Bitter rival Baltimore adds to atmosphere

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1 Bitter rival Baltimore adds to atmosphere Page 1 of 2 Bitter rival Baltimore adds to atmosphere With members of the anniversary team looking on and a national TV audience watching, the Steelers will don their throwback uniforms and play some old-school football vs. the Ravens Monday, November 05, 2007 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Larry Foote's bid on a photo in a silent auction last week won him the prize: A plaque with a picture of Jack Ham, Jack Lambert and Andy Russell together in the Steelers locker room, signed by all three. He paid "more than three figures" and will display it in a prominent spot in his home. Tonight, old Steelers legends come to life and Foote and his teammates do not want to disappoint them when they play the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field. They will wear their throwback uniforms for the second time this season and likely play oldschool football against their archnemesis as the top two defenses in the NFL turn out: The No. 1 Steelers and No. 2 Ravens. The Steelers' 75th anniversary team will be presented in ceremonies at halftime and video clips of them will be shown throughout the game. "There's a sense of special feeling with all the guys who played before us, the great 75th anniversary team, the all-steelers team," wide receiver Hines Ward said. "It's going to be a special moment, there's going to be a special atmosphere in that stadium on Monday night." Most every living member of the 33-man team will be here, including the expected arrival of Terry Bradshaw and Jerome Bettis, who could not make the celebration last night at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center because of their television duties. "We look at it as we have been scheduled for their homecoming," Baltimore coach Brian Billick said. "We know it is going to be a very emotional night, not like it needs more -- it is Pittsburgh and Baltimore on a Monday night. You think that would be enough. But obviously with what they are honoring and obviously the story and fabulous history should be a fabulous night." Some of those from the franchise's all-time team will take the field tonight. Ward, safety Troy Polamalu and guard Alan Faneca are on the 33-man team. Ward, for one, believes the homecoming analogy is a good one, because, like Foote, he wants to impress the alumni. He wants to show he belongs with the likes of Hall of Famers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth, whose records he's breaking bit by bit. "I would love to impress Mr. Stallworth and Swann, to go out there and put on a great show,"

2 Bitter rival Baltimore adds to atmosphere Page 2 of 2 Ward said. "You always want to do that because these guys are well-respected in Steelers Nation. Everybody looks up to them, and you want to make a name for yourself so when they're driving home they say 'you know what, that ballplayer is pretty good, I really respect him.' "I want to see some of the older guys come back and I want to put on a great show for them." They've done so on similar occasions in the past. In 1999, the Steelers celebrated the 25th anniversary of their first Super Bowl season with many of the players from that team. The Steelers won only two games in Three Rivers Stadium that 6-10 season, but that was one of them, 13-9 on Monday night against Atlanta. They beat the Colts, 28-10, the night they honored Terry Bradshaw on his first return since his playing days, in They topped the Seahawks this year, 21-0, when Chuck Noll was honored. They beat the Bengals, 16-7, in the first game played at Heinz Field in The previous biggest celebration of all occurred on Dec. 16, It was the last game played in Three Rivers Stadium. After that game, the Steelers would hold a long ceremony in which they introduced many of those who played in the 31 seasons of Three Rivers. But first, the Steelers had to play the Washington Redskins. "I know when we closed Three Rivers down, that was a big point," Faneca said. "We didn't want to end it with a loss. Everybody knew about the celebration afterward. It would have been a little bit different of a mood if we had lost that game." They went out and took care of business, thrashing the Redskins, They hope to do the same tonight against a determined opponent. At 5-2, the Steelers lead the Ravens (4-3) by one game in the AFC North Division, which makes tonight a pivotal one for both clubs. "The most exciting part is we know that this is a love/hate relationship with the Steelers," wrote the best player in Baltimore's brief franchise history, linebacker Ray Lewis, on his blog. "We respect them, but we don't sit well with Pittsburgh and they don't sit well with us. "It's a nasty ballgame, and that's why I said there's no better team than to go in and do it the way we're going in to do it. All the pressure's on them, it's their house, they are favored and it's Monday Night Football.... The nation is watching." Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com. First published on November 5, 2007 at 12:00 am

