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Vick, Steelers face winless rival

5 min read
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PITTSBURGH – The last time the Steelers faced a lengthy stretch of games without Ben Roethlisberger, Charlie Batch led them to a 23-20 win over the Ravens in Baltimore during the 2012 season.

The Steelers are hoping for a similar result tonight by Mike Vick against the Ravens at Heinz Field.

The Steelers (2-1) have an opportunity to put a damper on any playoff hopes for the Ravens (0-3), the only winless team in the AFC. But history and time might not be on their side.

Tonight’s game will mark the seventh time in Roethlisberger’s career he missed a game against the Ravens because of injury or suspension. The Steelers have won just one of those previous meetings – the game quarterbacked by Batch.

And Vick, who has been with the Steelers for just over a month, had only one full practice to prepare after Roethlisberger suffered a sprained MCL and bone bruise in his left knee in last Sunday’s 12-6 win at St. Louis.

“It’s tough, but as a professional you have to find a way to get it done,” said the 35-year-old Vick. “That’s what you sign up for when you play in this league. I certainly signed the dotted line with the contract about a month ago. I am just going to prepare for it the best way I can and try to do everything I can to help this football team win.”

The Steelers also are trying their best to find ways to help make Vick successful. Vick is just 3-12 in his last 15 starts, though he hasn’t necessarily been the problem, throwing 16 touchdown passes and eight interceptions. One of those victories came against the Steelers last season when he was with the Jets. Vick threw for just 132 yards but had a pair of touchdown passes.

Offensive coordinator Todd Haley began putting a game plan together with Vick Monday that will take advantage of his mobility. With only unproven Landry Jones behind Vick on the roster, the Steelers don’t necessarily want Vick to scramble. They do want Vick, the only quarterback in NFL history with more than 6,000 career rushing yards, to move around in the pocket to challenge Baltimore’s defense.

With the short work week, the Steelers can’t get too intricate with what they’ll ask of Vick.

“We’ve kept things pretty streamlined,” Haley said. “If there is anything that he loves or anything that he hates, those are the big things to me.”

The Ravens will have starting quarterback Joe Flacco on the field, but had issues of their own.

Their 0-3 start is the first in franchise history and the three losses have come by a combined 14 points. Baltimore’s defense has struggled mightily since losing former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs in the opener against Denver, allowing just over 300 yards passing per game this season and six touchdown passes in the past two weeks to Oakland and Cincinnati.

“We’ve really been a play away in every one of these games, but that doesn’t amount to a hill of beans when it’s all said and done, and the record gets tabulated,” said Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. “The opportunity is in front of us and the opportunity to play this week against a division foe that we have great respect for.”

Respect is a word both teams use when discussing the other. But there’s also a healthy dose of dislike.

“It’s still the Ravens,” said Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown. “There’s always an extra push or trash talk after the play is over. That’s the way it is.”

Even without Roethlisberger.

“We will be excited about rallying around Mike Vick and working within his comfort zone in an effort to win this football game,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “It’s obvious the Ravens are 0-3, but I would imagine that 0-3 doesn’t define them. I would imagine that they are not demoralized. Quite frankly, I would imagine they are angry.”

The Steelers lead the all-time series, 21-17, including a 12-7 record at Heinz Field. … The Steelers are 26-15 under Tomlin in prime time games, including 14-6 at Heinz Field. … The Steelers are sixth in the NFL in points allowed with 49. Baltimore is 26th with 84. … Brown has a streak of 14 consecutive games with at least seven receptions, an NFL record. … In addition to Roethlisberger, defensive tackle Daniel McCullers (knee), linebacker Ryan Shazier (shoulder) and tight end Matt Spaeth (hand) are out for the Steelers. Cornerback Cortez Allen (knee) is questionable. For Baltimore, defensive end Chris Canty, tight end Crockett Gillmore, left tackle Eugene Monroe and wide receiver Breshad Perriman are out. … The Steelers released defensive lineman Caushaud Lyons and elevated linebacker Anthony Chickillo from their practice squad to the 53-man roster Wednesday.

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