So, is it's tough to beat a team three times in one season?

Forget about it.

History has proven otherwise. In the past 18 NFLplayoff games in which a team was faced with having to beat an opponent for a third time that year to move on, it did so 11 times.

The Steelers have turned the trick twice, beating the Cleveland Browns three times in 1994 and again in 2002.

The story of this game isn't the fact that it's the third meeting of the year between the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, anyway.

The story is whether or not the Steelers will turn the ball over against Baltimore, because that's how the Ravens win.

In their two road playoff wins this postseason, Baltimore is plus-7 in turnover-takeaway margin.

Turnovers give them field position, which their offense sorely needs. This team doesn't drive the field on opposing defenses very often.

But Baltimore does know how to force turnovers. Miami quarterback Chad Pennington threw seven interceptions all season, then tossed four against the Ravens in their playoff game.

Throw the ball deep against the Ravens and your receiver had better catch it. If not, Baltimore safety Ed Reed will.

"With No. 20 (Reed) back there, deep passes into their secondary rarely touch the ground,"Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said in his Tuesday news conference.

"They are a big, strong, violent team that runs to the football. When they hit you with such force, the ball comes out. That's something you have to be aware of constantly when you play these guys."

The biggest difference between the Steelers and Ravens?Don't turn the ball over against the Ravens and they can't beat you.

Don't turn the ball over against the Steelers and they can still beat you. The reason is the quarterback position.

Baltimore's Joe Flacco has proven to be a poised rookie who doesn't get rattled in big games. He hasn't made mistakes to hurt his team, but he is a rookie nonetheless.

Ben Roethlisberger has won a Super Bowl. He's led numerous comeback victories, including the 92-yard drive in the final minutes to defeat the Ravens in Baltimore this year.

If Sunday's game comes down to either quarterback needing to make plays in the fourth quarter for his team to win, bet on Roethlisberger.

It's a no-brainer to expect this to be a low-scoring game. If neither team hurts itself with turnovers, field position will be critical. The Ravens are pretty good in that regard.

Both kickers — Jeff Reed and Matt Stover — are reliable under pressure, but don't expect many long field goal attempts to be successful. Heinz Field isn't conducive to such scoring plays and the weather probably won't be, either.

Simply put, the Steelers are a better team than Baltimore overall. The better team doesn't always win, but it will on Sunday.

The Steelers will protect the ball, defend their turf and come away with their seventh Super Bowl berth.

Steelers 16, Ravens 10.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle.