in which he caught 235 passes for 3,835 yards (16.4 avg) with 20 TD grabs.  The Steelers’ corners better be ready tomorrow as I’m sure that Holmes will be.

The Pittsburgh Steelers won this game with defense!  LB Lawrence Timmons (9 tackles) and James Harrison (7 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, 3 sacks, 2 passes defensed and 2 QB hits) led the way for the Steelers’ D in this game.  Safety Ryan Clark also had a big game with 5 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 2 passes defensed and 1 interception.  OLB LaMarr Woodley (fumble recovery) and DE Brett Keisel (fumble recovery) also had big plays in this game for the Steelers.  The Ravens finished up with 35 yards rushing on 18 carries (1.9 ypc) and they also completed 16 of 30 passes for 91 yards!

Ben Roethlisberger was getting beat up this whole game as he was sacked 6 times and hit many more.  But, to his credit he kept getting up and making tough throws.  He completed 19 of 32 passes for 226 yards with 2 TD passes and 0 INTs in this game.  Rashard Mendenhall had to earn every yard he got as he rushed for only 46 yards on 20 carries (2.3 ypc) but he did have 2 TD runs.  Mewelde Moore pitched in with 12 yards rushing on 2 carries (6.0 ypc) in this game.  Rookie WR Antonio Brown led the way for the Steelers in the passing game with 3 receptions for 75 yards (25.0 avg) including a acrobatic catch late in the 4th quarter that set up the game winning TD.  WR Emmanuel Sanders (4 rec, 54 yards), TE Heath Miller (5 rec, 39 yards, TD) and WR Hines Ward (3 rec, 25 yards, TD) also had decent games for the Steelers yesterday.  The Steelers finished up with 71 yards rushing on 31 carries (2.3 ypc) and they also completed 19 of 32 passes for 192 yards as they had possession of the football for 34:28. 

The Steelers will play in the AFC Championship Game next weekend either at home against the New York Jets or more than likely at Foxboro against the New England Patriots.

Forget all of the other playoff games as this is going to be Armageddon at Heinz Field tomorrow afternoon.  These two teams absolutely hate each other and the game is going to be brutal.  The Ravens won on October 3rd at Heinz Field 17-14 but that was without Roethlisberger.  The Ravens broke Roethlisberger’s nose on the first play of the second matchup of these teams in Baltimore which was won by the Steelers 13-10 in Baltimore.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Steelers have the ball:  The Steelers would like to be balanced tomorrow but I just can’t see them mounting much of a running game against the Ravens’ front seven.  Rashard Mendenhall rushed for 124 yards in two games against the Ravens this year but he only averaged 2.8 yards per carry.  OTs Flozell Adams and Jonathan Scott better be able to keep OLBs Jarret Johnson & Terrell Suggs out of the backfield or Ben Roethlisberger could be in for a very long day.  If Roethlisberger has time to throw the ball the Ravens don’t have anyone that can keep up with Mike Wallace but Roethlisberger will have to be careful because Ed Reed is just as good of a safety as Troy Polamalu is.  Hines Ward and Heath Miller are likely to be keys to the Steelers’ passing game because I just don’t see Roethlisberger having a lot of time to throw the ball tomorrow.

When the Ravens have the ball:  The Steelers hope their front seven will be able to handle stopping Ray Rice and Willis McGahee without help from the secondary.  The Steelers are going to want to get after Joe Flacco, because if he has time to throw the ball he’s likely going to make some nice throws down the field.  OLBs James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley need to win their battles with OTs Marshal Yanda and Michael Oher or the Steelers are going to be in some trouble.  That’s because Joe Flacco has a very deep and talented receiving corps in Anquan Boldin, Derrick Mason, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Todd Heap.

PREDICTION:  RAVENS 20, STEELERS 16

This was an amazing game as the Steelers rallied from 28-10 down at the start of the 4th quarter to take a 29-28 lead late in the game.  But, the defense flat out choked when they needed to make a play.  On a 4th and 2 in Steelers territory…..David Garrard scampered for a first down which set up Josh Scobee to make the game winning field goal with 37 seconds left. 

Ben Roethlisberger played awful for most of this football game despite the numbers he racked up.  He completed 29 of 42 passes for 337 yards with 2 TD passes and 3 interceptions (one returned 63 yards for a TD by Rashean Mathis).  He also lost a fumble on the Steelers last play of the game to seal the loss!  The Steelers really missed Willie Parker in this game as Najeh Davenport didn’t do much as he carried the ball 16 times for 25 yards (1.6 ypc) with 2 TD runs and he also caught 2 passes for 23 yards (11.5 avg).  Hines Ward (10 rec, 135 yards), Heath Miller (8 rec, 85 yards, TD) and Santonio Holmes (3 rec, 49 yards, TD) all had solid games for the Steelers.  The Steelers finished up with 43 yards rushing on 26 carries (1.7 ypc) and they also completed 29 of 42 passes for 297 yards.

The Steelers defense didn’t play that bad yesterday until the Jags last drive of the game.  James Harrison (10 tackles, 1.5 sacks), James Farrior (9 tackles, 1/2 sack, interception) and Ike Taylor (3 tackles, interception) led the way for the Steelers defense.  The Jaguars carried the ball 29 times for 135 yards (4.7 ypc) and they also completed 9 of 21 passes for 104 yards.

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The Steelers come into this game limping as they did not have a good second half of the season.  The Jaguars are one of the most physical teams in the NFL and they beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh 29-22 just three weeks ago.

The Jaguars will do what they do best and that’s run the football despite the Steelers only allowing 89.9 yards rushing per game this season.  That’s because the Jaguars rushed for 244 yards in the first meeting between the teams this season.  Fred Taylor has rolled up an amazing 381 yards rushing in his last two games against the Steelers!  Don’t forget Maurice Jones-Drew who can hurt the Steelers as a runner, receiver or kickoff returner.  If the Jaguars get the running game going the Steelers will be at the mercy of David Garrard.  Garrard has spread the ball around well this season as the Jags don’t have any receivers that really stand out.

The Steelers would be smart if they just came out throwing the football.  The Jaguars allow 213.5 yards passing per game this season so look for Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes and Heath Miller to be very active in this game.  Plus, if the Steelers get the early lead they can get the Jaguars away from their running game.  Ben Roethlisberger has played well in the playoffs before and the Steelers will likely be leaning on him without Willie Parker (broken leg) available.  Najeh Davenport will be the main man in the running game but his style doesn’t seem to match up well with the Jaguars defense.

PREDICTION:  JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 21, PITTSBURGH STEELERS 20