Harbaugh Sees Advantages Heading Into Saturday
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (KDKA/AP) - The Ravens are looking to keep the momentum rolling as they arrive in Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers for another playoff showdown.
The Steelers and Ravens split the regular season match-up, with the road team winning each game by a three point margin.
When asked about the rematch, Ravens Coach John Harbaugh said, "We're looking forward to it. We wouldn't have it any other way."
The Ravens were leading 10-7 at halftime of the wild card game against the Kansas City Chiefs; then in the second half, the Ravens took control and starting rolling to a 30-7 win.
Harbaugh said he sees the game against the Chiefs as an advantage heading into Saturday's game.
"There is definitely an advantage to having the time off from a rest perspective," Harbaugh added, "and there's probably an advantage from playing from a being sharp perspective; so we'll try to take advantage of the strengths in our favor and hope the strengths in their favor are minimized by the way we approach what we do."
The last time the Steelers and Ravens met in the playoffs was in the 2008 Playoffs for the AFC Championship. The Ravens lost that game 23-14 and are 0-2 in the playoffs against Pittsburgh at Heinz Field.
The winner of this weekend's game will take on either the New York Jets or the New England Patriots. If the Patriots win, they will host either the Steelers or Ravens; but if the Jets come out on top, they'll have to travel to either Pittsburgh or Baltimore.
While the Ravens were without kick returner David Reed and linebacker Tavares Gooden for the Chiefs game due to injuries, both could play this weekend. In fact, the coach said they could have played last week but he decided to go with healthier players.
Ravens safety Ed Reed is expected to play on Saturday although he is likely to miss practice this week. Reed is back in Louisiana with his family after his brother went missing. His brother jumped into the Mississippi River after police confronted him about a stolen car.
Harbaugh said he left it up to Reed to decide when he would return. "I know Ed knows this team inside and out. It's going to depend on the circumstances down there, what he feels he needs to do with his family; but we'll give him a lot of leeway on that."
