You couldn’t have a clearer choice than tonight’s game between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers to decide which team wins the AFC North Division and what team will be home watching the playoffs on television.
From a motivational perspective, it’s all Steelers.
Coming off a loss to the Cleveland Browns that could have clinched the AFC South Division, the Steelers tonight get back defensive lineman T.J Watt and are primed for a big effort against their most hated division rival.
The Baltimore Ravens have overcome a one and five start to reach the doorstep of the division title and have their prime weapon, quarterback Lamar Jackson, back behind center for this crucial AFC North showdown.
From a talent side, the Ravens have the edge.
From the motivational side, it is all Steelers.
If you run into someone at the bar who says tonight is a lock for the Steelers … he is right.
If you find someone in the same bar saying this it is clearly a Ravens win tonight … he is right.
It simply is riveted to what those different opinions are using as their criteria to declare this one clearly for one team or the other. Like the old Ipana toothpaste commercial, that once said it served healthy gums and the other said whiter teeth and the slogan was, “Stop, you are both right.”
So too whatever side one takes in tonight’s game has good reason.
I don’t want to bet against the Ravens who have worked to get to the doorstep of their division title while overcoming injuries and one win in their first six games. I have no interest in betting against Mike Tomlin as a home underdog after he just completed a record 19 straight winning seasons without a losing one in his coaching career.
Win or lose tonight, the Steelers behind the aged quarterback that looks to revive his career, Aaron Rodgers, will end their campaign with a winning record.
A winning record is not the most the Steelers can get this season, a win tonight and they advance to the postseason.
Bet against the Ravens with Jackson in a must win regular season game after losing to the Steelers in Baltimore four weeks ago, I want no part of that wager that appears from purely a talent perspective the short straw.
If I had to bet on this game, I wouldn’t.
The regular season curtain closes tonight with this titanic battle in Pittsburgh; enjoy the action without a vested interest in the outcome.