(September 1, 2000) -- At long last, it is here. All of the training camp and preseason hype, speculation and "expert" analysis give way to the real thing. For the true football fan, there is nothing like "the game", that magical three-hour period when little else seems to matter. It is the time when meek and mild-mannered people become sideline coaches (and loud, screaming buffoons). It is the time when your palms get sweaty during that last-minute drive, field goal or turnover. The time of proud jubilation when your team holds that insurmountable lead late in the fourth quarter or the feeling of bitter disappointment and frustration when they've fallen too far behind. The Ravens' road to the playoffs will not be an easy one as they are the only team in the NFL to play five of their first seven games on the road. It is a most daunting task, no matter the opponents. The league swears that its nothing personal but I believe that they have treated us a like a polecat at a picnic ever since the Colts left. Regardless, that is the mission at hand. The first challenge of the new year is none other than the Pittsburgh Steelers. Perhaps this is fitting. When the Ravens arrived in Baltimore in 1996, the Steelers were flying high while our "ex-Browns" were still searching for their identity. Times have changed and the dynamics of the two teams have changed as well. The Ravens give all indications of a team headed upwards while the Steelers, amidst free-agent defections and poor quarterback play, have declined in recent years. Head coach Bill Cowher has named newly acquired journeyman Kent Graham as his starting quarterback over Kordell Stewart (the lesser of two evils). Graham, although a tough competitor, is a large, bulky, immobile-type, who has previously lost his starting quarterback's role with the Cardinals and Giants.That notwithstanding, Pittsburgh is a proud team with a winning tradition, fanatical fans and a great coach. September 3rd will be a good first test and an excellent opportunity for the Ravens to show how far they have come. The defense should have little trouble stopping running back Jerome Bettis, a straight-ahead, bull-type runner, perfectly suited to our strong front seven. Forcing the issue with Graham is the key. Kent is an average passer at best who needs time to drop back, set up and throw. The hope here is that the Ravens' quick pash rush can apply pressure and force him into sacks, bad decision-making and more importantly, turnovers. In last year's first meeting between the two teams, the Ravens were beaten, in large part due to shoddy special teams play. Although the special teams unit has shown great improvement during the preseason, they have much to prove in 2000. The major concern, as always, is the Ravens offense. The old axiom is that "the best defense is a good offense", i.e. Pittsburgh cannot score without the ball. For the first time in three years, the Ravens have bona-fide weapons on offense but the players, coaches and play-calling must mesh together well enough to achieve results. Look for tight ends Shannon Sharpe and Ben Coates to play a huge role, especially in the red zone and for the Ravens' talent to outshine that of the Steelers.

Prediction: Ravens 27 Steelers 17

Week 1

Sunday, September 3
Arizona at New York Giants, 1 p.m.
Baltimore at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.
Carolina at Washington, 1 p.m.
Chicago at Minnesota, 1 p.m.
Detroit at New Orleans, 1 p.m.
Indianapolis at Kansas City, 1 p.m.
Jacksonville at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
New York Jets at Green Bay, 4:15 p.m.
Philadelphia at Dallas, 4:05 p.m.
San Diego at Oakland, 4:15 p.m.
San Francisco at Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Seattle at Miami, 4:15 p.m.
Tampa Bay at New England, 1 p.m.
Tennessee at Buffalo, 8:20 p.m.

Monday, September 4
Denver at St. Louis, 9 p.m.
(Open date: Cincinnati)

Ravens Official Site

Steelers Official Site

Ozzie Newsome, Shannon Sharpe and Brian
Billick were all smiles at the tight end's signing

Ravens/Steelers:

A tale of two teams

Franchises appear headed in opposite directions

(September 2, 2000) -- One head coach is wrestling with how to utilize his numerous new offensive weapons, the other has reluctantly named his starting quarterback after five preseason games. One head coach is busy designing two (Pro Bowl) tight end offensive schemes, the other is trying to determine if his starting quarterback of the past three years would be better used as a receiver. One head coach is sitting on the brink of an exciting season with playoff possibilities, the other is sitting on the hot seat after consecutive declining seasons. So it goes for the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2000. Pittsburgh's Bill Cowher is a scrapper, a fighter, a never-say-die warrior but stubborn to a fault, particularly in the case of Kordell Stewart. Ravens head coach Brian Billick on the other hand, thought nothing of benching Scott Mitchell after just six quarters last year, this after having spent much of the offseason selling the city of Baltimore on the big man. The first game of the year will speak volumes about the two teams and the two coaches. Three Rivers Stadium used to be a living hell for opposing teams. Last year the Steelers went 2-6 at home, including a loss to the expansion Browns. A far cry from the intimidating days of face-painted, towel-waving maniacs and names like Lambert, Ham, Bradshaw and Greene. Pittsburgh has lost in the free agent sweepstakes in recent years and Cowher's mission is to right the ship. The question is: How much time does he have left?

