Steelers' AFC North Rival Ravens Not Scared Of Anyone And "Want All The Smoke" In 2023

When it comes to rivalries in sports, none may be bigger than the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens. When the two teams play each other, you usually have no clue what is going to happen. You could see players get into a scuffle and even have full-on fights in the crowds. Through the years, fans have been gifted with great games between the two teams and in 2023 should look the same.

Fuel For The Steelers

Over the offseason, the Ravens went out and signed their quarterback Lamar Jackson to a massive five-year contract. This signing ended up costing them $260M total, which didn't allow them to go out and get a ton in free agency. Although they spent all this money, they were able to make a huge signing in Odell Beckham Jr. Last year, the Ravens were able to make a big splash and trade for linebacker Roquan Smith during the season.

Smith was traded from the Chicago Bears for a second and fifth-round pick during 2023, as well as for linebacker A.J. Klein. Although Smith has been with the Ravens for just a little while now, his confidence in the team is through the roof. In an interview that he had from the team's official site, he made it known that he and the Ravens aren't scared or worried about anyone this season. This could end up being fuel for the Steelers when they play them.

"I'm just excited to get out there and fly around with the guys because I think we're in for something special," said Smith. "And I think myself, personally, is going to be probably my best year, at least the way I feel physically and mentally." He would later note, "We want all the smoke, honestly, there's a lot of payback that we have out there. We'll get to it when we get to it, one week at a time."

This cocky attitude could come back to bite the Ravens. Most likely, many Steelers fans remember the "TikTok era" of the team. This was when we had JuJu Smith-Schuster leading dances anywhere from in the locker room, to the opposing team's logos. This would go on and make teams mad and eventually would come back to bite the Steelers. 

"Never scared. Wasn't born scared, wasn't planning to die scared," Smith said. "I think most of the guys on the defense live the same way. People may fear us, [and] we want to strike that. At the end of the day, we're coming out to take your heads off."

The Ravens and Steelers aren't the only teams in the AFC North who have been cocky in recent years. Last season, before their game against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Conference Championship, the Cincinnati Bengals were going on about how they were naming the Chiefs stadium "Burrowhead." This was because the Bengals had beaten them the year before and were led by quarterback Joe Burrow. This, like the Steelers' situation, would come back to bite them as they would lose to the Chiefs. This was just another example of why teams shouldn't be cocky going into a season, let alone the Conference Championship.

So, what do you think Steelers Nation? Are the Ravens being too cocky? How do you think their season series with the Steelers will go down in 2023? Let me know in the comments below!

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