3 Steelers tell jokes, share tales at 75th year gala Page 1 of 3 Steelers tell jokes, share tales at 75th year gala Monday, November 05, 2007 By Robert Dvorchak, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Robin Rombach/Post-Gazette The Steelers 75th Anniversary Gala at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. For more images from the Steelers' 75th Anniversary Gala and the Post-Gazette's historical archive, please click the link "Steelers 75th Anniversary Gala Slideshow" to the left. As a global entrepreneur who specializes in investment banking with Laurel Mountain Partners, Andy Russell was on a business trip to Russia several months ago when he spotted something familiar. At an outdoor mall in Moscow, next to a nesting doll that traced Russian leaders from Vladimir Putin to Vladimir Lenin, he noticed a similar object adorned in the black and gold of the Pittsburgh Steelers. This doll started with Jack Lambert, then inside was Joe Greene, Franco Harris, Terry Bradshaw and Lynn Swann in descending order, each figure smaller than the one preceding it. Imagine that, stalwarts of the Steel Curtain merchandised on the free market in what used to be the epicenter of the Iron Curtain. "There weren't any other football teams or American figures displayed, just this one. I know there are Steeler fans in every city, but Moscow?" marveled Mr. Russell, a linebacker on the all-time Steelers team.

4 Steelers tell jokes, share tales at 75th year gala Page 2 of 3 Then chuckling, he said, "Swann will be ticked he was the smallest one." Ordinarily, the Steelers generate stories for Monday based on what they did Sunday. But because they're involved in a Monday night game today, and this is their 75th season, this was the perfect occasion to recall yesteryear. As part of their diamond jubilee weekend, the Steelers "suited up" for a $250-a-plate banquet and gala last night at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. That the building is named after the civic leader who presented Arthur J. Rooney into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1964 is but one affirmation of the bond between the city and its football team. The 75th anniversary all-time team, which includes 33 players from a franchise that's been around since 1933, will be honored again tonight when the Steelers play the Baltimore Ravens, who were born as the Cleveland Browns, in front of a national TV audience. Four active players will be wearing their work clothes, albeit in the form of throwback uniforms, for the occasion: Hines Ward, Alan Faneca, Casey Hampton and Troy Polamalu. The general chairman for the celebration is No. 75, Charles Edward "Joe" Greene, who served in the same capacity when the team marked its 50th anniversary in He was the cornerstone of the team that won four Super Bowls under Chuck Noll and was brought back to the front office when the fifth ring was won in Super Bowl XL. "To put on something so grand, and to let the legions of their fans participate, is consistent with how the Steelers do business," said Mr. Greene, wearing a gold carnation with his tuxedo at last night's dinner. And, of course, he recalled those Super Years when he and the Steelers ruled the gridiron. There were nine Hall of Fame players, a Hall of Fame coach and a father-son team enshrined at Canton who were associated with those teams. "Whatever we needed, one of us had. It got to the point sometimes where I didn't know if I could pay the price individually, but I never wanted to let the team down. And when we were all at our best, look out. It has all been a wonderful journey," he said. Like all of the players assembled, Jack Ham looked forward to swapping stories. "We can tell lies about how good we were back then," he said, laughing. Or swap funny stories. Andy Russell remembers a playoff game against the Baltimore Colts in which he returned a fumble 93 yards for a touchdown, which is still a playoff record. "It was the most elapsed time on any single play. Ray Mansfield said the network cut to a commercial and still was able to show the touchdown," he said. Gary Anderson, the franchise's all-time leading scorer, has been catching brown trout and rainbow trout in the Canadian Rockies of late, but he was as thrilled as he was when he first came to town. "It seems like yesterday that I was in the Steeler locker room as a rookie," he said. "You can imagine how mesmerized I felt." Generations of players were represented at the gala. Dick Hoak, who spent 45 years with the

5 Steelers tell jokes, share tales at 75th year gala Page 3 of 3 organization as a player and a coach, remembered rustic practices at South Park and playing games at Forbes Field and Pitt Stadium. "If it weren't for football, I don't know what I would have done," he said. "I went through life without ever having to move, without ever being fired, without ever having to transfer to another city. How many people can say that?" Music for the evening was provided by jazz musician Allen Harris. The master of ceremonies was Steve Sabol, president of NFL Films, supplier of the special anniversary highlight films that enthralled the crowd. "The Steelers don't need a mascot. Their fans are their mascot," Mr. Sabol said. "There were Gerela's Gorillas, Franco's Italian Army, Lambert's Lunatics, people dressed up like a bumble bee. You don't need a mascot when you have fans like that," he said. "When we'd go to Pittsburgh to do the game for NFL Films, we never brought enough cameras." Robert Dvorchak can be reached at bdvorchak@post-gazette.com. First published on November 5, 2007 at 12:00 am

