MNF Thoughts: Steelers-Ravens

Surprisingly entertaining game out of Pittsburgh, where the Ravens impressed me more in a 23-20 road loss than they had in their previous two wins. Quick points...

> Joe Flacco looks like a QB, and LeRon McClain is a beast of a fullback. In 2-3 years, the Ravens might have something special... but only if they add a mess of skill players, especially at wideout and tight end. Derrick Mason can't last forever, Mark Clayton looks lost, and Todd Heap is absolutely spent.

Oh, and Flacco's got to be quicker at getting rid of the ball, and not holding it so long that he gives up fumble sack touchdowns. That was huge.

> Pittsburgh ended the game with one healthy running back (Mewlede Moore). Baltimore has that effect on people.

> Rashard Mendenhall's day while subbing for Willie Parker: 9 carries for 30 yards, 1 catch for 6, and a fractured shoulder that will land him on the IR. The only thing that is keeping me from an epic whiff on the fantasy value of Parker is health.

> The Ravens defense is a classic Ryan unit -- physically punishing, and always prone to dumb penalties (tonight's was a 15-yarder that gave a moribund Pittsburgh attack life) and critical mistakes (tonight, a Santonio Holmes touchdown where three guys whiffed in the secondary). The Steelers were able to change the mood a bit by going to no huddle, but that's not the whole story, or a unique situation.

> Hines Ward was able to draw a 15-yarder when it was absolutely essential. One suspects that he draws more of those than any other WR in the league.

> The Pittsburgh OL continues to have issues, but not nearly as many as last week in Philly. Big Ben's very good at making people miss and making plays on the run, but if they don't get this fixed at some point, they are going to see more of Byron Leftwich than they want to see.

> The Pittsburgh crowd was quite bent at 13-3 in the third quarter, with the offense not scoring a touchdown in forever. Telling, and more so for the telling point that the Steelers remain a finesse team. The division is probably theirs for this year, but next year... maybe not.