Christmas Day is usually a joyous time spent with family and friends, but there won't be any love lost at Heinz Field on Sunday.
With the AFC North crown at stake, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens will face off this weekend in perhaps the modern NFL's best rivalry.
If the Steelers win, they clinch the division. If the Ravens win, they need to either win in Week 17 or have Pittsburgh lose on the final Sunday to take the North.
The division's not the only thing on the line, though. If Baltimore loses, their chances of making the playoffs whatsoever diminish significantly. Even Pittsburgh would need help to get in if they fall on Christmas.
With so much on the line, the build-up for this Steelers-Ravens matchup is palpable. Steve Smith only added to the hype with his description of the malice that exists between the two franchises.
(Continue article below)
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Smith is relatively new to the rivalry. The veteran receiver spent most of his career with the Carolina Panthers, joining Baltimore in 2014. But, in a short amount of time, he's become well-acquanted with the hatred.
When asked to paint of picture of the Steelers-Ravens rivalry, Smith produced a succinct masterpiece. From Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com:
Smith described a “professional hatred” between the franchises.
“Our fans hate them. Their fans hate us,” Smith said. “You know… it's a great divorce.”
…
“There's going to be joy,” Smith said. “Not a lot of peace.”
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