Steelers, Ravens set for NFL playoffs

The NFL playoffs start this weekend, with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens set to add another chapter to a fierce rivalry.

Pittsburgh's Isaac Redman (C) is stopped by Baltimore's defence

The nastiest rivalry in the NFL resumes on Saturday when Pittsburgh meet Baltimore in the playoffs. (AAP)

The nastiest rivalry in the NFL resumes on Saturday in Pittsburgh where the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens meet in the first round of the playoffs.

The Ravens have experienced nothing but agony at Heinz Field during the postseason, losing all three playoff games there in 2002, 2009 and 2011.

And now, here we go again.

"We'd like to win one, one of these days," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.

Pittsburgh and Baltimore have already played twice this season, with each AFC North team winning by 20 points at home. Including the playoffs, the Steelers lead the series 24-17.

"We love this rivalry, we love being a part of it," Harbaugh said, "and I believe they feel the same way."

Memories of Hines Ward jawing at the Ravens, Terrell Suggs yelling at the Steelers, and Jacoby Jones skipping past Steelers coach Mike Tomlin on the sideline are some of the highlights of the Steelers-Ravens rivalry. Mostly, the rivalry is about hard hits, helmet-jarring tackles, and bloody noses.

The Steelers could be without running back Le'Veon Bell, who hyperextended his right knee last weekend. That isn't necessarily a big edge for the Ravens, as good as Bell has been. Pittsburgh won the last meeting even with Bell being limited to 20 yards on 10 carries, and Baltimore struggles in pass coverage.

If Bell is unable to go, it puts more pressure on the offensive line to give quarterback Ben Roethlisberger time to throw to league-leading receiver Antonio Brown and rookie Martavis Bryant.

Baltimore's defence finished with 49 sacks, second most in the league, and its front seven will be bolstered by the return of nose tackle Haloti Ngata, who sat out the last four games after violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Also on Saturday, the Carolina Panthers, who won the NFC South with a losing record, will welcome the reeling Arizona Cardinals.

Arizona was the talk of the NFL until injuries struck pretty much everywhere. The Cardinals went from a 9-1 record to a wildcard, and have third-stringer Ryan Lindley at quarterback. Their defence, also undermanned, will need a huge game.

On Sunday, Detroit is at Dallas, and Cincinnati goes to Indianapolis. Division champions New England, Denver, Seattle and Green Bay have byes.


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Source: AAP

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Steelers, Ravens set for NFL playoffs | SBS News