Ravens–Steelers rivalry

Baltimore Ravens–Pittsburgh Steelers
History
1st Meeting	September 8, 1996
Last Meeting	January 18, 2009
Next Meeting	November 29, 2009
Number of Meetings	28
All-Time Series	PIT: 18-10 PIT, 7-6 @ Baltimore PIT, 10-4 @ Pittsburgh
Regular Season Series	PIT: 16-10 PIT, 7-6 @ Baltimore PIT, 9-4 @ Pittsburgh
Largest victory	PIT: 37–0 (11/9/1997)
Current Streak	BAL: Won 1
Longest BAL Win Streak	3 (2005-2006)
Longest PIT Win Streak	5 (1997-1999), (2001-2003)
Post Season Series	PIT: 2-0
January 20, 2002	Steelers won 27–10
January 18, 2009	Steelers won 23–14
Championship Success
Super Bowl Championships (7) PIT (6) – 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 2005, 2008 BAL (1) – 2000 Conference Championships (8) PIT (7) – 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1995, 2005, 2008 BAL (1) – 2000 Divisional Championships (21) PIT (19) – 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008 BAL (2) – 2003, 2006

The rivalry between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers is one of the most intense in the National Football League. Both teams are members of the AFC North division, and play at least twice a year in what are often battles for divisional supremacy. Both teams are known for fielding tough, hard-hitting defensive squads, giving their games an extra element of physical intensity.

History

In 1996, football returned to Baltimore, 12 years after the original Baltimore Colts moved to Indianapolis. In a strange twist of fate, the relocated Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh’s arch rival, settled in Baltimore. The rivalry carried over with both teams remaining in what was then the AFC's Central Division. Since the formation of the AFC North in 2002, the Steelers and Ravens have dominated the division, with the Steelers winning or tying for five divisional titles (as of 2008) and the Ravens taking the other two. Sports Illustrated has ranked the rivalry #2 on a list of "Top 10 New NFL Rivalries."

"The coaches hate each other, the players hate each other... There's no calling each other after the game and inviting each other out to dinner. But the feeling's mutual: They don't like us, and we don't like them. There's no need to hide it, they know it, and we know it. It's going to be one of those black and blue games."

~- Steelers WR Hines Ward

Some memorable moments in the rivalry have included Ravens LB Terrell Suggs being quoted as saying that a "bounty" was put out of Steelers WR Hines Ward. The bounty controversy was cleared up when Suggs insisted his words were just meant as a joke out of frustration. The NFL investigated and Suggs was cleared of any wrong doing.

The rivalry reached a new height of intensity during the 2008 season, when the Steelers and Ravens played three times, the last match being the AFC Championship. The Steelers won all three games, by close margins. The margins were so close that in the regular season just under two yards would have shifted from a Steelers sweep to a Ravens sweep. In week 15, the Steelers won with a controversial score late in the game. In the playoff game, a personal foul by the special teams player Daren Stone cost the Ravens 25 yards. The last play was an interception that was returned for a touchdown by Troy Polamalu. In that same game the Steelers' Ryan Clark delivered a hit on the Ravens' Willis McGahee that left Clark briefly out cold and forced McGahee to spend the night in a Pittsburgh hospital.

Game results

The following is a list of results from all of the meetings between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers from their first meeting on September 8, 1996 to the present:

Post Season Meeting

Tied Game

Overtime Result

1990s (Steelers 6-2)

Year	Date	Winner	Result	Loser	Location
1996	September 8	Pittsburgh Steelers	31–17	Baltimore Ravens	Three Rivers Stadium
	December 1	Baltimore Ravens	31–17	Pittsburgh Steelers	Memorial Stadium
1997	October 5	Pittsburgh Steelers	42–34	Baltimore Ravens	Memorial Stadium
	November 9	Pittsburgh Steelers	37–0	Baltimore Ravens	Three Rivers Stadium
1998	September 23	Pittsburgh Steelers	20–13	Baltimore Ravens	M&T Bank Stadium
	October 18	Pittsburgh Steelers	16–6	Baltimore Ravens	Three Rivers Stadium
1999	September 19	Pittsburgh Steelers	23–20	Baltimore Ravens	M&T Bank Stadium
	December 12	Baltimore Ravens	31–24	Pittsburgh Steelers	Three Rivers Stadium

2000s (Steelers 12-9)

Year	Date	Winner	Result	Loser	Location
2000	September 3	Baltimore Ravens	16–0	Pittsburgh Steelers	Three Rivers Stadium
	October 29	Pittsburgh Steelers	9–6	Baltimore Ravens	M&T Bank Stadium
2001	November 4	Baltimore Ravens	13–10	Pittsburgh Steelers	Heinz Field
	October 16	Pittsburgh Steelers	26–21	Baltimore Ravens	M&T Bank Stadium
	January 20	Pittsburgh Steelers	27–10	Baltimore Ravens	Heinz Field (AFC Divisional Playoff)
2002	October 27	Pittsburgh Steelers	31–18	Baltimore Ravens	M&T Bank Stadium
	December 29	Pittsburgh Steelers	34–31	Baltimore Ravens	Heinz Field
2003	September 7	Pittsburgh Steelers	34–15	Baltimore Ravens	Heinz Field
	December 28	Baltimore Ravens	13–10	Pittsburgh Steelers	M&T Bank Stadium
2004	September 19	Baltimore Ravens	30–13	Pittsburgh Steelers	M&T Bank Stadium
	December 26	Pittsburgh Steelers	20–7	Baltimore Ravens	Heinz Field
2005	October 31	Pittsburgh Steelers	20–19	Baltimore Ravens	Heinz Field
	November 20	Baltimore Ravens	16–13 (OT)	Pittsburgh Steelers	M&T Bank Stadium
2006	November 26	Baltimore Ravens	27–0	Pittsburgh Steelers	M&T Bank Stadium
	December 24	Baltimore Ravens	31–7	Pittsburgh Steelers	Heinz Field
2007	November 5	Pittsburgh Steelers	38–7	Baltimore Ravens	Heinz Field
	December 30	Baltimore Ravens	27–21	Pittsburgh Steelers	M&T Bank Stadium
2008	September 29	Pittsburgh Steelers	23–20 (OT)	Baltimore Ravens	Heinz Field
	December 14	Pittsburgh Steelers	13–9	Baltimore Ravens	M&T Bank Stadium
	January 18	Pittsburgh Steelers	23–14	Baltimore Ravens	Heinz Field (AFC Championship)
2009	November 29	Baltimore Ravens	20–17 (OT)	Pittsburgh Steelers	M&T Bank Stadium

References

• http://www.afc-north.com/rivalry/pitbal.html