6 Game 8 Matchup: Steelers vs. Ravens Page 1 of 2 Game 8 Matchup: Steelers vs. Ravens Monday, November 05, 2007 By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette James Klingensmith/Post-Gazette Archive Tonight's game isn't just about 2007, but about the first 74 years of the Steelers' franchise as the 75th anniversary team will be honored at halftime. Among those on the team: Terry Bradshaw, left, and Joe Greene -- two Steelers icons -- seen here during the team's 1970s heyday. Game plan What the Steelers will do: Off-ensive coordinator Bruce Arians said the Steelers tried a pass-first approach vs. the Ravens last season that didn't work, so he will be committed to running the ball with Willie Parker. That, though, could be a psychological ploy because the Ravens have the league's No. 2 rush defense (71.9 ypg) and held Parker to 50 yards on 23 carries last season. QB Ben Roethlisberger was sacked 14 times by the Ravens last season, but has done a wonderful job of escaping pressure this season. The Steelers have two defensive goals: Stop RB Willis McGahee, the AFC's No. 2 runner behind Parker; and disrupt the timing pass of QB Steve McNair, who missed the past two games (groin/back). What the Ravens will do: McNair hurt the Steelers in both games last year, completing 39 of 55 passes for 470 yards and four TDs. Still, the Ravens do not try to attack deep, averaging an AFC-worst 5.76 yards per attempt (29th in the NFL). Their longest completion is 37 yards. Defensively, the Ravens probably will try to confuse the Steelers' offensive line with a number of pre-snap stunts and line shifts, making it difficult for the linemen to know their blocking assignments.

7 Game 8 Matchup: Steelers vs. Ravens Page 2 of 2 Keep an eye on... KR/PR Yamon Figurs: Has replaced injured B.J. Sams and pushed the Ravens' special teams toward the top of the NFL. A third-round draft choice from Kansas State, Figurs has returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown (Week 3 against Arizona) and ranks third in the NFL with an average of 29.9 yards on kickoff returns. The Ravens are the only NFL team to return two punts for touchdowns this season. S Ed Reed had a 63-yard scoring return in Week 1 against Cincinnati. Data Game: Steelers (5-2) vs. Baltimore Ravens (4-3). When: 8:30 p.m. Where: Heinz Field. TV: ESPN, WTAE. Radio: WDVE-FM (102.5), WBGG-AM (970). Intangibles Each team has won eight games in the regular-season series and each has one sweep -- the Steelers in 2002 and the Ravens in Baltimore won both last year by combined The Ravens had an off week to prepare, giving their injured players extra time to heal. But the Steelers could get a lift from the presence of their 75th anniversary team members. Keys to Victory To win, the Ravens must Give the air to McNair. He had big games against the Steelers last season and is 10-4 against them in his career. 2. Cause a Heap of trouble. TE Todd Heap has 29 catches in the past six games against the Steelers, including 11 in ' Have fries with their Roethlisberger. Not only was he sacked 14 times by the Ravens, they forced him into five turnovers last season. To win, the Steelers must Not let Willis kill us. McGahee has outrushed every opposing running back he has faced this season. 2. Jar Mason. Derrick Mason is the Ravens' top receiver and leads the league with 20 thirddown catches. 3. Get a bead on Reed. With Adalius Thomas gone, Roethlisberger has to know where the coverage takes the Ravens' free safety. First published on November 5, 2007 at 12:00 am

8 Head to Head: Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger vs. Ravens safety Ed Reed Page 1 of 2 Head to Head: Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger vs. Ravens safety Ed Reed A closer look at the game within the game Monday, November 05, 2007 By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Ben Roethlisberger always had two keys when he was playing the Baltimore Ravens: See where linebacker Adalius Thomas is lined up and know where safety Ed Reed is on the field. He does not have to worry about Thomas anymore -- at least, not until Dec because Thomas signed in free agency with the New England Patriots. But Roethlisberger still has to be concerned with Reed, just like every other quarterback in the National Football League. Reed is so good, offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said he is better than his own safety, Troy Polamalu, who is a three-time Pro Bowl selection. "He can do things a normal safety can't do," tight end Heath Miller said. "He makes plays on the ball," Polamalu said. "He has a great cast of characters around him that frees him up to play." Roethlisberger and the offensive line had problems deciphering the Ravens' stunting defensive scheme last season, failing to account for all their pre-snap motion and leading to 14 sacks and five turnovers by Roethlisberger, including four interceptions. One of those interceptions was by Reed, who returned it 37 yards to set up a touchdown. That, though, is nothing new. Reed, 29, has 31 career interceptions -- tied for first with Darren Sharper among active players -- and his 806 return yards and 26-yard return average lead all active players with 16 or more interceptions. He has returned three interceptions for touchdowns. "What don't they do?" Roethlisberger said of the Ravens' defense. "You never really see them line up and play football. They're always moving around, they're trying to confuse you. That's going to be the big thing for us, to have communication to know who we're blocking, who we're picking up." Unlike Thomas, the biggest defensive signing in free agency, the Ravens made sure they did not lose Reed when they signed him in June 2006 to a six-year, $40 million extension that included a $15 million signing bonus -- the largest deal given to an NFL safety. Reed, though, does more than just intercept passes. He has blocked four punts in his career, returning three for touchdowns, and also has a 22-yard fumble return for touchdown. In the

