Pittsburgh Steelers Preview – Can the Black and Gold Clinch?

The Pittsburgh Steelers began playing what many were calling a “gauntlet” of teams last weekend when they played the high-flying Eagles in Philadelphia. The schedule making gods of the NFL put Pittsburgh in a precarious situation when they released the schedule and the Steelers found that they would be closing their season with the Eagles, Ravens, Chiefs, and the Bengals.

The bigger problem is just six days after the Eagles game, this Saturday, Pittsburgh remains on the road in Baltimore. Then just four days later they must play the defending NFL champion Chiefs at home. These three games are and were against three teams who have a combined record of 33-8 (this before the Steelers lost to Philadelphia). In a word…OUCH. 

However, if Pittsburgh can continue its dominance over Baltimore, a victory in week 16 gives the Steelers the AFC North division title which would be the first since 2000 and Mile Tomlin’s eight overall. The last time the Steelers were division champs was in 2020, a year that they lost in the wild card round. In fact, Mike Tomlin has not had a playoff win since 2016 when they reached the AFC title game.

Heading into this showdown, both George Pickens and T.J. Watt are still listed as questionable. Baltimore has several players on the questionable list but none of them significant. For Patrick Queen he returns to the field he called home for years and the ex-Raven said he is expecting a chorus of boos.

Having already beaten the Ravens once the season back in November by a score of 18-16, the Steelers have won four of the last five games played in Baltimore. Pittsburgh has won the last four games and nine of the last 12. They currently OWN the Ravens. Lamar Jackson has had fits facing Pittsburgh’s defense. In their first meeting this season Jackson amassed just 207 yards passing with an interception and was sacked twice. In last season’s final meeting Jackson did not play but earlier in 2023, Jackson was sacked four times and again threw an interception. His rating in that October game was just 65.2.

Don’t expect the Steelers to change anything from their game plan for the Ravens because whatever they are doing, it’s working. 

Offense vs. Offense

The Ravens were the top-rated offense in the league prior to the first meeting this season and Pittsburgh’s defense limited Baltimore to just 16 points. They are still #1 averaging 29.9 points per game. The Steelers are way down the list at 24 per game. Thanks in most part to Derrick Henry, the Ravens are near the top in rushing yards with an average of 178.4 per game only bested by the Eagles. Again, the Steelers are further down with a 126.6 average but as of late, they are not getting a lot of production from the backfield. 

In the air, Baltimore is third in the league with 245.6 yards of passing per game. The Steelers are far down on this list as well coming into this game with a 198.9 total. Russell Wilson obviously misses George Pickens on the field, and he has had back-to-back low production games since blowing it up in Cincinnati. The running game has slowed down and if the offense produces as they did in Philadelphia, the Steelers will once again have to rely heavily on their defense to come out of this one with a “W.” 

Defense vs. Defense

The Steelers are banged up on defense with T.J. Watt looking more promising to play than when he left the Eagles game, but he is still questionable. Other questionables for Pittsburgh are Donte Jackson (pinched nerve in his back), Larry Ogunjobi and DeShon Elliott.

Baltimore is listing cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis, safety Ar’Darius Washington, safety Sanoussi Kane, and linebacker Adisa Isaac as questionable.

Pittsburgh has the better defense and perhaps the finer depth. Payton Wilson has been playing his ass off in his rookie season and Nick Herbig has pitched in tremendously. Head Coach Mike Tomlin has always preached “next man up” and so that will apply this weekend. The defensive game plan facing the Ravens will remain the same since it keeps on working. The onus will be on Pittsburgh’s defense to stop Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson once again just as it was in game one of these two teams. For Baltimore, if Pickens is not on the field, expect heavy duty pressure on Russell Wilson and more focus on stopping the running game.

Intangibles

Round two of the AFC North rivalry concludes on Saturday and since Pittsburgh has had Baltimore’s number and can beat the Ravens in their house, my gut says the Steelers win, but I’m on the bubble as to picking a winner. Typically, the Steelers don’t play two bad games in a row and with a win here they clinch the North. I’ll go with my gut. 



Prediction

Steelers 23 Ravens 21.