The Pittsburgh Steelers are playing the role of host on Thursday Night Football against the Baltimore Ravens, hoping to put another nail in their proverbial AFC North coffin.
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Pittsburgh enters the game at 2-1, but there are plenty of problems in the Steel City. The Steelers won last week, 12-6, over the St. Louis Rams but incurred a major injury with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger going down with a sprained MCL and bone bruise. Roethlisberger will be out 4-6 weeks, leaving Michael Vick to run the show.
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Vick was signed in August after original backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski was lost with an injury in the preseason. The Steelers are also without wide receiver Martavis Bryant and All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey, due to a suspension and ankle injury, respectively.
The Ravens are in need of a victory. In each of its three games, Baltimore has enjoyed a second-half lead only to watch it slip away. The Ravens have been wildly inconsistent on both sides of the ball, and injuries are not helping the cause. In Week 1, outside linebacker Terrell Suggs went down for the season with a torn Achilles while left tackle Eugene Monroe sustained a concussion that still has him sidelined.
Should the Ravens lose, they will fall to 0-4 and be 3.5 games behind the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals, who host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday afternoon. Pittsburgh is trying to draw within a half-game of the Bengals, with the two teams due to play later this month.