9 Head to Head: Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger vs. Ravens safety Ed Reed Page 2 of 2 opening game this season, he returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals. "He's a very instinctive player," said Miller, who has 24 catches and four touchdowns this season. "Some of the things he does are a little bit out of the ordinary, but he has the athletic ability to cover a lot of ground. He can be playing half safety for the run or see a route and jump it." "He brings a threat to the deep ball," said Holmes, who leads the team with 26 catches and 426 yards. "He's deep enough to prevent a lot of deep passes thrown. But, with my speed and the route-running ability of Hines [Ward] to get open, we can distract him a little bit and get deep on him." First published on November 5, 2007 at 12:00 am

10 Steelers Notebook: Lewis... Bring on the running game Page 1 of 2 Steelers Notebook: Lewis... Bring on the running game Monday, November 05, 2007 By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Lake Fong/Post-Gazette Nickel back Bryant McFadden will play today after missing the past three games. Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis is not bothered by the declaration of offensive coordinator Bruce Arians that the Steelers will run the ball against the Ravens' defense when the teams meet tonight at Heinz Field. Lewis said Willie Parker, who leads all NFL backs with five 100-yard games, was running well last year, too, but the Ravens held him to 50 yards on 23 carries in two lopsided victories. Parker had 259 yards in the two games before the Nov. 27 meeting in Baltimore and 354 yards in the two games before the Christmas Eve game at Heinz Field. "The bottom line is, we understand before we get to them, how well they're playing," Lewis said. "For our defense, we don't believe in 100-yard rushers. We don't believe in people running the ball and controlling the game on us. That is why we always know how we have to play Pittsburgh." McFadden to play Nickel back Bryant McFadden has practiced all week in substitution packages and expects to resume his usual role as the third cornerback against the Ravens. McFadden has missed the past three games with a high ankle sprain and was replaced in those defenses by rookie cornerback William Gay.

11 Steelers Notebook: Lewis... Bring on the running game Page 2 of 2 "I feel a lot better," said McFadden, who had never had an ankle injury of any kind before this. "I have to show them I'm ready to come back. I'm hoping to do that with these practices." Kreider healthy, too Fullback Dan Kreider, who has a sprained ankle, has practiced all week and should play against the Ravens. Kreider, not Carey Davis, started and was going to be "featured" against the Bengals last week, coach Mike Tomlin said. But he was injured on the first series and did not return. "I don't know what that means, to be honest," Kreider said. "I've never been highlighted in my life. I try to stay under the radar as much as possible at fullback. We were just going more vertical with the running game to hit some holes inside." It was the second game in a row Kreider has started at fullback, the position he held since the 2002 season. But he said he does not know if he is again considered the No. 1 fullback. "I think whoever is healthy and ready to go, they're just going to put them out there," Kreider said. "I'm prepared to do whatever they ask. I'm not looking to see who's going to be in there or when. I just go as the game goes." First published on November 5, 2007 at 12:00 am

