With nothing to play for, the Baltimore Ravens are coasting into the playoffs and their #1 seed. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the team will bench its key players, including QB Lamar Jackson.
Schefter also notes RB Mark Ingram, FS Earl Thomas, NT Brandon Williams, and OG Marshal Yanda will be given the finale off. Ingram suffered a calf injury late in yesterday’s victory over the Cleveland Browns.
That makes for the Steelers to have an easier matchup against Baltimore but by no means does that make it an easy game. This is still one of football’s top teams and most of their starters will play. Ronnie Stanley is a franchise left tackle, Mark Andrews a major threat at TE (though I wouldn’t be surprised if his snaps were heavily curtailed), and Marlon Humphrey/Marcus Peters make up a strong duo at cornerback.
The Ravens also boast good depth at positions where they will be sitting starters Whether it’s Gus Edwards and Justice Hill at RB or Robert Griffin III at QB, an athletic player who can run the same offense as Jackson.
Baltimore will be looking for their first regular season sweep of Pittsburgh since 2015. They won the first meeting in overtime, 26-23.
