Baltimore Ravens (9-5) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4) Two fierce rivals are fighting for the coveted home-field advantage in the playoffs as the AFC North race draws to a close. The division will belong to the Pittsburgh Steelers if they win five straight games in Baltimore.
Meanwhile, if Mike Tomlin’s squad loses to the Chiefs or Bengals to end the season, the Ravens may secure a postseason berth with a victory and see a route to the top of the class.
Given that the Ravens have occasionally flattened to deceive (see: losses to the Raiders and Browns) and the Steelers have had difficulty moving the ball without George Pickens, both teams will feel they have an advantage over one another.
The offense of John Harbaugh’s team is as effective and dynamic as that of Buffalo and Detroit. On their day, the outstanding combination of running back Derrick Henry and quarterback Lamar Jackson can overwhelm even the most formidable defense.
Will the stars align, though? The vicious pass rush from Pittsburgh will continue to have faith in their ability to unleash the worst in Baltimore. Pickens must return to the starting lineup if the Steelers are to win. The Steelers must rely on the running game while maintaining faith in Wilson’s deep throwing threat during his significant absence because the great receiver has not yet returned to practice.
Wilson appeared to be having a lot of trouble, based on last week’s box score, but his receivers were always in close coverage by a passing defense that allows 227 yards per game, which is the second-lowest in the NFL. The Ravens, on the other hand, cough up the second most (323).
In order to take advantage of Wilson’s deep threat when it matters, the offensive plan must strike a balance. In addition to incorporating Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris into the passing attack, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith must figure out how to get the running game working. They each had a grab for a total of 10 yards against the Eagles, but they combined for 10 catches and more than 100 yards against the Bengals.
The defense appeared absolutely fatigued at the gun as they were sent out repeatedly, despite having a strong start versus Philadelphia. As he recovers from an ankle injury, TJ Watt in particular will require rest to compete with Jackson and Henry. What the Ravens must do to win: To improve their awful performance against the Steelers, the Ravens must clean up their act and adopt a detached strategy.
Baltimore needs to maintain focus to avoid the game-ending turnovers and penalties that made the difference in their November loss to Pittsburgh, since they have only won one of their last nine encounters.Jackson had three balls swatted at the line of scrimmage and was sacked twice, while Harbaugh’s side missed two field goals, committed 12 penalties, and turned the ball over three times.
Jackson, who lost 1-4 to Pittsburgh, must figure out Mike Tomlin’s defense if and when the errors are fixed. Using running back Justice Hill’s speed and spectacular route running out of the backfield is one way to achieve this, allowing Mark Andrews to use the more reliable targets more skillfully in bits and pieces for chunk plays and touchdowns. Adding tight end Isaiah to the mix It might also assist weaken Pittsburgh’s will, probably in the slot or out wide.
Replicating Philadelphia’s success by controlling time of possession must be the last component. In Week 11, they only managed 24 minutes compared to Pittsburgh’s 36.
