Ravens ask not to play Steelers in prime time ???

[ravenmad71]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-ravens320,0,7828732.story

Source: Ravens ask NFL for no prime-time game in Pittsburgh
By Jamison Hensley | jamison.hensley@baltsun.com


Contrary to rumors, the Ravens are not expected to kick off the 2009 regular season at the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers in the Thursday night season opener.

As part of their scheduling requests to the league, the Ravens asked not to play a prime-time game at Heinz Field this season, a team official told The Baltimore Sun.

The Ravens have played a nationally televised game at Pittsburgh for three of the past four seasons, including the past two years. The Ravens have never won a prime-time game at Pittsburgh, losing all four times.

It has become tradition that the defending Super Bowl champion opens the NFL season with a nationally televised game at home. There were rumors that the league would begin with Ravens-Steelers, a rematch of the AFC championship game.

[Jeremiah W]

Those games do tend to suck to watch for Raven fans even when we win. It is like a hooray Steelers broacast from 2 hours before the game and all through.

[psuasskicker]

Those games do tend to suck to watch for Raven fans even when we win. It is like a hooray Steelers broacast from 2 hours before the game and all through.

Yeah, and it doesn't help that we're one of the most hated teams in the NFL. It's always an all out love fest for the Steelers.

That said, I don't know how the NFL okays that request. The AFCC game was one of the best of last season, and this rivalry is currently one of the best in the NFL. There's no other game with the Superbowl Champions that would be more appealing...none even close. Pitt home games other than us:
Clev
Cinci
San Diego
Tennessee
Oakland
Green Bay
Minnesota

Tennessee might be a solid game. But none of those opponents are close to the draw a Ravens/Steelers match would be.

Honestly though, we should want that to be the game. It's almost like a half bye week at the start of the season...

- C -

[baltimore_hokie]

it's bullshit that the prime time games with them are always at their place though. we know one of our two games will be on prime time with our rivalry nearing tops in the NFL, so why not say that we would rather play the other game which will be at m&t???

[psuasskicker]

it's bullshit that the prime time games with them are always at their place though. we know one of our two games will be on prime time with our rivalry nearing tops in the NFL, so why not say that we would rather play the other game which will be at m&t???

SB winner ALWAYS hosts the first game of the year.

- C -

[baltimore_hokie]

right, so we say that we would rather not play them in that first game. this would mean that we would have a chance at a prime time game against them later in the season at our house.

[RAVENOUS52]

I don't think we should back away from an opportunity to punch them in the mouth in their house at the onset of the season. It gives the perception of fear on our part if we beg off.

The Ravens should be prepared to play them on a Wednesday morning inside of a steel mill if necessary, as long as it gives us a chance to whoop some Stooler ass.

[Losac]

I agree it makes us look scared if they ask the league not to schedule this. As a fan, I admit I am sick of the prime time games at Heinz Field. They are always love-fests about Ben and the Stoolers, and the Ravens are treated like the Washington Generals.

I'd love to see the Steelers at M&T for a prime time game though.

[sdeclue]

Not sure how I feel about this. I'm tired of losing up there in primetime, but I don't like how it looks like we are afraid to play them. Kinda a lose-lose situation.

http://www.examiner.com/x-1089-Baltimore-Sports-Examiner~y2009m3d20-Ravens-look-to-avoid-playing-at-Pittsburgh-in-primetime

[psuasskicker]

right, so we say that we would rather not play them in that first game. this would mean that we would have a chance at a prime time game against them later in the season at our house.

So you're basically saying you didn't read my post at all...

- C -

[MLB52]

I personally wouldn’t mind getting the game up there out of the way before that abomination of a field gets even worse later in the year.

[Ravenswarrior19]

I don't want to open the season at Heinz in another lovefest/all the cards stacked against us game. But the article does make it sound like we're duckin' the Steelers.

