Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers 2012 NFL Preview

Baltimore and Pittsburgh have played some of the best games of the past decade. They get to share one preview, for economy sake, since I wrote each separately and then realized I said the same thing. So, depending on your rooting interest, substitute in the appropriate comment.

Baltimore/Pittsburgh are the favorites to win the AFC North, just like they have been for much of the last 12 years. The Ravens/Steelers will still rely on one of the league’s best defenses, though one has to wonder if Father Time will ever step in and knock them down a notch. Are you going to tell Ray Lewis/James Harrison that they are getting too old, though? Didn’t think so. Baltimore/Pittsburgh has one of the best safeties in the game in Ed Reed/Troy Polamalu though injuries and age could be a big factor there. If their aging stars can stay healthy, there is no reason they should not be Super Bowl contenders.

On offense, Joe Flacco/Ben Roethlisberger have an emerging receiving group, as Torrey Smith/Antonio Brown had a breakout year last season and look poised to continue it. If Flacco/Roethlisberger can get protection and get rid of the ball (which is sometimes an issue), then he can overcome his unibrow/bulbous nose and have a big year.

It gets kind of boring talking about Baltimore/Pittsburgh because they are always in contention with one of the top organizations and one of the best coaches in the game in John Harbaugh/Mike Tomlin . Sure, they have to overcome the key injuries to Terrell Suggs/the running backs and rookie David DeCastro , but we’ve seen them find ways to compensate, and they should do so again. It wouldn’t surprise me to see them in contention for the AFC Title in 2012.

[photo via US Presswire]