Steelers continue recent domination of Ravens

After defeating the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday 18-16, it might be easy to say in recent times, the Pittsburgh Steelers OWN the Baltimore Ravens. With this victory that makes four straight and eight of the last nine. Now at 8-2 the loss for Baltimore drops them to 7-4, giving the Steelers a two-game advantage in the loss column.

Now, many might say the Steelers should not have won this game because one of the most accurate place kickers in history Justin Tucker missed two field goals which would have given the Ravens the win, but my contention is that good teams overcome mistakes and find a way to win and Baltimore failed to do that. The Steelers also made some mistakes but guess what? They won. It doesn’t matter how you break it down; a win is a win.

Things to consider in this latest Steelers victory that tell a bigger story are the fact that coming into this game, Pittsburgh was up against the best offense in the NFL statistically. Lamar Jackson has been having another M.V.P. type season and was a front runner for yet another of those awards. He’s won it before, but he probably won’t this season after his performance in Pittsburgh and the fact that Josh Allen had a huge game in handing the Kansas City Chiefs their first victory of the season.

Pittsburgh not only has the Ravens’ number; they also are Lamar Jackson’s worst nightmare. With a chance to tie the game late in the fourth quarter, Jackson tried to take the ball himself into the end zone for a two-point conversion only to run into Joey Porter Jr. What surprised me is that on the ensuing kickoff, Baltimore opted to kick it deep with little time left on the clock. Then Justin Fields iced the game with a nine-yard run for a first down, allowing Najee Harris to run once more than Russell Wilson, taking several knees to send the Ravens home and in second place in the AFC North.

Some observations I made from this game:

• Payton Wilson probably made the Steelers play of the year when he intercepted the ball on a pass from Jackson to Justice Hill and Wilson made an incredible effort to wrest the ball from Hill for the pick. When he was drafted, I said Wilson is a prototypical Steelers linebacker and this is only his rookie season, and he has already made a major impact on defense so many times.

• Mike Tomlin and Arthur Smith’s use of Justin Fields to get first downs were brilliant calls. True, Fields messed one of them up sliding too early and short of the first down marker, but it wasn’t so blatant that he should be crucified for it, he thought he had reached the yard mark where he needed to go. But his effort was solid.

• The big bad offense of Baltimore was simply shut down. Regardless of the missed field goals by Justin Tucker, something needs to be said about the defensive effort by the Steelers. Just look at Lamar Jackson’s numbers. 16 of 33 for just 207 yards the interception by Wilson that really wasn’t a bad throw on his part and sacked twice. His QB rating was 66.1. Certainly not M.V.P. numbers.

• Then there is Derrick Henry. The beast of the NFL this season, the league’s leading rusher and he finished with just 65 yards rushing. His 5.0 per carry average was solid and he scored once, but the Steelers defense kept him in check. 

• There is much being made about how the Steelers failed to score a single touchdown all day despite being in the red zone multiple times. The naysayers are pointing out not being able to score touchdowns does not bode well once the Steelers reach the playoffs. I beg to differ. If we can stop the league’s #1 offense from reaching their average points per game (and Baltimore was around a 30 average coming in), then what difference does it make if we are ahead on the scoreboard no matter how those points were derived? Final scores win the game. Final score in this one? Pittsburgh 18 Baltimore 16. Game over. Steelers victory.

• There is also some negative talk about Russell Wilson. Did anyone expect him to be near perfect every time out? His numbers were not much better than Lamar Jackson’s and all the pre-game talk was about Baltimore’s last in the league ranking in pass defense.

• Everyone needs to keep in mind the nature of this rivalry. Even though their secondary was supposed to be garbage, this is after all a Steelers/Ravens game. These two teams bring up their game a notch when facing each other and the hits are harder. The intensity rises when this matchup takes place. Therefore, throw away the stats because Baltimore’s secondary had something to prove. Wilson managed the game like a pro, and some made good plays and decisions. Don’t even think that he won’t have better games remaining. Remember, the Browns are next.

• Pittsburgh’s running attack is a two headed monster. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren I would not trade for anyone else in the league.

