Steelers coach Mike Tomlin confirmed quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s knee injury at his weekly news conference Monday, but didn’t offer a whole lot of clarity beyond that. Flacco is a little bummed by that. “Now, I feel like I have a chance to go out and play freely and go out and enjoy the game, enjoy this moment, enjoy being out there with my teammates”. I think this will be a tight game throughout the 60 minutes and could come down to which team executes on third down and takes care of the ball.
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Vick used to be one of – if not the – most exciting player to watch in all of professional football. It’s good for the rivalry. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. “We’re going to work in his comfort zone and bring the game to him to put us in the best position to win a football game”. “As a competitor, it’s always nice to face guys that you’ve been going against for a while”, Flacco said. This season sees each of them on very different trajectories than they have been in the past, which makes this game an interesting one, but for reasons you might not expect. “Hopefully everything is going well with [Roethlisberger], and he’ll be out there as quickly as possible”.
He was replaced by backup Michael Vick who will also be taking the starting quarterback duties with Roethlisberger out due to the injury. And last season, he played for the New York Jets. He posted a 52.9 completion percentage during that time with 18 touchdowns to 13 interceptions.
Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley is confident Vick will be able to do the job. “We have a ton of them, a ton of good ones”.
“I don’t think it was a dirty hit, I don’t think he was trying to take me out”, Roethlisberger said. He is a fine quarterback.
Maybe, but it will mark just Vicks fourth start in the last two years.
Vick signed with the Steelers on August 25 after Bruce Gradkowski suffered a dislocated finger that required season-ending surgery, and it was the flawless opportunity for him.
“If I see something, have to talk to Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell, or whoever it may be, I want to be there”, Roethlisberger said.
Somewhat like Cincinnati’s A.J. Green last week, Brown has been a thorn in the Ravens’ side.
Pittsburgh still has risky slot receiver Markus Wheaton and big-play threat Darrius Heyward-Bey. “We have to play better in critical situations”. Linebacker C.J. Mosley put it best when he said that the team has “some soul searching” to do.
The Ravens are accustomed to not facing the oft-injured Roethlisberger by now. This is the first time they have ever lost their first three games.
While Tomlin said he was comfortable with Vick’s knowledge of the team’s playbook, that doesn’t mean the look of the offense won’t change.
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In 2009, the Ravens faced backup Dennis Dixon at home and squeaked out a 20-17 victory. This could be the week the Ravens break through and beat a banged up Steeler squad.
