Ravens could face Steelers in 2009 opener

[mesaSteeler]

Ravens could face Steelers in 2009 opener
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afcnorth/...09-opener.html
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afcnorth/...09-opener.html
February 6, 2009 1:30 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

This much we know: The Pittsburgh Steelers will open the 2009 season with a marquee Thursday night game in September.

This much is possible: Their Week 1 opponent could be the Baltimore Ravens.

It makes perfect sense. The NFL likes to showcase its Super Bowl champion in the first game of the season in primetime and it will be against a quality opponent.

No team pushed the Steelers last season quite like the Ravens. Pittsburgh won all three meetings in close, physical contests with tons of juicy story lines. The meeting in the AFC Championship only increased its reputation as one of the league's most intense, yet underrated, rivalries in the NFL.

The Steelers have other marquee games on their schedule against playoff teams such as the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans and Minnesota Vikings. A rematch at Heinz Field against the towel-stomping Titans also looks like a solid possibility.

But why not start the year off right by pitting two AFC North rivals in a nationally televised game?

(Perfect, we can start the season right by beating the Ratbirds. After all we don't want them to forget that we beat them three times in a row last season. The murderer Ray-Ray, who is a free agent, has already publicly stated he won't give the Ratbirds a hometown discount so he might not even be on the Ratbird team. To keep him the Ratbirds will have to overpay him. Either way we win. Since we are Super Bowl champs I believe we have home field for the first game. - mesa)

[CPanther95]

That will make it 4 wins against the Ravens within one year.

[tony hipchest]

i can hear it now-

"its extemely tuff to beat a team 4 times in the same season"

i seen that program and its re-run 3 times in the last season. playing it again in the season opener would be jumping the shark.

what people really wanna see (and what they were robbed of) is how a steelers/titans showdown woulda went.

the best thing about openning against the titans is there would be alot of build up and hype about the terrible towel.

this would spread the word of myron cope and his cause on a national stage. he would be proud and his charity would benefit.

the nfl owes it to humanity to promote this legendary figure and fanbase, and get myron all this free publicity.

screw the ravens. we can smack them around 2 times later in the year.

[jev7452]

i think i agree.. as much as i would like to start of the season by beating the birds, i also think that tennessee game would be great!! i dont care who they are playing, as long as they win!

[CPanther95]

I say go with the Titans also. Last year's game was a divisional matchup though, so hopefully that isn't a desire of the league.

[AllD]

Bring Miami to Heinz in December.

[Curtain_of_Steel]

I'll take the Ravens on the opening night. Start off the year right with a good beating. Than follow up with the titan on 10 days rest and stuff the TT right up their ass. After that put the asterisk next to the name in the standings and be the first team to clinch home field throughout the playoffs after the 2and game.

And yes its impossible to beat a team 4 times in one year, never been done in fact, lol

[KeiselPower99]

I want the Titans right off the bat. Make them watch us raise another Super Bowl banner!!!!!

[lilyoder6]

they could always put the uprising browns who had 4 primtime games last yr... oh wait.. THEY SUCK....... so that won't happen ever again...

even tho the ravens will be good.. i think that both games we play against the ravens will be in the later stages of the season to make the division race more juicy

[Galax Steeler]

I would like to see us face the titans, but I would settle for the ratbirds.