The AFC North's most heated rivalry will come down to focus as much as ferocious hits this time. The Baltimore Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday (8:25 p.m. ET), just three days after the Ravens released three-time Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice.

The Ravens have to contend with the emotions of the week, a strong-armed Ben Roethlisberger and a high-kicking Antonio Brown to avoid their first 0-2 start since 2005. Losing two home games against division opponents would be a devastating start for the Ravens. The Steelers are looking for their first 2-0 start since 2010, which is the latest time they won the AFC North.

This rivalry has been defined by physical play and close games. Incredibly, 10 of the past 12 games between the Ravens and Steelers have been decided by three points or fewer. Since 2008, Ravens coach John Harbaugh's first season, the teams have split the regular-season series at six wins apiece.

For this prime-time matchup, let's turn to Steelers reporter Scott Brown and Ravens reporter Jamison Hensley for a game preview.

Hensley: This is Steelers coach Mike Tomlin's first game back in Baltimore since he nearly collided with Jacoby Jones. Who do you think makes a bigger impact on the game this time: Tomlin or Jones?

Brown: I am going with Tomlin because the Steelers should be able to kick the ball out of the end zone if they want to keep it away from Jones on kickoffs. Also, I'm not sure how much of an impact he will make in the passing game. There are a few mouths to feed ahead of Jones, and that might leave only a few scraps for him after Steve Smith, Torrey Smith and Dennis Pitta have gotten their fill of passes. Tomlin, on the other hand, should have a major impact on the game, and probably his biggest challenge will be making sure his assistants get calls from the sideline to the players in a timely manner. The Steelers had a major issue with this -- as well as on-field communication between the players -- the past Sunday, when the Browns went into their hurry-up offense and erased a 24-point halftime deficit. The Steelers' defense has to play better than it did in the final two quarters against the Browns, and that all starts with communication flowing on all levels, something for which Tomlin is ultimately responsible.

I'm usually not big on distractions affecting a game's outcome, particularly when the Steelers and Ravens are involved. But will the fallout from Rice's release carry over to the field for the Ravens?

Hensley: When these teams kick off, the Ravens will be focused on the game. There's too much riding on this one for Baltimore. The players understand how much a loss would derail their season. The Ravens can't lose their first two home games, especially against two division opponents. That being said, the players were clearly affected by the news Monday. It's difficult to think the Ravens had a normal practice only four hours after the team cut the second-leading rusher in team history. Torrey Smith was noticeably stunned that day because Rice is a close friend. Defensive end Chris Canty was teary-eyed in the locker room because domestic violence is a personal issue for him. No one is going to say the Rice saga is a non-factor in this game. But the Ravens have more pressing priorities when they step on the field Thursday.

Running the ball is going to be one of the big keys, given that the Steelers struggled to stop the Browns' ground attack in the season opener. There are three new starters -- rookie inside linebacker Ryan Shazier, defensive end Cam Thomas and safety Mike Mitchell -- on the Steelers' defense. How different does the defense look since the latest time the Ravens played Pittsburgh?

Brown: The Steelers should be faster than what the Ravens saw the latest time the two AFC North rivals met. Shazier runs like a safety, if not a cornerback, and Mitchell adds some much-needed speed on the back end of the defense. The two, however, are still getting used to playing in a new defense -- as is Thomas -- and the Steelers are asking a lot from Shazier. This past Sunday, he became the first defensive rookie since Kendrell Bell to start a Steelers' season opener, and one of the biggest adjustments Shazier has to make is taking on bigger offensive lineman at this level and consistently shedding blocks. The first-round pick flashed a couple times in the opener, but he also got out of position a handful of times in the second half, when the Steelers couldn't stop the Browns. The Steelers need Shazier to grow up in a hurry and Mitchell to provide the big plays that were his signature the past season in Carolina.

The Steelers have struggled to defend the no-huddle attack, and it almost cost them dearly against the Browns. How much do you think the Ravens will try to use the no-huddle offense, especially given they will be at home, where crowd noise shouldn't be an issue?

Hensley: Based on the opener, the no-huddle doesn't look like it's going to be a big part of Gary Kubiak's offense in Baltimore. The Ravens ran the no-huddle on just 16 of 85 plays (19 percent), and 12 of them occurred after the Ravens fell behind 15-0. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was only moderately effective in going without a huddle. He was 8-of-13 for 79 yards passing. Maybe the Ravens should turn to the no-huddle to get some kind of rhythm early in games. Flacco and the Ravens are slow starters. The Ravens haven't scored in the first quarter of seven of their past 16 games, which dates back to the past season.

The Steelers handed the ball off 26 times and threw it 34 times. Is this the type of balance you'd expect from the Steelers' offense this season? Or will they have a different identity?

Brown: The Steelers would love nothing more than to have that type of balance, and they think they can do it with the talent they have at running back. Le'Veon Bell is poised for a breakout season after piling up 197 rushing and receiving yards in the season opener. What the Steelers really like about Bell is they can get him the ball in a lot of different ways, which makes 25 to 30 touches a game realistic without leaning too heavily on him at the expense of others. LeGarrette Blount gives the Steelers a starting-caliber back behind Bell, and the 6-foot, 250-pound bruiser can wear down opposing defenses. Rookie Dri Archer, who is unlikely to play because of a sprained ankle, is the fastest player on the team, and teams have to account for his world-class speed. Roethlisberger has long said the Steelers have to establish the run consistently to be successful, so he should be fine if the offense runs through Bell. If that is the case, it will only open things up more for Roethlisberger and Pro Bowl wide receiver Antonio Brown when the Steelers throw the ball and make the offense much more symbiotic than it has been in recent seasons.

This doesn't have the feel of a typical Steelers-Ravens game, which is about defense, defense and more defense. Where are the Ravens vulnerable on defense, and how do you see the Steelers trying to attack them?

Hensley: The Ravens are most vulnerable in the secondary. Case in point: the game-winning 77-yard touchdown they allowed to A.J. Green in the opener. The Ravens are hoping Lardarius Webb is healthy enough to replace Chykie Brown, who was beaten by Green for the big-play score. Webb missed the opener as well as the entire preseason because of a back injury. If Webb is back, the Ravens have one of the best young cornerback tandems -- that is, if Webb doesn't have too much rust. What hurts the Ravens on deep throws is their safeties. Matt Elam and Darian Stewart are both at their best when they play close to the line. Their strength is not in coverage. In his past five games in Baltimore, Roethlisberger has thrown five touchdowns and six interceptions for a 70.6 passer rating.