12 Steelers' Foote, Ravens' Scott rekindle rivalry - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 2 Old rivals spearhead punishing defenses By Scott Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Monday, November 5, 2007 Detroit natives Larry Foote and Bart Scott will chat before the AFC North showdown between the Steelers and Ravens -- and trash-talk during it. "He's up there with me as far as trash-talk," said Foote, who has become arguably the preeminent Steeler in that department since Joey Porter's departure. The loquacious linebackers do more than satisfy a love for yapping when they are on the field, and each figures to be in the middle of the action (and talk) tonight when two hard-hitting teams that don't particularly care for one another play in front of a national TV audience. Foote has been one of the Steelers' leading tacklers since breaking into the starting lineup in Scott emerged as a Pro Bowler last season, his second as a starter, when he had 135 tackles and recorded 9 1/2 sacks. Ben Roethlisberger doesn't need to ask why Scott's teammates call him "Mad Backer." A blitzing Scott delivered a ferocious hit to Roethlisberger in the teams' first meeting a year ago, and his sack briefly knocked the Steelers' quarterback out of the game. The play also encapsulated how badly the Ravens beat the Steelers twice last season. Baltimore won both games by a combined score of As for the nickname that defensive end Terrell Suggs gave Scott, it stems from the latter's days as a special teams terror for the Ravens. "I would always be coming off the field exchanging some words with somebody," Scott said. "(Suggs) was like, 'Why are you so mean? Why are you always mad?" The edge with which Scott plays can be traced to when his and Foote's paths diverged after the two were teammates in a high school All-Star game. Quite stingy Yards and points might be hard to come by tonight when the Ravens and Steelers play

13 Steelers' Foote, Ravens' Scott rekindle rivalry - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 2 of 2 at Heinz Field. The teams feature stout defenses that are among the best in the NFL. Here is where they rank per game in some key categories (NFL rank in parentheses): Steelers Ravens (1) Yards (2) 13.0 (1) Points allowed 17.0 (8) 71.9 (2) Rushing yards 77.4 (4) Foote went to the University of Michigan and ended up starring for the Wolverines. Scott, meanwhile, had to settle for accepting a scholarship to Southern Illinois after the big schools that had been recruiting him backed off because of a low SAT score. He made the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2002 but had to play primarily on special teams for three seasons before getting an opportunity at outside linebacker. Scott has proven to be been a perfect fit on an attacking Baltimore defense that plays with plenty of attitude. "He is a true football player," Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis said. "He's getting his just due now," Foote said. "I'm always pumping him up." As much pride as Foote has in Scott, who is also from the east side of Detroit, there is no denying the rivalry between the two. "It's always been a big thing in Detroit: Who was the better linebacker, me or Larry Foote?" Scott said. "He went to Michigan, so he won the college battle. But I've had a chance to catch up." Not that Foote, who has 30 tackles, two forced fumbles, a sack and an interception this season, is conceding that Scott has passed him. "He was telling Willie Parker at the Pro Bowl (in February) he's better than me," Foote said with a smile, "so I'm going to go ahead and give him some (verbal) shots this year." Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or Images and text copyright 2007 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

14 Star-filled gala honors Steelers' 75th - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 2 Star-studded affair commemorates Steelers' 75th By Scott Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Monday, November 5, 2007 Dressed in a tuxedo, "Mean" Joe Greene looked anything but messy. But that is not the only reason why the Pro Football Hall of Famer raised his eyebrows when asked about the label Dwight White tagged on him from their days of sharing an apartment together in Pittsburgh. White, he said, was actually the messy one. To back up his claim, Greene talked about how the plates and silverware in their apartment gradually disappeared -- and how he got the answer to the question that had perplexed him when the two moved out of the apartment. "All of the silverware and plateware were under his bed," Greene said with a laugh, "because he was having late-night sacks." Sunday was a night for former teammates to swap old stories -- and in Greene's case refute them -- as the Steelers and enough fans to seemingly fill an entire section at Heinz Field came together at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center to celebrate the 75th anniversary of a franchise that has become a Pittsburgh institution. Members of the Steelers' All-Time and Legends teams were honored at a dinner emceed by NFL Films' Steve Sabol, and the evening served as a time to toast the Steelers and reflect on how unique their success has been. Few franchises have won as much as the Steelers, as they are one of only three teams with five Super Bowl titles. Four of those were won during the 1970s when Greene, an incomparable tackle, did a much better job of tracking down opposing quarterbacks than he did missing forks and when the offense proved to be every bit the equal of the intimidating defense that came to be known as the Steel Curtain. "We are the most successful team in the NFL over the last 20, 30 years," Steelers chairman Dan Rooney said. Stability has been a major reason for the Steelers' success. The team has been owned by the Rooney family since its inception and has had just three head coaches since 1969.

