Dec 20, 2016 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – When the Steelers and Ravens get together for their bi-annual meetings, they often evolves into a war of attrition in the trenches.

While the NFL is no doubt a league built around throwing the football, when Pittsburgh and Baltimore play, the running games are often front and center.

“Typically, the team that runs the ball well comes out on top in these games,” said Steelers right tackle Marcus Gilbert as Pittsburgh (9-5) prepares to host Baltimore (8-6) Sunday at Heinz Field. Kickoff is 4:30 p.m.

“I’m excited. This is why we play the game of football.”

Pittsburgh might be a bit undermanned when it comes to stopping Baltimore’s running game.

Defensive end Cameron Heyward suffered a torn pectoral muscle in a Nov. 13 loss to Dallas and is out for the remainder of the season.

And Sunday in a 24-20 win at Cincinnati, defensive end Stephon Tuitt sprained his knee three snaps into the game and did not return.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Tuitt, who has taken on a larger role, moving all over the defensive line since the loss of Heyward, has a chance to play against the Ravens. He had an MRI Monday and it revealed no structural damage.

“We will watch him participate over the course of the week and see what that participation looks like,” said Tomlin. “The position that he plays gives him an opportunity, probably it would be less likely so if he was a wide receiver or cornerback. We will give him an opportunity to show his overall readiness.”

At even 75 percent, Tuitt might still be Pittsburgh’s best defensive lineman. But that line, which was down to ends L.T. Walton and Ricardo Mathews and nose tackles Javon Hargrave and Daniel McCullers after Tuitt went out against Cincinnati, did a nice job stopping the run despite Mathews missing some time with a sprained ankle.

The Bengals rushed for 38 yards in the first quarter and 68 yards in the first half, but managed just 10 yards on seven attempts in the second half as Pittsburgh’s defense took over the game.

“The guys who had to step up adjusted,” Tomlin said. “And more than anything else, I sensed that when Tuitt went down and then Ricardo went down soon thereafter. We had some younger guys, some backup guys, some role guys – guys like L.T. Walton, Javon and Daniel McCullers had to step up. To their credit, they adjusted to the midstream change of roles and adjusted nicely and delivered quality play.”

More could be asked of them against the Ravens.

Baltimore struggled early in the season after injuries on its offensive line, but the Ravens have gotten healthy. Though they rank 28th in the league in rushing at 90 yards per game, the Ravens had 151 yards on the ground last week against the Philadelphia Eagles and had 100 or more yards in four of their past six games.

The Steelers are allowing 64 rushing yards over their past five games and an average gain of 3.4 yards. That’s a big reason for their recent success.

Tuitt also would be missed on passing downs. He is second on the team with four sacks, but has been especially effective of late with three sacks and eight quarterback pressures since the loss of Heyward.

The Steelers, however, are more concerned with replacing him as a run stopper.

“Every game that we prepare for, we do so with the mentality that we have to minimize and respect the potential of their run game,” said Tomlin. “I just think it’s good coaching and good football to work from there out. So that’s always our approach.”

While Tuitt’s availability is in question, that of tight end Ladarius Green, who suffered a concussion against the Bengals, is more cloudy.

Green met with a neurologist Tuesday and remains in concussion protocol. He suffered two concussions in September of last year while playing for the San Diego Chargers and reportedly continued to have symptoms after signing with the Steelers as a free agent.

“We’ll follow the protocol to the letter, as we always do,” said Tomlin. “We’ll be prepared to make necessary adjustments that include him or exclude him.”

Tomlin said he has not lost confidence in his team’s ability to convert two-point conversions. The Steelers have missed on six of nine attempts after going 12-for-15 in the previous two seasons. … Tomlin said running back DeAngelo Williams experienced some fluid on his knee last Sunday, which caused the Steelers to hold him out against the Bengals. Williams is expected to play against Baltimore. … Wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (sprained foot) began running last week and is closer to returning to the lineup.