Big implications for Ravens-Steelers

OWINGS MILLS - Both the Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers have a chance Thursday night to significantly improve their chances of making the playoffs and to put their biggest rival on the brink of elimination from postseason contention.
It's not a playoff game, but it carries big-time implications.
Baltimore and Pittsburgh are both 5-6 and are in almost identical positions, at least standing-wise.
With a win and a Tennessee Titans loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, the Ravens will move into the second AFC Wild Card spot. Same goes for the Steelers.
Both teams could also move a game back of first place in the AFC North with a win and a Cincinnati Bengals loss to the San Diego Chargers.
"This game definitely means a lot for both teams," Baltimore running back Ray Rice said. "We have a lot at stake. We're both teams that are so called 'in the hunt,' and every game matters from here on out.
"So to have [a game] on Thanksgiving and to have it Thursday, really it's a national stage, and it's going to be a huge game."
The Steelers started the season 0-4 but have since won five of their last seven games.
Their offense in particular has been better than what it was early in the year.
They are still having problems running the ball. Le'Veon Bell has averaged 3.6 yards per carry or fewer in six of the eight games he has played in. But Ben Roethlisberger has been one of the more productive quarterbacks in the league the last two months. Antonio Brown has established himself as one of the NFL's most dangerous wide receivers. And Pittsburgh's offensive line, for as much as it has struggled throughout the season in pass protection as well as in the run game, has allowed just one sack the last two weeks.
The Steelers' defense has been better, too. Pittsburgh did give up 55 points in a loss to the New England Patriots earlier this month, and it is ranked just 23rd in rushing defense, but it has held four of its last seven opponents to 16 points or less, including the Cleveland Browns to just 11 points last week and the Buffalo Bills to 10 points three weeks ago.
"They've continued to improve each week," Ravens defensive lineman Haloti Ngata said. "They're hot right now, doing a lot of good things well."
But Baltimore feels like it may finally be hitting its stride as well.
The Ravens have dealt with countless issues this season, but they are coming off of a win over the New York Jets during which players felt the team played as collectively well on offense, defense and special teams as it had at any point this season.
Facing Roethlisberger is obviously a different type of challenge than facing Geno Smith, but the defense did limit the Jets to three points and held Smith to just 42 yards passing through three and a half quarters.
They also limited a New York running game that entered last week as the eighth-ranked rushing offense in the NFL to just 3.6 yards per carry.
And offensively, quarterback Joe Flacco also played probably his best game in more than a month.
But Baltimore did lose to the Steelers 19-16 last month in Pittsburgh.
Flacco played well during that game. He was 24 of 34 for 215 yards and a touchdown without an interception. But the Ravens' defense had problems with both Roethlisberger and Bell.
Much more is on the line for both teams heading into this second matchup, though, and the outcome Thursday could go a long way in determining whether it's Baltimore or Pittsburgh playing playoff football in January.
"If you aren't ready for this game, then you have no business on either one of the two teams," Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs said. "I have a feeling both teams are preparing. We're both getting ready, and we'll you see you guys out there Thursday night."