15 Star-filled gala honors Steelers' 75th - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 2 of 2 The Steelers, meanwhile, have the feel of an extended family, said running back Rocky Bleier, because of the number of former players who still have strong ties to the organization and to the city of Pittsburgh. "Look at all of the players (from the) '70s and '80s that stayed here," said Bleier, who still lives in Pittsburgh and joined Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis as the running backs on the All-Time team. "It's a pretty good core of guys. You're always a Steeler, you know?" That feeling is what prompted Hall of Fame wide receiver John Stallworth to travel from Alabama to Pittsburgh for the festivities, which continue tonight when the Steelers host the Baltimore Ravens. And it explained why former greats such as Jack Ham, Rod Woodson and Carnell Lake found themselves riding in an elevator together last night. They had all returned to celebrate some of the best years of their lives. "It has all been a wonderful journey," Greene said. "There are many teams in the NFL. They all don't share what we have here in Pittsburgh." Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or Images and text copyright 2007 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

16 Beaver County Times Allegheny Times - Sports - 11/04/ Ravens want to crash Stee... Page 1 of 1 11/04/2007 Ravens want to crash Steelers party By: Mike Bires, Times Sports Staff PITTSBURGH - Tonight at the Steelers' 75th anniversary celebration, 45 guests plan on ruining the party. "Pittsburgh knows what's coming Monday night," warned Ray Lewis, the passionate ringleader of the Baltimore Ravens. What's coming this evening at Heinz Field is an angry team wanting to prove that, despite a disappointing 4-3 start, they can handle the Steelers just like they did a year ago. Advertisement Certainly, with a host of legends named to the Steelers' All-Time Team on hand, the atmosphere on the North Shore will be more electrifying than any of the previous 25 Monday Night Football games played over the years in Pittsburgh. "We look at it like we've been scheduled for their homecoming," Ravens coach Brian Billick said. "That's great. I don't know that our players are particularly focused on it, but we know it is going to be a very emotional night, not like it needs more." With the likes of Jack Lambert, Joe Greene, Lynn Swann and Terry Bradshaw expected to take part in festivities honoring the 33 members of the All-Time Team, memories of past Steelers' success will no doubt charge up the home crowd. But ultimately, what matters most is what happens on the field starting at 8:30 p.m. In a game pitting two teams with genuine hate for each other, it's the 5-2 Steelers of rookie coach Mike Tomlin trying to pad their lead in the AFC North Division. To do so, they must defeat a team that embarrassed them twice last year by a combined score of That's the Ravens, who, due to injuries to several key players, have hardly resembled the team that crushed the Steelers 27-0 and 31-7 en route to winning the division last year with a 13-3 record. But coming off a much-needed bye, the Ravens will return at least five starters tonight - quarterback Steve McNair, tight end Todd Heap, tackles Jonathan Ogden and Adam Terry and defensive end Trevor Pryce. Cornerback Chris McAlister wants to play, but because his knee injury is still bothering him, he's questionable at best. The Ravens believe they'll be much better now that they're rested and healthy as they've been since the start of the season. They want to prove that losses to the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills - teams the Steelers beat by a combined score of were a fluke. Most importantly, the Ravens want to reclaim a share of first place in the AFC North, and by doing so, handing their archenemies their first loss on home soil this year. "This game sums up, really, the National Football League, and it sums up our division," Lewis said. "Nothing is a secret about the way these two teams play against each other. We know it's going to be physical. They've got the No. 1 defense; we've got the No. 2 defense. "It's going to be one of those classic games. You have to appreciate where you are right now in the season, being able to go into Pittsburgh with the possibility of taking over the lead and controlling of the division. Bottom line after that, I just think that the really exciting part about our team is that we're really excited about everybody being healthy right now. Everybody's really flying around. We feel good. That's the most exciting part right now. We've finally got all our people back." "If we can stay healthy," Lewis added, "it's going to be a good year for us." With a tough schedule ahead of them - there's a brutal three-game against the San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts - the Ravens know that they must upset the Steelers if they want to repeat as division champs. Beaver County Times Allegheny Times 2007

