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Steelers Healthy; Ravens Hurting

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The Associated Press

Published: January 15, 2009

PITTSBURGH - Steelers coach Mike Tomlin routinely starts his weekly news conference by running down his injury list. The last couple of weeks, that's taken only a few seconds.

The Steelers are right where every NFL team wants to be in January - not only in the conference championship game, but also healthy and fairly well-rested. They're hoping it makes a major difference vs. the beaten-up Ravens in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, given how physical and hard-hitting their games traditionally are.

At least Wednesday, there was no comparison between the two - health-wise, that is:

For the Ravens: LB Antwan Barnes (shoulder, out), DT Justin Bannan (foot), WR Mark Clayton (thigh), LB Jarret Johnson (calf), WR Derrick Mason (knee), FB Le'Ron McClain (ankle), CB Samari Rolle (thigh), linebacker Terrell Suggs (shoulder).

That's a lot of talent sitting out practice.

And for the Steelers: C Justin Hartwig (knee) and S Troy Polamalu (calf), both of whom are expected to play.

"It kind of would put them in a disadvantage out there, not having a veteran guy like Samari," Steelers WR Hines Ward said. "We're healthy and they're banged up, and hopefully we can go out there and exploit that and try to make some plays in their secondary."

Suggs' status also is uncertain, but Ward is convinced he will play.

"Suggs, he's a talent, next to Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, he's really the Ravens' heart and soul," Ward said. "He's the one who gets guys going. He's got a constant motor and just doesn't stop. I'll bet anything he's going to be on the field. There's no way he can miss this game."

FLACCO PUTS UP W's: Joe Flacco has been making headlines this postseason for what he hasn't done.

In two games, the Ravens quarterback has completed only 44 percent of his passes, thrown for one touchdown and is averaging 148 yards passing.

Nothing special there.

Yet Flacco has not fumbled or been intercepted, and that's the biggest reason why he is the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to win two playoff games. He's no Joe Montana, but the man known in Baltimore as "Joe Cool" has outplayed quarterbacks with longer resumes and far more experience.

Chad Pennington threw four interceptions in Miami's 27-9 loss to the Ravens, and Kerry Collins was picked off in the red zone last week, a key play in Tennessee's 13-10 defeat.

Although he's careful with the football in his hand, that doesn't mean Flacco is conservative to a fault. He threw a 48-yard TD pass to Derrick Mason in the first quarter at Tennessee, and directed a late 51-yard drive that resulted in Matt Stover's game-winning field goal.

"I don't care what anybody says. I'm going to go out there and make as many plays as I can," Flacco said. "If it's not there, I'm not going to be dumb enough to try to take the play anyway. I'm going to do what I can to make sure it's a safe play. ... I'm looking to hit the play over the top, and if it's not there, I'm going to check it down."

The Associated Press

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