MASNsports.com is your online home for the latest Orioles and Nationals news, features, and commentary. And now, you can connect with MASN on every digital level. From web and social media to our new mobile alert service, MASN has got all the bases covered.
Get the latest breaking news direct to your phone with our mobile texting service.
The victories over the Bills, Dolphins, Panthers and Buccaneers are fine and dandy.
But, now comes the real test.
In case you weren't aware, it's Steelers week.
While it has rarely been pretty for the Ravens this season, they've been able to pile up the wins, and Baltimore now has an 8-3 record, which is their best start in three seasons under head coach John Harbaugh.
Those wins have been closely followed by plenty of talk about how the Ravens' offense has yet to put together a full four quarters and how the defense has had issues letting opposing teams back into games.
This upcoming Sunday, the Ravens will have a chance to prove that all that talk is just...well, talk. They were able to leave Pittsburgh with a dramatic 17-14 win over the Steelers two months ago, which was a huge win at the time.
But the Steelers were Ben Roethlisberger-less that day, a factor which obviously can't be overlooked.
"The first time we didn't play a guy with two Super Bowl rings," linebacker Terrell Suggs said. "It's going to be a big difference."
But, Suggs added, "It's also a big difference in our favor that they've got to come to Charm City."
On Sunday night, in primetime on NBC, the Ravens will have their shot to prove that they are the class of the AFC North.
They can put an end to all the questions about whether they are truly an elite team or if they have what it takes to make a deep run into the playoffs.
How they get it done won't matter this time. If there's a week where style points count for absolutely nothing, it's Steelers week. There's rarely anything stylish about games between these two teams, and the only thing that matters when the night is done is whether you've got a W next to your name or an L.
The Ravens nearly caught a huge break yesterday, as Pittsburgh needed overtime and a Steve Johnson choke-job to sneak by the Bills. A Buffalo win would have given Baltimore a one-game lead in the division race entering Sunday night's clash of the titans.
But, that wouldn't have been right. The fact that the Ravens and Steelers enter this weekend's matchup both sharing 8-3 records and a piece of the division lead is fitting.
They'll settle it all on the field at M&T Bank Stadium, and as always, it will be a joy to watch.
"There's nothing to hype about this game," Suggs said. "There's nothing to talk about this game. This is definitely the biggest rivalry in football. This is the biggest and most physical game in football. We're going to enjoy it and we got a whole week. We can't play it until Sunday night. We're not going to try to play it tonight.
"It's a championship week. It's Baltimore against Pittsburgh."
