AFC notebook
Ironman Suggs may sit Sunday
PITTSBURGH — The consecutive games streak of Baltimore Ravens pass rusher Terrell Suggs looks like it may end in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game.
Suggs, who led the Ravens with eight sacks this year, had his arm in a sling at practice Thursday due to what he called ligament damage in his shoulder. Suggs, a first-round draft pick in 2003, has played in 100 straight games counting playoffs.
“I have never missed a game here,” Suggs told reporters in Baltimore. “So I definitely don’t want to start with the AFC championship. Come Sunday, we’ll see. . . . If I feel like me being out there will hinder us and that we would be playing with 10 [players], the decision is obvious — I can’t go.”
If Suggs can’t play, he would be replaced by a combination of three players — linebacker Edgar Jones, rookie linebacker Jameel McClain and defensive end Marques Douglas — none of whom is remotely as effective as Suggs.
Suggs is the biggest name on a long list of injured players for the Ravens. Also not practicing Thursday were receivers Derrick Mason (knee) and Mark Clayton (thigh), cornerback Samari Rolle (thigh) and reserve defensive tackle Justin Bannan (foot). Listed as limited were safety Ed Reed (knee), tight end Todd Heap (back), linebacker Ray Lewis (shoulder) and fullback Lorenzo Neal (shoulder). Each of the limited players is expected to play.
The Steelers are mostly healthy. Safety Troy Polamalu (calf), who missed practice Wednesday, participated fully Thursday. Starting center Justin Hartwig (knee) was limited. He will not be 100 percent but he said he will play.
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The Steelers have lost four of the last five AFC Championship Games they have played at home — in the 2004, 2001, 1997 and 1994 seasons. They won the AFC title on the road in 2005 and at home in the ’95 season. All of those games were under the direction of former coach Bill Cowher. Polamalu said he knows the rabid Steelers fans will take it hard if the team does not prevail.
“I remember when we lost the AFC Championship Game [in 2004] and the sorrow was so material you could see it in the air,” Polamalu said. “It was so depressing. When you have the great support of fans — not fans but fanatics — they ride that wave of winning and losing. . . . I looked at the sky and it looked like it normally is — gray, dark — and it seemed like the sun set at 1 o’clock.”
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