STEELERS vs. RAVENS AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 KICKOFF IS AT 6:30 P.M. HEINZ FIELD
Steelers (13-4) vs. Ravens (13-5)
Pittsburgh Steelers (13-4) vs. Baltimore Ravens (13-5)
Date: Sunday, Jan. 18, 2008
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. (ET)
Site: Heinz Field (65,050) • Pittsburgh, Pa.
Playing Surface: Grass/DD Grassmaster
TV Coverage: CBS (locally KDKA-TV, Channel 2)
Announcers: Jim Nantz (play-by-play) Phil Simms (color analyst)
Local Radio: Steelers Radio Network WDVE-FM (102.5)/WBGG-AM (970)
Announcers: Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play) Tunch Ilkin (color analyst) Craig Wolfley (sideline)
National Radio: Westwood One Radio
Announcers: Dave Sims (play-by-play) Dennis Green (color) John Dockery (sideline)
**A Look at the Coaches
**Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin
Overall Regular-season Record: 22-10 (.688)/second season
Regular-season Record at Pittsburgh: 22-10 (.688)/second season
Playoff Record/Years: 1-1/second year
Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh
Overall Regular-season Record: 11-5 (.688)/first season
Regular-season Record at Baltimore: 11-5 (.688)/first season
Playoff Record/Years: 2-0/first year
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Series History
*Series History: Series began in 1996
Overall: Pittsburgh leads 16-10
At Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh leads 9-4
At Baltimore: Pittsburgh leads 7-6
Neutral Sites: n/a
Last Regular-Season Meeting: Dec. 14, 2008 (in Baltimore) Pittsburgh 13, Baltimore 9
Postseason Series: Pittsburgh leads 1-0
*(postseason record not included in overall series record)
The Steelers own a 1-0 record against the Ravens in the postseason...Pittsburgh owns a 16-10 record all-time against the Baltimore Ravens in the regular season, including a 9-4 mark at home and a 7-6 record on the road...the Steelers had lost five straight at Baltimore prior to their 13-9 victory on Dec. 14 of this past year...the Steelers defeated the Ravens at home earlier this year, 23-20, in overtime...the Steelers swept the season series for the fourth time after also winning the home and away contests in 1997, 1998 and 2002...the Ravens swept the 2006 season series, marking the first time Pittsburgh had been swept in the series...the Steelers have won six of their past seven at home against the Ravens and are 7-2 all-time in the series at Heinz Field (opened in 2001)...Pittsburgh has won 10 of the last 16 games overall in the series, including a 2001 AFC Divisional Playoff victory at Heinz Field (Jan. 20, 2002).
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Steelers' Postseason History vs. Baltimore Ravens:
*• **The Steelers will face the Baltimore Ravens in the postseason for the second time in team history with the Steelers winning the only matchup in the 2001 AFC Divisional Playoff game. Pittsburgh defeated the Ravens, 27-10, in the first playoff game ever at Heinz Field.
• The Steelers are 7-0 overall against division foes in the postseason, including 1-0 against Baltimore, 1-0 against Cincinnati, 2-0 versus Cleveland and 3-0 against the Houston Oilers (AFC Central).
• This marks the first matchup between the teams in an AFC Championship Game.
• Following is a look at 2001 AFC Divisional Game against the Baltimore Ravens in the series history:
1/20/02 Baltimore Ravens W, 27-10 AFC Divisional Playoff
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*Steelers-Ravens Connections
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*Steelers-Ravens Connections: Several Steelers have ties to the Ravens and the Baltimore area. Steelers with direct ties to the Ravens and Baltimore/Maryland include LB James Harrison, who signed with the Ravens after the 2003 NFL season and was allocated by Baltimore to the NFL Europe League in 2004. QB Byron Leftwichgrew up in Washington, D.C.
Ravens with ties to the Steelers or Western Pa. include QB Joe Flacco, who started his collegiate career at Pitt before transferringto Delaware. Outside linebackers coach Mike Pettinecoached atPitt from 1993-94. Strength and conditioning coach Bob Roguckicoached at Penn State (1981), while assistant strength andconditioning coach John Dunnplayed at Penn State (1974-77)and later coached for the Nittany Lions (1978). Wide receiverscoach Jim Hostlerwas born in Pittsburgh and played (1986-89)and coached (1990-92, 94-99) at IUP.
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*What To Look For
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*PITTSBURGH TEAM NOTES
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• The Steelers look to advance to their seventh Super Bowl with a win over the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game.
• The Steelers look to improve to 7-7 all-time in AFC Championship Games.
• The Steelers look to improve to 30-20 all-time in the playoffs.
• The Steelers look for their third win over the Ravens this season, having swept the regular-season series.
*PITTSBURGH INDIVIDUAL NOTES
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*WR Hines Ward
• Needs 88 yards receiving to become the team's all-time leader for receiving yards in the postseason. Ward currently has 966, trailing only John Stallworth (1,054).
• Needs 34 yards receiving to become just the second receiver in team history to post 1,000 yards receiving in the postseason. Ward currently has 966 and Stallworth finished with 1,054.
• Needs one receiving touchdown to move into a tie for second place on the team's all-time list for receiving touchdowns in the postseason. Ward currently has eight career postseason touchdowns, trailing Lynn Swann (9) and John Stallworth (12).
• Needs one catch for his 13th straight postseason game with at least one reception, the second-longest streak (tied) in team history.
