Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison may eventually be forced to change his wrecking-ball style of play. Just don't expect it to happen this week.
One of the NFL's fiercest and most physical rivalries resumes when the Steelers pay a visit to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night in a showdown for first place in the AFC North.
The Steelers and Ravens again are among the best defenses in the AFC, ranking first and third in points allowed, and the stakes are higher Sunday with both squads sporting 8-3 records.
Baltimore won the earlier meeting at Pittsburgh in Week 4, getting an 18-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco to T.J. Houshmandzadeh with 32 seconds to play for a 17-14 victory.
A win by the Ravens on Sunday would give them their first season sweep of the Steelers since 2006 and essentially a two-game lead over Pittsburgh with four to play.
Baltimore is 5-0 at M&T Bank Stadium this season and is seeking a franchise-record ninth consecutive win at home. The Steelers, though, are 5-1 on the road this season, with the only loss coming to the reigning Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints.
Pittsburgh also had another factor on its side: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has won his last five starts against the Ravens. He missed the earlier meeting this season while serving a four-game suspension for violating the league's personal-conduct policy.
Roethlisberger's health has been a subject of widespread speculation. He was wearing a walking boot throughout the week for what the team is calling a sprained right foot.
However, one Pittsburgh newspaper reported that Roethlisberger actually had a broken bone in his foot, prompting the Steelers to release a statement Thursday denying the report.
While Roethlisberger was limited in practice Thursday, he said he plans to start. He threw for 246 yards but was sacked five times in last week's 19-16 overtime win at Buffalo.
Another source of controversy in Pittsburgh has been Harrison, who was fined $25,000 by the NFL for a hit on Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
It was the fourth time Harrison has been fined this season for a total of $125,000. Nonetheless, the 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year said he will not change his style and plans to appeal the hit on Fitzpatrick.
Harrison is tied for third in the league with 10.0 sacks and is the first Pittsburgh player to register double-digit sacks in three consecutive seasons.
The one area where the Steelers are vulnerable on defense is through the air. Pittsburgh gave up 265 yards passing to Buffalo and survived an upset bid only when Bills wideout Steve Johnson dropped a wide-open touchdown pass in the end zone in overtime.
Flacco has been superb at home this season, throwing for 10 touchdowns against one interception. He was 24 of 37 for 256 yards with one scoring pass and one pick in the win at Pittsburgh on Oct. 3.
Running back Ray Rice has just one 100-yard rushing game and three TDs, but he has become a bigger part of the passing game of late, snatching 23 receptions in the past four games.
Pittsburgh’s Rashard Mendenhall needs 38 yards to reach 1,000 for the season. He ran for 79 yards and a pair of scores vs. the Ravens in Week 4.