One of the 8 Steelers turnovers. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-US PRESSWIRE

What We Learned in Week 12 in the NFL:

• Jets embarrass themselves on Thanksgiving
• Lions screwed on controversial call
• Chargers let Ravens comeback to win in OT
• Steelers turnover victory to Browns

What’s worse than a Monday morning after a Steelers loss to the Ravens?  A Monday morning after a Steelers loss to the Browns.  There aren’t many things uglier than that game was yesterday.  If it had been an actual football team the Steelers were playing yesterday rather than the Brownies, it would have been a massacre.  We’ll get more in depth into that a little later; let’s get some aggression out first by taking some cheap shots. (more…)

Dougie Fresh breaking tackles on his way to the endzone. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

What We Learned in Week 11 in the NFL:

• Three games end in overtime
• Patriots open up a can on Luck
• Eagles still suck without Vick
• Norv Turner’s seat should be on fire by now
• The Jets manage a victory but are still a mess
• Steelers remain winless against Ravens without Big Ben

We haven’t had a Monday morning like this in a while have we?  Nothing can ruin the start of the week worse than a Steelers loss.  That little extra sprinkle of suck on top of your sucky Monday morning is because this loss was at the hands of the Ratbirds, who have won 3 straight against the Steelers going back to last season.  There were some positives to take away from the game but we’ll get into that later, there’s some cheap shots we need to take first. (more…)

Dwyer came through big time for the Steelers in Cincy. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-US PRESSWIRE

What We Learned in Week 7 in the NFL:

• Eli giving Giants solid start
• Flacco ain’t no elite quarterbacko
• Patriots outlast Jets in OT
• Steelers earn their first road win of the season

Aren’t Mondays so much better after a Steelers victory?  The coffee tastes just a little bit better, the traffic isn’t quite so frustrating, and your boss isn’t that much of an idiot on a Monday morning following a Steelers victory.  One thing is certain; this particular NFL Sunday had some great finishes and some entertaining games. (more…)

Rice will be ready for camp now that he has a new deal with the Ravens. Credit: Greg M. Cooper-US PRESSWIRE

The questions surrounding Ray Rice’s future with the Ravens can be put to rest, and the Steelers can look forward to facing off against the pesky former Rutgers running back in 2012.  Prior to today’s franchise tag deadline, the Baltimore Ravens signed Ray Rice to a 5-year deal totaling $40 million dollars should he hit all his incentives.

Rice would have cost the Ravens over $7 million against the cap were he to retain the franchise tag without signing a new deal before the end of today.  By signing Rice now, the Ravens will save $2.7 million in cap room.  Should Rice become injured between now and March, and Rice is guaranteed another $7 million.  The deal is set up so that it can be restructured to help the team again in 2013 should they run into more cap issues – kudos to the agent and Ravens for constructing a pretty solid and incentive filled deal.

With Rice taken care of, the Ravens can now turn their attention to Joe Flacco, who is in the final year of his rookie contract.  Were the two sides continue to be at odds at the start of the off season in 2013, then the Ravens can slap him with a franchise tag to delay him walking away.  But, just as what happened with Rice, the team will need to reach a deal with him or else get hit with a pretty hefty cap hit for the franchise tag.

'Red Zone' will need to step up this season. Can he produce with a new OC and a young offensive line? Credit: David Richard-US PRESSWIRE

ESPN’s Ravens reporter AFC North reporter, Hensley, posted today about the Steelers and Ravens having ‘matchup-busters’ at the wide receiver postion.  Mike Wallace (should he sign his tender) and Antonio Brown represent the Steelers.  Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith represent the Ravens.  Hensley points out that the AFC North is usually a run first kind of division.  Truth.  Which got me thinking – who is going to run the ball the most, and who will run most effectively between these two?

The Steelers are looking to ‘find their way’ again through new OC Todd Haley.  No one really quite knows how this change will work out.  We know that Haley wants to run the ball more than Arians did in past seasons.  But, with Mendenhall still recovering from his knee injury, Redman unproven (yet I think he’s the real deal), and a young offensive line that is practically changing from diapers to pull ups this season, there is much uncertainty about the Steelers running game.

What will Rice's status be by Week 1 with his holdout? Credit: David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE

The Ravens and their running game are also under scrutiny for 2012.  Ray Rice is holding out for a big contract and is sitting out OTAs as he waits.  Averaging well over 1,000 for the last three season and a beast against his divisional foes throughout the North, Rice feels he is worth more than the $7.7 million he got last year.  The Ravens also lost OG Ben Grubbs to the Saints during free agency this spring.  Grubbs was the cornerstone to the Ravens running game and will be missed.  They tried to bolster their offensive line by drafting OT Kelechi Osemele and OG Gino Gradkowski.  Will they be able to help whomever carries the rock come the start of the 2012 season?

So my question to you readers is two fold. 1) Who will run the ball more in 2012? and 2) Who will run the ball more effectively (not necessarily more yards)?