Five challenges for the Baltimore Ravens in 2013

Now that the Baltimore Ravens have won the Super Bowl, they will find that it’s more difficult to get back to the Big Game than to win it. Here are five challenges the Ravens’ organization will face in 2013 (and in some cases beyond).
1. QB Joe Flacco is going to cost a lot more against the salary cap going forward, leaving less financial resources available for other players.

2. The Ravens will play a slightly more difficult schedule than divisional rivals next year. For example, while the Steelers go against the Raiders and Titans, the Ravens will get the Texans and Broncos.

3. Selecting last in the draft in 2013 (#32), the Ravens are less likely to add impactful rookies next year. By comparison, the Steelers pick at #17, and the Bengals at #21.

4. Key veterans like Ray Lewis and Matt Birk (and perhaps Ed Reed) will no longer be with the team.

5. Instead of being the hunter, the Ravens will be hunted by both the Steelers and Bengals. And Baltimore will also have to contend with the all-too-common Super Bowl letdown.

But, expect the Ravens to host the Steelers or Patriots in week one of the 2013 season.

Unfortunately, the Curse of the Terrible Towel did not strike the Ravens this year.

Curse of the Terrible Towel to befall Ravens, boost Steelers?

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice has come under fire this week for derisively waving, wearing a Terrible Towel following the Ravens’ 13-10 win over the Steelers at Heinz Field on Sunday night. Pittsburgh linebacker LaMarr Woodley took to Twitter to call out Rice, tweeting: “If youre not a steelers fan, dont put your hands on a terrible towel.” And then “Bad idea ray just ask lendale white and tj whosyourmama.”

Woodley was making reference to the Curse of the Terrible Towel, which seems to befall opposing teams that disrespect the towel. Consider the case of LenDale White and Keith Bulluck, who stomped on a Terrible Towel following a convincing 31-14 win over the Steelers at LP Field in Nashville in December 2008. At that moment, the Titans seemed Super Bowl bound, sporting a 13-2 record. But Tennessee was shut out 23-0 in its season finale at Indianapolis, and then lost to the sixth-seeded Ravens 13-10 in the playoffs. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh went in the opposite direction, winning its season finale 31-0, and then defeating the Chargers and Ravens en route to a Super Bowl victory over the Arizona Cardinals. (Incidentally, during the week before that Super Bowl the Cardinals’ mascot was seen wiping his furry armpits with a Terrible Towel and the mayor of Phoenix mock blew his nose in one.)

But the Titans’ misery wasn’t over. Tennessee started the 2009 season 0-6 (including a season-opening loss at Pittsburgh), a streak topped off by a 59-0 drubbing at the hands of the Patriots. At that point, Nashville radio host Thom Abraham stepped in to try to “reverse the curse,” by sending a Terrible Towel signed by White and Bulluck to the Allegheny Valley  School (which cares for people with physical and mental disabilities and receives proceeds from the sale of Terrible Towels) along with the message: “Please release the curse.” A few days later, on November 1, 2009 — ten and a half months after stomping the towel — the Titans finally tasted victory again with an easy win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Bengals have also been hit by the curse. On December 4, 2005, during a 38-31 win over the Steelers, Cincinnati wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh wiped his feet with a Terrible Towel. At that point in time, the Bengals seemed poised to reach the Super Bowl, but Cincinnati lost its final two games of the season — and then bowed to Pittsburgh in the playoffs (after Bengals QB Carson Palmer tore his ACL on the second play of the game). The Steelers went on to beat the Colts and Broncos en route to a Super Bowl victory over the Seahawks. As for the Bengals, they didn’t post another winning season until 2009.

Jason Zasky on the Steelers at post-gazette.com

Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is on vacation this week. So I'm helping to fill the insatiable demand for Steelers news and commentary with a guest "slog" on the newspaper's Web site. The column is titled Roethlisberger, LeBeau (Not Tomlin) Key Steelers' Success

I'm guessing it will inspire more than a few comments in the Post-Gazette's Steelers section. Feel free to weigh in with additional comments here. Or follow me on my new Twitter feed at twitter.com/jasonzasky

Pittsburgh Steelers 2012 schedule

Sun. Sept. 9 at Denver 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Sun., Sept. 16 N.Y. Jets 4:15 p.m. (CBS)
Sun. Sept. 23 at Oakland 4:15 p.m. (CBS)
Sun., Sept. 30 BYE ---
Sun. Oct. 7 Philadelphia 1:00 p.m. (FOX)
Thurs., Oct. 11 at Tennessee 8:20 p.m. (NFL Network)
Sun. Oct. 21 at Cincinnati 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Sun., Oct. 28 Washington 1:00 p.m. (FOX)
Sun. Nov. 4 at N.Y. Giants 4:15 p.m. (CBS)
Mon., Nov. 12 Kansas City 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Sun., Nov. 18 Baltimore 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Sun. Nov. 25 at Cleveland 1:00 p.m. (CBS)
Sun., Dec. 2 at Baltimore 4:15 p.m. (CBS)
Sun. Dec. 9 San Diego 1:00 p.m. (CBS)
Sun., Dec. 16 at Dallas 4:15 p.m. (CBS)
Sun. Dec. 23 Cincinnati 1:00 p.m. (CBS)
Sun. Dec. 30 Cleveland 1:00 p.m. (CBS)

Pittsburgh Steelers unveil 1934 Throwback Uniforms

The 2012 Pittsburgh Steelers schedule is set to be released any minute now. But at the moment fans are no doubt distracted by the look of the 1934 throwback uniforms (pictured above) that the Steelers will wear for two home games this season. Personally, I like them better than the hideous yellow helmet throwbacks they have been sporting in recent seasons.

Pittsburgh Steelers 2012 opponents

Home: Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, San Diego, Philadelphia, Washington and the New York Jets.

Away: Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Oakland, Dallas, the New York Giants and the Tennessee Titans.

Bengals: What are the Chances...?

The Bengals have experienced a certain amount of success at Heinz Field over the years (at least as compared to the games played in Cincinnati). But I like Pittsburgh’s chances today, though I don’t necessarily believe the Steelers will cover the 6.5 point spread. Bengals fans have good reason to be optimistic about their club’s future, as rookie QB Andy Dalton and rookie WR A.J. Green have the potential to be stars for years to come. But I’m not sure that Dalton has what it takes to defeat Ben Roethlisberger and Co. at Heinz Field, where the Steelers’ defense has been very, very good for most of the season. I’m giving the Steelers a 60 percent chance of victory.

Prediction-wise, 6-2 thus far in 2011; 65-28 all-time.

Chiefs: What are the Chances...?

The Steelers are a ten-point favorite at Kansas City tonight—and deservedly so. Arrowhead Stadium is one of the toughest venues for a visiting team, but with Tyler Palko at QB and numerous key players lost for the season due to injury, it’s difficult to imagine the 4-6 Chiefs coming away with a win against Pittsburgh. But I wouldn’t be surprised if Kyle Orton makes an appearance in relief for Kansas City if Palko struggles, as can be expected. I’m not confident the Steelers will cover the spread, but I’m assigning Pitt a 75 percent chance of victory.

Prediction success rate in 2011? 5-2 thus far (missed a couple games); 64-28 all-time.