THE FACTS:

Discuss the game with Steeler fans

Week 1 Predictions:

(September 4, 2000) -- It seems unfair that a defense as good as the Ravens' is operating without a nickname. On Sunday, "The Graham Crackers" or the "The Bus Stop" could have easily applied. Baltimore's defense continually harassed, molested and taunted Pittsburgh's new starting quarterback Kent Graham and held the powerful Jerome "The Bus" Bettis to an embarrassing eight rushing yards. Actually, the Bus never got out of the parking lot, as he seemed to be tackled in the backfield more times than not. As for Graham, he hung tough but had that "Isn't anyone going to help me?" look of bewilderment throughout most of the day. The turning point of the game came midway in the fourth quarter. After Graham had driven the Steelers 80 yards to the Ravens five yard line, Pittsburgh discovered that the frustration had only just begun. After failing on three attempts to score, the Steelers were given a fresh set of downs on the one yard line when the Ravens were called for pass interference. On the verge of scoring, head coach Bill Cowher inexplicably pulled Graham from the game and inserted recently demoted quarterback, Kordell Stewart. After a running play failed on first down, Stewart released a wobbly, underthrown pass into the endzone as he was sandwiched between Michael McCrary and Sam Adams. On third down, Kordell forgot to take the snap from center and fortunately for Pittsburgh, the ball was recovered by an offensive lineman. Perhaps realizing his mistake, Cowher yanked Stewart from the game amid a showering of boos from the home crowd and reinstalled Kent Graham (to a standing ovation). The Steelers tried it again on fourth down and Graham, under a heavy rush, overthrew Plaxico Burress in the left corner of the end zone. That exercise in futility sent the fans home early and was indeed the ball game. Offensively, Tony Banks hit Qadry Ismail on a 53-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline in the first quarter, which turned out to be more than the Ravens needed. For the most part, head coach Brian Billick stuck to a two tight end run-oriented offense and Priest Holmes finished with 119 yards on 27 carries. Ismail hauled in seven passes for 102 yards while rookie Travis Taylor caught four for 50 yards. The offensive line, a question mark going into the season, performed admirably. After center Jeff Mitchell left the game with an injury, right guard Mike Flynn assumed the role and the Ravens' grind-it-out attack continued without missing a beat.

Qadry Ismail celebrates his 53-yard touchdown catch

Defensive lineman Rob Burnett crashes into
Steeler QB Kent Graham, causing fumble

Steelers run into brick wall

Pittsburgh's ground attack unable to find daylight

(September 4, 2000) -- How appropriate it was. In the Ravens' last-ever appearance at Three Rivers Stadium, they performed an uncanny impersonation of the vaunted "Steel Curtain" defenses of old. The mighty Baltimore defense held the Steelers to a laughable 30 yards rushing. 30 yards. 90 feet. Many back yards are longer. The Ravens' defense appears to be on a mission this year, which no one may be able to stop. One could see it building in the preseason and it has carried over, so far, to the regular season. These guys appear to be genuinely perturbed when an opponent gets a first down, much less a score. Adding in to the equation this year's improved offense (holding on to the ball longer), it is downright mind-boggling what this defense might be able to accomplish with more rest.

RECAP/HIGHLIGHTS


ESPN Boxscore

Week 1 Scores:

Baltimore 16, Pittsburgh 0
Jacksonville 27, Cleveland 7
Detroit 14, New Orleans 10
Minnesota 30, Chicago 27
Atlanta 36, San Francisco 28
Oakland 9, San Diego 6
N.Y. Jets 20, Green Bay 16
Washington 20, Carolina 17
N.Y. Giants 21, Arizona 16
Tampa Bay 21, New England 16
Indianapolis 27, Kansas City 14
Philadelphia 41, Dallas 14
Miami 23, Seattle 0
Buffalo 16, Tennessee 13
St. Louis 41, Denver 36