A look at what the Steelers will be up against on Sunday afternoon at the Baltimore Ravens:
DOMINATING START: The Ravens emerged from their first two games with a 2-0 record and having produced 10 takeaways while allowing just 10 points.
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ONE OF THOSE DAYS:** The Ravens were out-gained, 410-186, in their 44-7 loss to Jacksonville on Sunday in London. Baltimore managed 12 first downs, went 3-for-11 on third downs (27 percent) and held the ball for 25:57. The Ravens also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble and were also penalized 10 times for 88 yards.
DOING WITHOUT: The Ravens have 16 players on the reserve/injured list, including cornerback Tavon Young, running back Kenneth Dixon, running back Danny Woodhead, linebacker Albert McClellan, guard Nico Siragusa, offensive lineman Alex Lewis, offensive lineman Marshal Yanda and tight end Crockett Gilmore. Baltimore started the season without offensive lineman John Urschel (retired) and linebacker Zach Orr (retired/medical).
NOT MUCH SEPARATION: Eleven of the last 18 Steelers-Ravens games have been decided by three or fewer points, and 17 of the last 22 have been decided by one score.
THEN AND NOW: The Steelers won the most recent meeting between the teams, 31-27, last Dec. 25. The Ravens' current depth chart lists only one offensive lineman (left tackle Ronnie Stanley) as a carry-over starter from that contest. Wide receiver Steve Smith Sr., fullback Kyle Juszczyk, tight end Dennis Pitta, Orr, and linebacker Elvis Dumervil are also among the once-prominent Ravens no longer in the picture in Baltimore.
NO FLY ZONE: Defensive backs have accounted for six of the Ravens' eight interceptions (cornerback Brandon Carr and safety Lardarius Webb each have two and safety Eric Weddle and cornerback Jimmy Smith have one apiece).
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TRIPLE THREAT:** The Ravens are No. 4 in the NFL in rushing offense (142.3 yards per game). Baltimore's 427 yards on the ground through three games have for the most part been split between running backs Javorius Allen (152 yards), Terrance West (128) and Alex Collins (124).
ALL OR NOTHING: Baltimore is No. 1 in the NFL in opponents' third-down efficiency (24.3 percent) and No. 32 in the NFL in passing offense (121.3 yards per game) and total offense (263.7).
HOME SWEET HOME: The Ravens are tied with the Raiders for the NFL's second-longest home winning streak (six consecutive games), behind the Cowboys (eight in a row). The Ravens haven't lost a home game to the Steelers since 2012 (23-20) and are 5-1 against the Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium since 2011. Baltimore is plus 14 in turnover margin against Pittsburgh (17 takeaways, three giveaways) in that span.
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SPECIAL EDITION:** Kicker Justin Tucker has made an NFL-high 171 field goals since 2012. He's converted 89.5 percent of his career field goals (171 of 191, second in NFL history). The Ravens have an NFL-best 25.2 average per kickoff return since 2008 (when Jerry Rosburg became Baltimore's special teams coordinator). Jacksonville faked a punt against Baltimore on fourth-and-1 from the Jacksonville 35-yard line with 23 seconds left in the third quarter (the Jaguars were leading, 37-0, at the time). A direct snap to running back Corey Grant went for 58 yards to the Baltimore 7 and the Ravens were called for unnecessary roughness on the play. The Ravens have blocked an NFL-high 12 kicks since 2014.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs has 19.5 career sacks against the Steelers, the most by any opponent in Steelers' history.
HE SAID IT: "It could be the (offseason) surgery. It could be rust from not being in (training) camp. It's a combination of a lot of things. It could be just guys just making plays, because we've played some good defenses the first three weeks. Last week the defense made plays for the Bears. I'm anticipating the same thing from the Ravens. They're not going to want to let me out of the box and let me get in the open field. I have to find ways to create space and find some open spots, and spots that I like to get the ball and make some plays. I feel like I'm close. The last couple games, it's just been a tackle here or a shoestring tackle there. It's close, I just have to take it upon myself and go out there and make plays." _ Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell on his lack of splash plays in 2017.
