Ravens-Steelers Rivalry Still Tops NFL
By Samuel Njoku
The Ravens have two games remaining until the regular season comes to a conclusion. Up next are the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are currently fighting for a playoff spot, however. This game gives Baltimore a chance to play spoiler and possibly have their hated rivals sitting at home in January as well.
Pro Bowl will be light on Ravens players this year
The Ravens 2015 may rank as one of the worse years in franchise history, but that doesn't mean there aren't players on the team deserving of recognition. P Sam Koch and G Marshal Yanda were both selected to the Pro Bowl. Both players have had stellar seasons in spite of their teams shortcomings. Sam Koch has a net punting average of 44.0 yards which is tops in the NFL; just to put that in perspective, the NFL record in a season is 44.2 held by Johnny Hekker in 2013. Koch has been one of the more dominant punters in the league, but this is his first Pro Bowl. It makes the recognition all the more sweet for the Ravens punter.
"This has definitely been a long time in the making," stated Sam Koch. A lot of hard work and practice have gone into this. This is a very surreal and exciting moment for my family and me. I can't wait to represent the Ravens in Hawaii."
The other Raven with the Pro Bowl nod, Marshal Yanda, has seen his fair share of recognition from the league. With his 5th Pro Bowl, the 31-year-old guard has cemented himself as one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL. And while the Pro Bowl showcases individual achievement, Yanda realizes he couldn't have gotten to this level on his own.
"Football is the ultimate team sport, and you don't do anything in this league on your own," stated Marshal Yanda. "I want to thank the coaches and my teammates for helping me along the way. We all grind together with the goal of achieving greatness."
While the Ravens have had little success to complain about snubs, but that doesn't mean one doesn't exist. Ravens Nose Tackle Brandon Williams has easily been one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL this year. But Williams didn't get selected as a starter or an alternate. In retrospect, former Ravens Haloti Ngata didn't get selected to his first Pro Bowl until his fourth year. If Williams continue his level of play, his time will come.
Ravens/Steelers Rivalry Still Tops In NFL
With the Ravens currently 4-10, the importance of this game isn't as large as in previous seasons. Previously scheduled as a Sunday Night contest, the NFL pushed the matchup back for a more playoff oriented contest. But just because the Ravens have faltered in 2015, doesn't mean these two teams will be playing lackluster football. For starters, the Ravens have already defeated the Steelers this season -- in Pittsburgh! They'll definitely be looking to return the favor on Sunday and the Baltimore Ravens know that. But if you ask the players what their motivation is for beating the Steelers, they won't mention much about playing the role of spoiler.
"It's a rivalry game, so that speaks for itself," stated Ravens WR Kamar Aiken. "Records go out the window. It means something just to beat Pittsburgh, period. If we can sweep them for the year, that's big for us because of the rivalry in itself. That'll be an extra bonus if we can knock them out too."
Brandon Williams reciprocated Aiken's thoughts.
"Whether we're 0-14 or 14-0, the Steelers game is the Steelers game, no matter what. We're going to take it the same way every single time. It's going to be a high-intensity game. We're going to give everything we've got and I'm pretty sure they're going to do the same."
Samuel Njoku was born and raised in Baltimore, MD and is a graduate of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Samuel has covered the Ravens for Examiner.com since 2010. Prior to 2010, Samuel was an avid blogger and radio personality in Salisbury, MD. Samuel Njoku is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @Ravens_Examiner.
