This will be the first time in a long time that neither the Ravens nor Steelers enter this matchup without a winning record. There are also a number of missing familiar faces from this rivalry, including Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Casey Hampton and James Harrison. It will be interesting to see whether the new players will carry on the legacy of this physical rivalry. Both teams are desperate for a win.

Running back Ray Rice said there have been changes to the run scheme and that they'll be evident Sunday in Pittsburgh. But what exactly they are is unknown. Baltimore has used a lot of zone and combination blocking this season. But in the physical, gritty trenches of Pittsburgh, it will be interesting to see if the Ravens go back to more one-on-one blocking to simply try and impose their will.

For as rough as the Ravens run offense has been, the Steelers are even worse. Baltimore is averaging 72.7 rushing yards per game. The Steelers are averaging just 61. Green Bay had some success on the ground with bruising rookie runner Eddie Lacy and 6-foot-1, 244-pound Steelers rookie Le'Veon Bell brings similar physicality.

The Ravens didn't face Big Ben in either game last season. They haven't squared off against him since 2011. Baltimore still is very familiar with what he brings to the table with his big arm, toughness and ability to turn an NFL game into a sandlot scuffle by making crazy escapes and throws on the run. When Big Ben is playing, anything can happen. And his receivers are great at breaking away when he's in trouble.

Baltimore is second in the NFL in sacks this season (22). Pittsburgh's offensive line is banged up and leaky. The Steelers have allowed 19 sacks this season, tied for the seventh-most in the league. Nobody has sacked Roethlisberger more times than Terrell Suggs, who had his streak of five consecutive games with a sack snapped last week. Will Suggs start a new streak, and what will Elvis Dumervil bring in his first taste of the rivalry?

The Ravens have won three straight regular-season games at unfriendly Heinz Field. They enjoy playing there, and dance when the Steelers' anthem "Renegade" plays. All three wins at Heinz have come off dramatic plays: two touchdown catches in the final minute and a punt return for a touchdown. Who will step up in enemy territory to make a big play this year?

Things can get chippy real fast when the Steelers and Ravens line up against each other. They respect each other, but there's no love lost. The Ravens have to be careful not to get baited into stupid penalties. The offensive linemen have been called for hands to the facemask five times already this year. The Ravens offense has committed 30 of the team's 40 penalties so far this season.

The Ravens and Steelers both have a speedster on the outside. Baltimore's Torrey Smith is fourth in the NFL with 568 receiving yards. Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown is seventh with 498. Smith will have Steelers trash-talking cornerback Ike Taylor on him while Brown will likely mostly draw Lardarius Webb. In what could be a low-scoring game, one big play from Smith or Brown could be the difference.

Baltimore has scored three points in the first quarter since Week 1. That's one thing they need to remedy if they're going to win. The Steelers have the NFL's fourth-ranked pass defense. So Baltimore doesn't want to have to get in a situation where it's throwing the ball constantly, as has happened several times already this year.

Flacco has been averaging 284 passing yards per game this season and is coming off a game in which he threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns. He usually doesn't have big days against the Steelers though. Last year, Flacco threw for 164 and 188 yards, respectively, in his two games versus Pittsburgh. Will the Ravens rely on Flacco as they have, or try to kick start the running game?