http://www.forbes.com/sites/simonog...in-christmas-football-special/2/#54e4a20058da
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The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5) host their rival Baltimore Ravens (8-6) on Christmas with playoff implications and the AFC North on the line. The Steelers come into the game after winning five straight including four of those on the road, while the Ravens are clinging to playoffs hopes after winning three of the last five games. With a win tonight the Steelers will clinch their seventh AFC North division title, but the Ravens are seeking to spoil their opportunity. Baltimore is still looking for their own chance to win the division, which is something they haven’t won since 2012.
A look what Pittsburgh Steelers Wide Receiver Antonio Brown will look like tonight in the latest edition of the NFL Color Rush (Courtesy of Nike)
Steelers’ head coach Mike Tomlin commented on the matchup and the rivalry, "We are excited about this opportunity. When you really think about it, it's going to be an exciting game for us, an exciting game for them. It's going to be an exciting game for the fans. You could say that both teams have been fighting and clawing for some period of time to get to this point, to this game, in this stadium, with this amount of significance or what is at stake. From a competitor's standpoint it's an awesome thing. It is a snapshot of December football."
Fans will see the final display of the Nike Color Rush uniforms for the 2016 season. The Steelers will be wearing all-black uniforms with yellow block numbers and letters. This will be the first time the team will have donned an all-black look. The Ravens have already worn their purple color rush uniform in a Week 10 matchup against the Cleveland Browns. This evening, Baltimore will be wearing their white road uniform, complementing the all-black look of their bitter opponent. As reported throughout the season, one hundred percent of the NFL’s revenue from the sale of Color Rush jerseys goes directly to the NFL Foundation to fund health, safety and wellness programs for youth. The NFL Foundation is the league’s nonprofit organization representing all 32 clubs and funds grants to support athletes, youth football and the communities.
Steelers Team President Art Rooney II shared his pleasure regarding the new look.
R
The uniforms though will be secondary to the game action and the importance of its outcome. The winner of the division is expected to be a #3 seed that would include a home game to start the playoffs. Pittsburgh is certainly seeking revenge, having lost four straight to Baltimore that includes a loss earlier this season. Baltimore has not won a road game in their last four attempts, although three of those losses have come against the NFL’s top tier teams that include the New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants. Joe Flacco is 10-9 all-time against the Steelers including the postseason, while his counterpart Ben Roethlisberger is 11-10 against Baltimore.
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Simon Ogus , CONTRIBUTOR
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The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5) host their rival Baltimore Ravens (8-6) on Christmas with playoff implications and the AFC North on the line. The Steelers come into the game after winning five straight including four of those on the road, while the Ravens are clinging to playoffs hopes after winning three of the last five games. With a win tonight the Steelers will clinch their seventh AFC North division title, but the Ravens are seeking to spoil their opportunity. Baltimore is still looking for their own chance to win the division, which is something they haven’t won since 2012.
Steelers’ head coach Mike Tomlin commented on the matchup and the rivalry, "We are excited about this opportunity. When you really think about it, it's going to be an exciting game for us, an exciting game for them. It's going to be an exciting game for the fans. You could say that both teams have been fighting and clawing for some period of time to get to this point, to this game, in this stadium, with this amount of significance or what is at stake. From a competitor's standpoint it's an awesome thing. It is a snapshot of December football."
Ben: "If you need extra motivation for this game, then something is wrong with you." pic.twitter.com/9z0oWIFZOY
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 22, 2016
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 22, 2016
Fans will see the final display of the Nike Color Rush uniforms for the 2016 season. The Steelers will be wearing all-black uniforms with yellow block numbers and letters. This will be the first time the team will have donned an all-black look. The Ravens have already worn their purple color rush uniform in a Week 10 matchup against the Cleveland Browns. This evening, Baltimore will be wearing their white road uniform, complementing the all-black look of their bitter opponent. As reported throughout the season, one hundred percent of the NFL’s revenue from the sale of Color Rush jerseys goes directly to the NFL Foundation to fund health, safety and wellness programs for youth. The NFL Foundation is the league’s nonprofit organization representing all 32 clubs and funds grants to support athletes, youth football and the communities.
Steelers Team President Art Rooney II shared his pleasure regarding the new look.
R
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The two quarterbacks are also among the [URL="http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/rankings/average/quarterback/"]highest paid in the league. Flacco’s salary this year is $22.1 million, while Roethlisberger will make just under that at $21.8 million. Baltimore’s nine-year veteran signed a three-year $66.4 million contract in the offseason that included a $40 million signing bonus, which was the largest in NFL history until Andrew Luck's new contract eclipsed it a few months later. In comparison, “Big Ben” is in his second year of a four-year $87.4 million contract with a sizable signing bonus of $31 million. Flacco’s 10-5 playoff record that includes a Super Bowl title while also owning the all-time record for playoff road wins with 8. Roethlisberger’s has a 11-6 postseason record that includes two Super Bowl wins in three appearances.