17 Beaver County Times Allegheny Times - Sports - 11/04/ Steelers column: Bask in t... Page 1 of 1 11/04/2007 Steelers column: Bask in the moment By: Mike Bires, Times Sports Staff PITTSBURGH - If you're one of the 65,050 fans with a ticket to tonight's game at Heinz Field, consider yourself lucky. You're in for a treat you'll never forget. Well, at least if you're a Steelers fan. Advertisement Millions of pro football followers will watch the Baltimore Ravens and Steelers wage another AFC North battle on television. It promises to be must-see TV. These bitter rivals are playing for first place in the division. But this evening's entertainment on the North Shore extends beyond the action on the football field. Before the game and at halftime, 33 members of the Steelers' All-Time Team will be honored. For those who'll be there to see it, it promises to be special. Never before has so many Steelers legends been at the same place at the same time. It will be a time to honor those men voted to the all-time team by a vote of the fans. Many of them are now old and gray and bald, but in the Steeler Nation, they'll always be revered. Beyond paying tribute to greats like Joe Greene, Franco Harris and Mel Blount, to just name a few, tonight's festivities transcend individuality. In this the 75th anniversary of the Steelers' existence, it's also a time to recognize one of the most storied franchises in all of sport, not just the world of football. It's a time to thank the Rooney family, the one and only owners the team has ever had, for providing Pittsburgh sports fans a model franchise that's won five Super Bowls and produced someof the most famous athletes of all-time. Certainly, that was the theme Sunday night at a gala held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. In his role as master of ceremonies, Steve Sabol, the president of NFL Films, quoted the late John Facenda in paying tribute to the Steelers. For those too young to remember, Facenda was the recognizable voice behind the NFL Films footage. It was Facenda who said years ago, "There are 27 teams in the National Football League, and then there are the Pittsburgh Steelers." "Well, we now have more than 28 teams in the NFL," Sabol said. "But John Facenda's words still ring true today. There are 31 teams in the National Football League. Then there are there are the Pittsburgh Steelers." There were only four living members of the all-time team who didn't attend Sunday night's gala. Terry Bradshaw and Jerome Bettis were tied up with their TV work as NFL analysts. But they will be on hand tonight. Joey Porter, who now plays for the Miami Dolphins, didn't attend because he was cut by the Steelers in March. No reason was given for Jack Lambert's absence. Perhaps Rod Woodson, one of six Steelers who made the NFL's 75th anniversary team in 1994, put it best. "Some of us didn't finish our careers with the black and gold," said Woodson, who played for three other teams - including the hated Ravens - after the Steelers didn't re-sign him during free agency in "But we'll always bleed black and gold." Beaver County Times Allegheny Times 2007

18 Steelers celebrate past by playing Ravens Page 1 of 2 Steelers celebrate past by playing Ravens By F. Dale Lolley, Staff writer dlolley@observer-reporter.com PITTSBURGH - Forget about Indianapolis and New England. The rest of the nation can go crazy over that game. In Pittsburgh and Baltimore, when the Steelers and Ravens get together, it's almost always the game of the season. And they play it twice every year. Last season, however, was an anomaly. Baltimore swept the Steelers, winning by a combined score of 58-7 and embarrassed Pittsburgh along the way. "It was a situation in which we got behind early in both games and things kind of snowballed from there," said Steelers' guard Alan Faneca. "That played right into the hands of their defense. Instead of just being able to mix things up on third downs, they were able to do it on all three downs." The results were not good, particularly for Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who was sacked 14 times by Baltimore in the two games. "I don't know if there is anything enjoyable while playing a defense like this," Roethlisberger said. "They bring pressure; they do a lot of different things. They throw things at you." The Steelers would like to erase the memories of those games, something a victory tonight would accomplish. "What happened last year, happened last year," Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward said. "It wasn't a great year. Right now, it's another divisional game for us, a chance to separate ourselves from the rest of the division." You wouldn't think, considering those scores, that the Steelers would have chosen to celebrate their 75th anniversary team at a game against the Ravens, but that's what Pittsburgh will do. The 33 members of Pittsburgh's all-time team will be honored at halftime. "We look at it as if we've been scheduled for their homecoming," Baltimore coach Brian Billick said. "Ohio State and Michigan seem to schedule Northwestern a lot for homecoming. "I don't know that our players are particularly focused on it, but we know it's going to be a very emotional night. It's not like it needs more (because) it's Pittsburgh and Baltimore on a Monday night. You think that would be enough. Obviously, with what they are honoring, it should be a fabulous night." And the winner will be in first place in the AFC North.

19 Steelers celebrate past by playing Ravens Page 2 of 2 The Steelers (5-2) must win to stay ahead of the Ravens (4-3). Cleveland (5-3) also is in the picture. But both teams will also be playing without some key players. For the Steelers, defensive end Aaron Smith (kne) is doubtful to play and will be a game-time decision. Free safety Ryan Clark will miss his second consecutive game while recovering from a blood disorder that has caused problems for his spleen. The Ravens likely will be without both starting cornerbacks. Chris McAlister (knee) and Samari Rolle (illness) haven't practiced all week. Tight end Todd Heap (thigh) will be a game-time decision. Baltimore will get quarterback Steve McNair, offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden and defensive tackle Trevor Pryce back from injury. "We can put a team on the field that we envisioned at the beginning of the season, but haven't had since the opener," Billick said. Copyright Observer Publishing Co.

