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 So we already know this game is destined to be played over and over and over AND over again for years to come on ESPN Classic. And you KNOW NFL films and their lovable Steve Sabol will be out in full force Sunday to capture every glorious, hard hitting football moment. But what will they be filming? A true classic brawl? Where the final score is something crazy like 3-0 or 11-10? (Is it sad or awesome both of those scores have been outcomes of Steelers' games within the last 18 months?) Or will NFL films be disappointed because of an obvious winner by the 3rd quarter? Well folks, I'm picking the latter.
That's right Blitzburghers, I'm picking the Black and Gold in a final score of 24-3. You read that right, the Pittsburgh Steelers will beat the Baltimore Ravens 24-3 in the 2009 AFC Championship this Sunday at Heinz Field. Satisfied? I didn't think so, so for those of you who are like me, and cannot possibly wait any longer for kick off, I'm here to tell you what's going to happen once that inflated pig belly gets booted down the field by Billy Idol's.....sorry, Jeff Reed's right foot.
The first quarter will go exactly the way everyone thinks, the Steelers and Ravens will come out swinging, trying to knock their opponent out with one big punch; think "Rocky III", the second fight with Mr. T, and we're Rocky. By the time the first quarter ends, Ben will have been sacked once, thrown an INT and the Ravens will have kicked the go ahead field goal. Problem is, some of the Ravens will begin to forget football games last for 4 quarters, and so will their coach.
The second quarter will see more of the same, both teams taking huge swings at the other. The difference? The Steelers will no longer be trying to knock em out with one punch and The Ravens are going to start showing the fatigue that comes along with playing 18 straight weeks in the NFL. Expect Ben to lead the Steelers on a beautiful drive mid-way through the second quarter making the score 7-3. And then it'll happen, the play the stops the classic train dead in it's tracks.
Desperate to not go into half time, down to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Harbaugh will begin to show he's a rookie Head Coach and he'll begin to air it out. Flacco will complete some passes but once they're right around they're own 35, I'm thinking maybe on second down, a play action pass will leave the line of scrimmage only to be picked off by Troy Polamalu.
Normally one turnover won't decide a game but while everyone watched the pass go down the field, they didn't notice Flacco was introduced to the ground with extreme prejudice by James "Defensive MVP" Harrison. The rookie, Flacco, will tweak his throwing arm and be sidelined for the rest of the game. Of course we won't know that until after half-time, at which point the Steelers will now be up 10-3 on a 42 yard field goal by Billy Idol... damnit, I mean Reed.
Mike Tomlin, being the genius that he is, deferred until the second half and the Steelers will have the ball first. Again, like San Diego, Ben will march his troops down the field on the first drive of the second half which will be capped off by a long TD run by Fast Willie Parker, I'm thinking 32 yards. Ever seen a straw break a camel's back?
With a major injury to sack leader Terrell Suggs, "If I feel like me being out there will hinder us and that we would be playing with 10, the decision is obvious - I can't go," the Ravens defense will not only be missing a major cog, but they will ultimately falter and slip away. Willie Parker and the Steelers’ rejuvenated ground game, will chew up clock like it's bubble gum. And with Troy Smith now under center, a defensive pick-6 seems a safe bet somewhere in the 4th quarter.
Like I said, final score Steelers 24, Ravens 3.
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