This doesn’t even mention the most dynamic player on the field in Steelers star wide receiver Antonio Brown. In late August, Brown restructured his contract with the team and as a result he will earn $10.25 million above his original $6.25 million. The new contract also includes an $8 million signing bonus, which helped quell the four-time pro-bowler’s angst prior to receiving the new long term contract. The original six-year $43 million contract was a rather favorable deal for the Steelers when signed in 2012, but organization’s restructured agreement with the wide out essentially came with a guarantee of that new deal according to an NFL insider.
This Christmas matchup has all the makings to be a classic and with high stakes. The Steelers boast the NFL’s seventh best offense, while the Ravens have the league’s fifth best defense. Baltimore also has a vaunted run defense that ranks second, and will have their hands full trying to contain Steelers Pro Bowl running back Le’Veon Bell. Pittsburgh is no meager defensive team being ranked eighth itsel, so a low scoring contest should be expected. As we settle in following the unwrapping of gifts, mountains of food and enjoyment of family, this game is guaranteed to be a superb stocking stuffer for NFL fans.
Simon Ogus is the COO of SportTechie.com. He can be followed at @SportTechie and reached at simon.ogus@sporttechie.com
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“It will be something different. The first time we have worn black pants. It will be an all-black uniform with gold numbers. I think our fans will enjoy it. It’s something different. It’s going to be interesting to see how it goes. We haven’t had a home game on Christmas in my memory. It will be unique, special. This will add a little more excitement to what I am sure will be an exciting day.”</header>
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The two quarterbacks are also among the [URL="http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/rankings/average/quarterback/"]highest paid in the league. Flacco’s salary this year is $22.1 million, while Roethlisberger will make just under that at $21.8 million. Baltimore’s nine-year veteran signed a three-year $66.4 million contract in the offseason that included a $40 million signing bonus, which was the largest in NFL history until Andrew Luck's new contract eclipsed it a few months later. In comparison, “Big Ben” is in his second year of a four-year $87.4 million contract with a sizable signing bonus of $31 million. Flacco’s 10-5 playoff record that includes a Super Bowl title while also owning the all-time record for playoff road wins with 8. Roethlisberger’s has a 11-6 postseason record that includes two Super Bowl wins in three appearances.
This doesn’t even mention the most dynamic player on the field in Steelers star wide receiver Antonio Brown. In late August, Brown restructured his contract with the team and as a result he will earn $10.25 million above his original $6.25 million. The new contract also includes an $8 million signing bonus, which helped quell the four-time pro-bowler’s angst prior to receiving the new long term contract. The original six-year $43 million contract was a rather favorable deal for the Steelers when signed in 2012, but organization’s restructured agreement with the wide out essentially came with a guarantee of that new deal according to an NFL insider.
And we're just getting started !! #callGod #boominpic.twitter.com/aifjTz8aVl
— Antonio Brown (@AntonioBrown) December 18, 2016
That late-round draft pick by Pittsburgh in 2010 has yielded immense benefits for the organization. In a draft class of Demaryius Thomas, Dez Bryant, and Mike Williams Brown has been the best of the wide receivers despite being was selected 195th overall and being the 23rd receiver taken. Ranking ninth among wide receiver contracts and still being behind the likes of both Bryant and Thomas, Brown will require much more in order to keep him in the Steel City.— Antonio Brown (@AntonioBrown) December 18, 2016
This Christmas matchup has all the makings to be a classic and with high stakes. The Steelers boast the NFL’s seventh best offense, while the Ravens have the league’s fifth best defense. Baltimore also has a vaunted run defense that ranks second, and will have their hands full trying to contain Steelers Pro Bowl running back Le’Veon Bell. Pittsburgh is no meager defensive team being ranked eighth itsel, so a low scoring contest should be expected. As we settle in following the unwrapping of gifts, mountains of food and enjoyment of family, this game is guaranteed to be a superb stocking stuffer for NFL fans.
Simon Ogus is the COO of SportTechie.com. He can be followed at @SportTechie and reached at simon.ogus@sporttechie.com
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The uniforms though will be secondary to the game action and the importance of its outcome. The winner of the division is expected to be a #3 seed that would include a home game to start the playoffs. Pittsburgh is certainly seeking revenge, having lost four straight to Baltimore that includes a loss earlier this season. Baltimore has not won a road game in their last four attempts, although three of those losses have come against the NFL’s top tier teams that include the New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants. Joe Flacco is 10-9 all-time against the Steelers including the postseason, while his counterpart Ben Roethlisberger is 11-10 against Baltimore.