20 USATODAY.com - Football - Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh Page 1 of 1 Happy anniversary? Steelers celebrate 75th season by playing Ravens PITTSBURGH (AP) -The Pittsburgh Steelers are staging a 75th anniversary party Monday night, and everybody is invited. Franco and Rocky will be there, plus Swann and Stallworth, a still Mean Joe Greene and maybe a snarling Jack Lambert, too. The living members of the Steelers' 33-man all-franchise team are the guests of honor, and no doubt they will receive an ovation that can be heard halfway to Cleveland. They might even show off their five Super Bowl trophies, shiny reminders of the Steelers' extended run as one of the NFL's showcase franchises. The Baltimore Ravens will also be there, and they're beginning to wonder if anybody will notice until kickoff. Baltimore outscored Pittsburgh 58-7 in a pair of routs last season, winning 31-7 in Heinz Field, yet the Steelers (5-2) are big favorites to win and open up a two-game lead over the Ravens (4-3) in the AFC North. ``These are the games that you're not supposed to win. These are the opponents you're not supposed to (beat),'' linebacker Bart Scott said with more than a hint of sarcasm. ``What are we, 35-point underdogs? Hopefully, we can get off the bus without tripping.'' Ravens coach Brian Billick recalled his daughter's days at Northwestern and how the Big Ten powers often designated the Wildcats as the opponent for their special occasions. ``We look at it as we have been scheduled for their homecoming,'' Billick said of the Steelers. Some Steelers are wary of all the hoopla, with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger saying he hopes the extracurricular activities don't prove a distraction. Coach Mike Tomlin doesn't appear as worried. ``I would imagine it will provide a unique atmosphere at game time, one we should be able to feed off,'' Tomlin said. ``I would also like to think we don't need things to feed off to play this game.'' The Ravens, of course, are looking for any perceived slight or motivational edge going into the most important game of the season so far for both teams. A Steelers win assures them of owning the division lead going into the second half of the season. A Ravens victory ties up the race at the very time they are getting back many of their injured regulars, including quarterback Steve NcNair, offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden and defensive tackle Trevor Pryce. No wonder linebacker Ray Lewis wrote this on the locker room message board: ``The division lead is on the line. Need any other motivation. The perfect team to claim our territory.'' ``The most exciting part is this is a love-hate relationship with the Steelers,'' Lewis wrote on his Web site. ``We respect them, but we don't sit well with Pittsburgh and they don't sit well with us. It's a nasty ballgame and that's why I said there's no better team to go in and do it the way we're going in to do it. All the pressure's on them.'' As usual before any Ravens-Steelers game, there has been considerable jabbering. Only this time it's not been the two teams exchanging words. Instead, Lewis caused a stir by second-guessing Billick's play-calling during a loss against Buffalo on Oct. 21, which came before the Ravens' bye week. Lewis, unhappy the Ravens threw on three consecutive plays on their final possession while needing only one yard for a first down, has since tried to downplay the criticism. Billick called it ``old news.'' That's exactly what the Steelers are saying about last year's defeats against Baltimore, which already has as many losses as it did while going 13-3 last season. ``It's a new year. You look back on it and look at some of the schemes they ran against you, but this is a total different makeup of a team than we had last year,'' wide receiver Hines Ward said. ``What happened last year happened last year.'' Roethlisberger appears to be over the various miseries that led to his off season a year ago, when he was sacked 14 times and threw four interceptions against Baltimore. Last week, he threw twice for scores and repeatedly kept drives going by using his legs to elude the Bengals' pass rush during a victory at Cincinnati. There's also this: the Steelers haven't lost a Monday night home game in 16 years, going 11-0 since losing to the Giants on Oct. 14, The Steelers' challenge is to get Willie Parker going against the team that limited him to 51 yards in two games last season. The Ravens likewise need more production than they've been getting, scoring only eight touchdowns offensively in seven games. The problem: the Steelers and Ravens are 1-2, respectively, in fewest yards allowed, so both offenses may have to work for every first down they get. Sounds just like the days when Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier, Jack Ham, Mel Blount, John Stallworth and Lynn Swann were the Steelers' stars, not Parker, Roethlisberger and Alan Faneca. ``It's going to be one of those classic games,'' Lewis said.