The Baltimore Ravens have been making headlines everyday but for all the wrong reasons. Amidst all the mess revolving around Ray Rice with the release of THE video, Ravens are set to take on their arch-rivals Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday.
Where to Watch Live
The opening game of the NFL season is scheduled for an 8.30 pm ET (1.30 am BST, 6 am IST). CBS will provide live coverage in the US, while viewers can also watch the game online via live streaming HERE. Catch the action in the UK on Sky Sports, with the option to live stream HERE. International viewers can catch all the action via live streaming HERE.
The Ravens will look to avoid a 0-2 for the first time since 2005. On the other hand, Steelers will look to start with a 2-0 record for the first time since 2010, the year they won the AFC North.
The two have already opened up the season on Sunday against their divisional teams. Steelers survived a game against the Cleveland Browns with a 30-27 victory, but the Ravens could not post a win against Cincinnati. Baltimore totalled just 23 yards on nine carries, falling behind 15-0 in the first half of the game. Ravens finally lost 23-16.
"[The Ray Rice video] changed things, of course," said coach John Harbaugh about Rice, who was earlier, suspended for just two games before the video release, which led to the Ravens terminating his contract and the NFL suspending the running back indefinitely. "It made things a little bit different."
Ravens will have a better chance against Steelers if they tighten their offense in the upcoming game.
"We dropped all the gimmies, but we caught all the hard ones," Steve Smith said. "Things can happen and you've got to take responsibility. This receiver group has a lot of opportunities to be great, and I think we overthought things and ran before we had the ball. We've just got to play better."
Meanwhile, Steelers will try to improve on their narrow their win from last week.
"People probably didn't like the way we came out with a 'W,' but we came out with a 'W,'" cornerback Ike Taylor said. "So nobody has really nothing to talk about except for the small things, and we'll correct them."
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was also aware of the fact that it was not the greatest of performances from his side against Cleveland, and improvement is the order of the day.
"We're not going to let [Sunday] define us by any stretch," Tomlin said. "We're going to need a better result if we want to get a victory on Thursday night."
Ben Roethlisberger obtained a career best 278 yards in the first half and finished with 365 total yards. Le'veon Bell finished with 109 yards along with catching 6 passes for 88 yards.
"I can't wait to get to Baltimore and see what these guys are really about," Bell said confidently. "They are going to play tough. They know what we like to do, we know what they like to do. Both teams are similar. It's going to be a good game."
However, the Pittsburgh Steelers have lost four out of the last six encounters against the Baltimore Ravens.
