Baltimore @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 2, 2012 ) Pittsburgh 23, Baltimore 20

The Pittsburgh Steelers finally rose from the ranks of the winless last week, just in time to get some positive momentum going before the rival Baltimore Ravens visit on Sunday. The Steelers dropped their first four games but emerged from the bye week with a strong defensive effort in a win over the New York Jets. The defending champion Ravens are having some trouble emerging from the Super Bowl hangover and will look to avoid back-to-back losses.

Baltimore split with Pittsburgh last season - winning on the road - but did not have to go up against Ben Roethlisberger in either of those games. Roethlisberger finally got some help from his defense and his offensive line last week and did not turn the ball over in the 19-6 triumph. Like Joe Flacco and the Ravens, Roethlisberger is getting little help from the running game.

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Steelers -1. O/U: 41

ABOUT THE RAVENS (3-3): Flacco was turnover-prone through the first four games, including a disastrous five-interception performance at Buffalo, but did not have a pick in the 19-17 home loss to the Green Bay Packers last week. Flacco threw for 342 yards in that contest but Baltimore managed only 47 yards on 22 carries and is 27th in the NFL in rushing average at 72.7 yards. The Ravens are hurting on defense as well, with defensive end Chris Canty (groin) and linebacker Josh Bynes (thigh/finger) sitting out practice and tackle Haloti Ngata (elbow) and cornerback Lardarius Webb (hamstring) limited.

ABOUT THE STEELERS (1-4): Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin banned games from the locker room after the 0-4 start and put an end to somersaults in the end zone after the Week 5 victory. The new, stricter Tomlin is a result of the team’s worst start in decades - something that could have more to do more with the Steelers’ average of 61 rushing yards and 114.8 rushing yards allowed than its joy of locker room entertainment. Pittsburgh did make some positive strides against the Jets and came out on the plus side of the turnover battle for the first time.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The last defending Super Bowl champion to have a losing record through seven games was the 2006 Steelers.

2. Baltimore TE Dallas Clark needs six receptions to become the ninth TE in history to reach 500 for his career.

3. Pittsburgh K Shaun Suisham is perfect on the season (8/8 PAT, 10/10 FG).

PREDICTION: Ravens 24, Steelers 19