Sep 10, 2014 4 min read

BALTIMORE – As is typically the case for a game between the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, there is more controversy in the week leading up to the game than in a daytime soap opera.

Just don’t expect any cheesy love scenes to crop up during this prime-time drama tonight.

“It wouldn’t be Ravens-Steelers without a little controversy,” said Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs. “But we’re used to that.”

The Steelers and Ravens will renew their heated rivalry at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium, just four days after both opened their seasons with AFC North games.

The difference is that the Steelers (1-0) won their opener, 30-27, over Cleveland, while the Ravens (0-1), dropped a 23-16 decision to the Bengals at home.

“It’s definitely a big deal,” said Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell. “We have an opportunity to go 2-0 in the division and drop Baltimore to 0-2 in the division. It’s a great opportunity this week.”

A much bigger deal has been the handling of Baltimore running back Ray Rice’s domestic assault case from last February.

The Ravens announced their support of Rice following his arrest in February for assaulting his then-finance and now wife in an Atlantic City, N.J., casino. The NFL initially suspended Rice for two games, but when the video of Rice punching the woman in the face surfaced Monday, Baltimore was left with no choice but to release their star running back, who was subsequently suspended by the NFL indefinitely.

“I think we were all kind of surprised after everything and finally seeing everything,” Suggs said. “It all kind of took us by surprise. We’re taking it. We still have a job to do. The season must go on, and we’re getting ready to play the Pittsburgh Steelers.”

A distraction in an early season game of his magnitude is not what the Ravens wanted. But it likely saved Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin from being the storyline. Tonight will mark Tomlin’s first trip back to Baltimore since he was fined $100,000 last season for being on the field of play during a kick return by the Ravens’ Jacoby Jones.

Tomlin was asked in a conference call Tuesday with reporters in Baltimore if he’ll be part of the kickoff coverage teams.

“No, I won’t be,” Tomlin replied. “Tell Jacoby he’s safe.”

All serious issues and joking aside, the Steelers are preparing for a typical, knock-down, drag-out battle with the Ravens, with whom they have split the past six meetings in Baltimore and last 12 games overall.

“We are excited about going to Baltimore and playing the first division road game,” Tomlin said. “They are Baltimore and we are Pittsburgh. We understand what that means.”

What it usually means is a close game.

Ten of the past 12 games between the two rivals have been decided by three points or less, including nine of the last 10.

But things have changed dramatically for both teams. Instead of the smashmouth, run-heavy offensive attacks that both teams once embraced, the Steelers and Ravens are now pass-first teams.

Running a no-huddle offense on the road in a prime-time game could cause problems for the Steelers.

“Being that it’s a night game, it’s going to be loud,” admitted Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. “We’ll have to use a lot of hand signals. We might have to huddle all the time. We might not be able to go no-huddle.”

The Steelers must be better against a no-huddle offense than they were against Cleveland, which rattled off 24-straight points to tie the score at 27-27.

“We need a better result if we want to get a victory,” Tomlin said.

The Steelers lead the series 20-16 including a 9-9 record in Baltimore. … This will be the 12th night game between the teams. The Steelers have won six of those but Baltimore has won the last three. … Suggs has 14 1/2 sacks in 21 games against the Steelers. … Since 2000, the Steelers lead the NFL in points per game allowed at 17.6. Baltimore is second at 17.7.