Jets insider predicts Justin Fields will choose New York over Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been involved in some of the NFL’s most intense rivalries, and their biggest one right now is with the Baltimore Ravens. This rivalry has been fierce, especially during the days when Ben Roethlisberger and Ray Lewis were at the heart of the action. The rivalry is one of the best in the NFL, and it reached its peak with these two legends facing off on the field.
Ray Lewis, one of the greatest linebackers of all time, played a huge role in fueling this rivalry. He led a tough Ravens defense, with guys like Terrell Suggs and Ed Reed backing him up. While the Steelers and Ravens truly hated each other on the field, there was a sense of respect that ran deep. Roethlisberger shared this during the latest episode of Footbahlin With Ben Roethlisberger.
"I remember times when I'd be under a pile, and my leg might be twisted," Roethlisberger said. "Some guys might keep twisting, but Lewis and Suggs would be like, 'No, hey, get off.' They wouldn’t hurt me."
That’s not something you usually expect in a heated rivalry. Roethlisberger could’ve been seriously hurt if someone twisted his leg, but both Lewis and Suggs would help him up after a tough hit. It showed just how much respect there was between the two teams despite the hatred between the whistles.
Roethlisberger also speculated that the Ravens defense wanted to play the Steelers when they were at their best. The rivalry wasn’t the same for him when players like Lewis or Suggs weren’t on the field. Playing against the Ravens without them just didn’t have the same intensity for Roethlisberger.
While they were rivals on the field, once the game was over, the respect was undeniable. Roethlisberger himself went 17-10 against Baltimore, including a huge win over them in the 2008 AFC Championship, on the way to winning Super Bowl XLIII. He threw 43 touchdowns against the Ravens during his career, showing how these teams brought out the best in each other.
The Steelers-Ravens rivalry also had some key positional battles. Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed were two of the best safeties in the league, and there was always a debate about which one was better. Then there was the battle between Suggs and James Harrison at outside linebacker. Both were hard hitters who knew how to get to the quarterback, each winning the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award during their careers.
This rivalry and the players that defined it are part of the NFL’s story. In fact, a lot of the league’s focus on player safety comes from the hard hits that were a trademark of games between Pittsburgh and Baltimore.
Comments
Post a Comment