Mark Viviano: Black And Yellow Is Black And Blue
Injuries are part of life in the NFL. Every team has front-line players who are incapacitated and/or limited in their contributions and the list of wounded grows week to week in a long, brutal season. The Pittsburgh Steelers' injury scenario is a bad one for this week, which means it's good for the Ravens who play at Pittsburgh Sunday night.
The Steelers will be without a trio of linebackers who are the heart and soul of their perennially powerful defense. LaMarr Woodley suffered a hamstring injury in Pittsburgh's win over New England on Sunday and will join fellow linebackers James Harrrison (broken eye socket) and James Farrior (calf injury) on the Steeler sideline in sweat pants and hoodies. It's comparable to the Ravens having to play without Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs and Jarret Johnson. Not a pleasant thought.
In the pursuit of a championship, health (luck) is a factor. This is a stroke of good fortune that the Ravens must take to their full advantage. And they won't be sending any "Get Well" or sympathy cards to the Steelers this week. This is part of the game. In the past the Ravens have benefited from the absence of Ben Roethlisberger and Troy Polamalu while the Steelers have benefited from the Ravens being without Ray Lewis and/or Ed Reed. It happens. It's happening for the Ravens in a season when they have a real shot at a Super Bowl. And they've already beaten the Steelers in Baltimore. The Ravens must make the most of this to keep those title hopes moving forward. And, by the way- the Ravens need to stay healthy (lucky) in the process.
More on Steelers injuries:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11305/1186660-100.stm
Posted by Mark Viviano