Here is another point of view to consider:
O's Sunday schedule in Sept/Oct.
(The Ravens and O's won't play home games the same day. Typically the Ravens will have home dates scheduled when the O's are on the road.)

Sun 9/13 - O's @ NY Yankees Mon 9/14 - O's home vs. TB
Ravens could have home opener on Sun, but not MNF

Sun 9/20 - O's home vs. Boston Mon/ 9/21 - O's @ Toronto
Ravens will have road game, unless home for MNF

Sun 9/27 - O's @ Cleve. Mon 9/28- O's @ TB
Almost certainly a home game for Ravens

Sun 10/4 - O's home vs. Toronto
Ravens probably on the road, unless MNF

One observation that stands out - If the Ravens don't get a home game on opening weekend, we would probably be looking at starting the season with 2 consecutive and 3 out of 4 road games. Hopefully that's a scenario the NFL will want to avoid.
(@ Pit. on Thurs 9/10, Road, Home, Road)

We could get a home MNF game in week 2, but that will likely hinge on us drawing a "national tv favorite" opponent like Indy or ... Denver (?). Not really much to pick from.
(@ Pit. on Thurs 9/10, Home vs. Indy MNF, Home, Road)

Either way, I'm not real happy. I'd much rather just open the season in inverse to the O's (Home, Road, Home, Road) then get the Steelers on MNF at our place.

[psuasskicker]

We could get a home MNF game in week 2, but that will likely hinge on us drawing a "national tv favorite" opponent like Indy or ... Denver (?). Not really much to pick from.
(@ Pit. on Thurs 9/10, Home vs. Indy MNF, Home, Road)

Almost no chance we have prime time games in back to back weeks.

- C -

[Ravenswarrior19]

Yeah, and it doesn't help that we're one of the most hated teams in the NFL. It's always an all out love fest for the Steelers.

That said, I don't know how the NFL okays that request. The AFCC game was one of the best of last season, and this rivalry is currently one of the best in the NFL. There's no other game with the Superbowl Champions that would be more appealing...none even close. Pitt home games other than us:
Clev
Cinci
San Diego
Tennessee
Oakland
Green Bay
Minnesota

Tennessee might be a solid game. But none of those opponents are close to the draw a Ravens/Steelers match would be.

Honestly though, we should want that to be the game. It's almost like a half bye week at the start of the season...

- C -

I think, from a network tv standpoint, you could make an argument to not use the best match-up on opening weekend. The opening game is going to draw viewers regardless of the match-up. If Ravens/Steelers is a proven ratings winner, save it for later in the season.

I'll also say that Pit/San Diego and Pit/Minnesota (A. Peterson factor) are good games for national tv IMO. Not as good as an AFCC rematch, but good nonetheless.

[Losac]

Pitt/Tennessee would be a good matchup for the opener. They could play up the piss-towel stomping controversy angle. Plus most of the national media seems to think we got lucky vs. Tenn. last year and they should have rightfully played Pitt in the AFCC game. :thumbdown:

[Ravenswarrior19]

Almost no chance we have prime time games in back to back weeks.

- C -

Right.

So it looks like we either open at home, or we open with 3 of 4 on the road. I'm hoping for the former.

[psuasskicker]

Right.

So it looks like we either open at home, or we open with 3 of 4 on the road. I'm hoping for the former.

I actually wouldn't mind the latter. More home games down the stretch is better for us.

- C -

[StingerNLG]

I would think that the NFL for TV purposes would want to have an East Coast/West Coast opener rather than an AFC North rematch in a limited market area.

But us ASKING not to play this game I do think makes us look scared to play the Steelers. The reasoning isn't that off. It would be be the third time in short span we have to play them, and in Pittsburgh. But perception is a big deal too.

[Everything_Ravens]

I actually wouldn't mind the latter. More home games down the stretch is better for us.

