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Steelers-Ravens rivalry endures

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BALTIMORE – Steelers guard Ramon Foster recalls a time when a game against the Baltimore Ravens wasn’t just a measuring stick for teammates, it was the measuring stick for a season.

“You didn’t earn your stripes until you play in this game,” said Foster, who has been with the Steelers since 2009.

In Foster’s rookie season, the Steelers and Ravens were accustomed to meeting not only twice a year in what were knockdown, drag-out AFC North games, but in the playoffs as well.

Pittsburgh had beaten Baltimore in the AFC Championship just a season before to advance to the Super Bowl. Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata and Ed Reed were key components on Baltimore’s defense, while the Steelers countered with stars of their own, including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Many of those players are gone, though Suggs and Roethlisberger remain.

They’ll renew their rivalry today when the Steelers (4-3) play at Baltimore (3-4) in an AFC North showdown.

Roethlisberger, who sat out Pittsburgh’s last game, a 27-16 loss to New England Oct. 23, is expected to play despite undergoing a surgical procedure on the left knee only 20 days ago.

His quick return shows the importance of a game against Baltimore.

“It’s still the same rivalry, but different players,” said Roethlisberger. “It is different from seeing Ed Reed and, Suggs is still there, but Ngata and Ray Lewis are not. It’s definitely different, but it’s still an intense rivalry.”

Barring an unforeseen setback, Roethlisberger will make his 21st career start against the Ravens. His record in those games is 11-9, far worse than his career mark of 117-58.

Part of the reason for that middling career record is Baltimore has won four of the past five meetings, including four started by Roethlisberger.

Foster feels the Steelers lost a little of their dislike of the Ravens.

“I think their understanding of how to play this game has been a little bit better than ours,” Foster said. “It didn’t matter what records or situation were, they wanted to beat us. We have to take on that same mentality. We’re going to their place with both of us coming off a bye, so there’s no excuses as far as the physicality of this game.”

It’s something Suggs, in particular, has continued to relay to his younger teammates.

“The characters have changed in this show,” said Suggs, who has been a part of the rivalry since 2003. “But the mentality and the mood is still the same.”

Both teams enter this game in unfamiliar situation. The Steelers have lost their past two games and are trying to avoid their first three-game losing streak since 2013.

Baltimore, meanwhile, is fighting through its first four-game losing streak under John Harbaugh, who has been the Ravens’ coach since 2008.

Both teams are coming off a bye and hoping to get several injured players back in the lineup.

In addition to Roethlisberger, the Steelers will get defensive end Cameron Heyward and right tackle Marcus Gilbert, among others, back on the field. Baltimore hopes to see the return of left tackle Ronnie Stanley and guard Marshall Yanda, among others.

“Whether we have our starting quarterback playing or they have their starting quarterback playing, none of that ever matters for some reason,” said Steelers long-snapper Greg Warren, who has been with the team since 2005. “It always comes down to a field goal. It’s always a tight game.”

Twelve of the past 16 meetings have been decided by three or fewer points, including both games last season, something that has helped reduce what was once considered hatred between the two teams to a healthy level of respect.

“We have been in a lot of close football games with these guys. We respect them,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.

“It is at their place; it is a division game. Those are the things that kind of encompass our focus.”

But is that respect and focus enough to regain a winning edge?

“I don’t think the past games have huge effect on our mentality. We want to beat them as badly as anybody,” Warren said. “We need to start making our playoff push.”

The Steelers are 6-3 after a bye week under Tomlin. The Ravens are 6-2 after a bye under Harbaugh. … The Steelers are 9-11 against the Ravens in Baltimore. … Running back Le’Veon Bell, who has not scored in his past seven games, has 100 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in three of his past four games against the Ravens.

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