With the Pittsburgh Steelers guaranteed nothing lower than the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoffs, there has been speculation that the team would rest injured starters like quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (ankle), offensive tackle Marvel Smith (back) and safety Troy Polamalu (knee) in its regular-season finale against the Ravens on Sunday.

In fact, Roethlisberger has already been rumored to be sitting out and Smith and Polamalu could join Roethlisberger on the sideline as Pittsburgh takes aim at a run in the postseason.

The likelihood of a Steelers team without some of its starters did not pose an insult to Ravens players like linebacker Terrell Suggs.

“You’ve got to look at the big picture,” he said. “I don’t think it would be a smack in the face. They still can accomplish their goal and be Super Bowl champs, whereas we’re just going out there and playing for pride. … They have a lot more at stake than we do.”