- C -

Agree! Generally across the league it takes the early to midway part of the season for the O side of the ball to get in a productive rhythm. D like ours is damn near on auto! So I think it would favor us to have our D on the road early while teams are still trying to get in sync. That being said I want Brady & co WEEK 1.

[Dade]

Agree! Generally across the league it takes the early to midway part of the season for the O side of the ball to get in a productive rhythm. D like ours is damn near on auto! So I think it would favor us to have our D on the road early while teams are still trying to get in sync. That being said I want Brady & co WEEK 1.

Yeah that kinda makes sense. Take Brady down before he gets comfortable with his O again and starts hanging 50 pts on teams.

IMO the league is going to ignore this request. The Ravens aren't Jerry Jones asking the league to schedule an "easy" matchup for the last game in Dallas stadium. We all know how the league feels about the Ravens. This request will get "lost" in the mail and we'll open the season in Pitt.

[RAVENOUS52]

I don't know about that. The new commish isn't exactly Tagliaboob.

He may actually take us seriously.

[Dade]

Believe it when I see it.

[Mista T]

Good! That should be one less prime time Ravens game to deal with. Football was made to be played at 1 pm on Sundays (except at memorial Stadium).

[4G63]

It makes the team look weak IMO.....

[Sephy]

Why should we care if they look weak? Why should the Ravens have to travel to Pittsburgh year after year in primetime? Why can't it be reciprocated? When was the last time we played them here in primetime... I think it was 2003.

[ravenwoman]

I see nothing wrong with the request. The Ravens still have to play them twice a year; once in Pitt and the other in Balto.

The Ravens are not running away from anything. We are going to have a much different team this year; much younger and hopefully healthier.

The reason the NFL does this is for ratings and money. The Ravens and Steelers are now the classic rivals of the AFC North. Cleveland and Pitt use to be rivals, but they lose too much now and really don't have any chance of winning against Pitt.

[camdenyard]

What's wrong with them playing us HERE in primetime once in awhile? I don't see the problem.

[Ravensarge]

F'em, bring them on!! Remember how fun it was last year when the Stools were losing late in the game and they kept showing the fans at Stool Stadium. PRICELESS!!

As far as the Ravens and O's playing the same day, I believe it did happen once several years ago. I believe we played prime time while the o's had a day game. Also keep in mind that the O's moved a Sunday game to a double header Sat. last year to ease scheduling.

[ravenjoe]

IT'S A NO-BRAINER! Heinz field, M&T, whatever; first game of the season against the Stillers - BRING IT ON! I don't care if the game is held on a barge in the middle of the Pissahela - great theater whatever the venue!

[gusbus52]

This is such a non-story, teams make requests like this all the time. I bet the Steelers request every year not to play in primetime at Baltimore. The issue is the story got out to the media.

A Steelers/Ravens game should not be played before October 20th anyway.

I am going to go on record and predict we will host Da Bears on Opening Day. There is a U2 concert at Soldier Field the day before, so they will have to be away.

2 Teams I don't want to play Week 1, are Pittsburgh and Detroit.

[meangene55]

A partial copy of the "letter" was found.

Apparently the letter was fed head first into the shredder,and jammed,leaving the post script in clear view.

"P.S.
If we must absolutely play a prime time game in Pittsburgh could the league please make a concerted effort to make sure the referees for that particular game aren't ALL Steelers fans.Maybe a few calls might go our way this time.

Thanx,
New,Stevie B & the BOYZ



:ww:

[sdeclue]

I don't get the big deal about this. We haven't been able to win up there in primetime games recently so we asked not to have to do it again against our biggest rival. No brainer to me. Do what's best for the team.

http://www.examiner.com/x-1089-Baltimore-Sports-Examiner~y2009m3d24-Steelers-get-Titans-not-Ravens-to-open-09-season

[HoustonRaven]

Are we going a little too far?

I can see the Ravens asking not open on the road and then, by default, we wont play the Steelers.

I will wait to see how this plays out before I cast judgment.