• George Pickens had the right to complain about several of his pass attempts as he was being manhandled on several plays.

• Patrick Queen got some sweet revenge including his recovered fumble. 

• Cam Heyward is amazing. At his age he is playing like he is 10 years younger.

• Pittsburgh’s defense has so many weapons there is no need to expect T.J. Watt to be superman every game out. His support team around him is outstanding and this defense was well put together. Defense wins games they say so let’s not worry so much about the offense. Besides, Russell Wilson has a Super Bowl ring. He knows how to win games.

• For Baltimore being this explosive offense they’ve been, the Steelers outdid them on first downs oddly enough in a count equal to the final score (18-16). The Steelers kept pace in total offensive yardage finishing with just 26 fewer yards (329-203). Each team had 13 drives to work with. But credit again to the defense as Pittsburgh had 74 total plays and the Ravens only 54.

• Baltimore cost themselves the game with missed field goals and 12 penalties. Pittsburgh had seven. Again however, good teams find ways to win.

• Substantial number here…time of possession. Steelers 36:22 Baltimore 23:38. The defense got them off the field often. Both teams were terrible on third down, the Ravens and Steelers each converted only four times, but Pittsburgh failed on 14 attempts whereas Baltimore missed just seven times.

• Hats off to Broderick Jones for showing some fire and nasty demeanor in the several scraps he got involved in. That’s Steelers football. But what I really like about this team is how young they are and some of those young players having potential not fully reached yet.

Examples?

• Zach Frazier, starting center 23 years old
  Jones just mentioned is only 23
  George Pickens despite several seasons under his belt, only 23
  Darnell Washington the monstrous tight end? 23
  Mason McCormick has been a pleasant surprise on the o-line and he’s just 24
  Calvin Austin…25
  Justin Fields should be around for awhile and he is just 25
  Pat Freiermuth is only 26
  Najee Harris just 26
  Jaylen Warren 26

I’m saying here and now that the Pittsburgh Steelers will win the AFC North. Why? We have the Browns on Thursday night, which should be a victory. Baltimore goes west to Los Angeles to take on a dangerous Chargers team in a game I believe they lose. That would drop the Ravens three games back in the loss column. The rest of the way Baltimore has the Eagles, an easy game against the Giants, the rematch with Pittsburgh on their turf, then a road game in Houston (I say they lose that one too), and finish with the Browns.

The way I see it, the Ravens finish either 10-7 or 9-8 depending on whether they beat Philadelphia or not. For Pittsburgh, it’s Cleveland next then a dangerous Bengals team but their defense is weak so I believe this should be another win. Then Cleveland comes to Pittsburgh that’s a win. Can the Steelers win in Philadelphia? Great game but keeping a long winning streak intact is difficult so let’s say this is a loss. 

Kansas City in Pittsburgh on Christmas Day? Tough pick. I’ll say upset special. We close with a rematch with the Bengals at home. Another win (if needed). Justin Fields may very well be the starter here if Pittsburgh has their playoff position set. So best case scenario? 13-4 I say. Worst case (given losses to the Bengals, Eagles, Ravens, and Chiefs), 11-6 which would still win them the division. But I believe they will beat Cincinnati twice and Baltimore even though it’s on the road, we have their number so chalk that up as a win.

No matter what, I don’t think anyone expected this level of success for the Steelers in 2024. I loved our draft class and damn if they aren’t playing up to potential. Now this week’s power rankings I’m sure will not do the Steelers any favors despite Pittsburgh upending Baltimore. I expect Detroit to be #1 followed by Buffalo and because the game with the Chiefs was close K.C. will probably be third. Because Baltimore blew the game with us, don’t be surprised if they are ranked above us. I’m sure the Eagles will be above us. Even the Vikings will most likely be ranked higher. That would put us around 7th. I call bullshit on that. 

Right now, I believe we are better than the Bills thanks to the defense. Minnesota? Pretenders. The Eagles are suspect, and the Chiefs beatable given the number of close calls they’ve had. But we in Steelers Nation are used to this. For years we’ve endured utter disrespect and the only way to topple that is to win Super Bowl number seven. And at a minimum win a playoff game which I predict they will do.