Perspective Of An Average Steelers Fan: Pittsburgh Pours It On Baltimore

Game Prelude

Baltimore sat some of its top players, including QB Lamar Jackson. But Pittsburgh was missing its top three inside linebackers and top four safeties due to injuries. A must-win for the Steelers with the Ravens looking forward to preventing a playoff berth for their rival. Ravens started their starting defensive front seven minus Roquan Smith.

The weather was a significant factor, a heavy rain with temperatures in the 30s and windy. Ball security going to be a key factor in these conditions.

Steelers Offense

The Steelers scored on their second possession but fumbled six times. Fortunately, only two of them were recovered by the Ravens. But the poor ball security cost them scoring opportunities. Najee Harris ran strong. And Mason Rudolph connected with Diontae Johnson for the go-ahead touchdown on the first play of fourth quarter.

Both Harris and Jaylen Warren bobbled the ball on their first carries. They retained possession without fumbling but an omen that ball security would be a key factor in the outcome.

After exchanging punts, the Steelers began their second drive at their own 24-yard line. They ran five-straight times for 41 yards, including a 23-yard effort by Warren. The Steelers gained significant first-down yardage and capped the drive with Harris scoring from six yards out. Isaac Seumalo demolished a Baltimore lineman to open the hole. Steelers up 7-0.

Rudolph threw deep to Diontae Johnson on third down near the end of first quarter. The ball was well-placed and it seemed like Johnson could have accelerated to catch it. I speculated that perhaps he had a tight hamstring. Some thought he loafed. Johnson was not targeted again until the fourth quarter.

The Steelers received another opportunity after a defensive takeaway in Baltimore territory. But former Steeler Arthur Maulet recovered Warren’s fumble to end the scoring threat.

The Ravens tied the game, but a heads-up special teams play gave the Steelers a start at their 40-yard line late in the second quarter. Pittsburgh reached the Ravens 33-yard line on a short first down pass to Warren. Just on the edge of field goal range considering the conditions, Rudolph fumbled to lose nine yards. Freiermuth got eight of them back, but Rudolph was strip-sacked and Baltimore recovered to end another scoring opportunity.

Quick Strike and Score on Turnover

Pittsburgh punted its first two second-half possessions away. Late in the third quarter, Pittsburgh started a drive from its 11. Pittsburgh ran five straight plays again reaching the 29-yard line as the quarter ended. The fourth quarter began with the Steelers facing a 3rd and 4. Rudolph threw an in-route to Johnson, who split two defenders and raced in for a 71-yard touchdown.

The Steelers capitalized on a second defensive takeaway midway of the fourth quarter, Harris involved in seven plays, including two first downs. Pittsburgh reached the 2-yard line, but Warren was dropped for a five-yard loss on an ill-conceived toss wide left. A field goal made it a two-score game, and the Steelers won, 17-10, despite six fumbles with two lost ones.

Steelers Defense

The Steelers forced seven punts and recovered two fumbles, the only blemish a second-quarter touchdown allowed.

The Steelers forced five three and outs. Eric Rowe tackled receivers twice on the first drive for one of them. He did it again in the second quarter. Then on third down, Mark Robinson forced a fumble that Larry Ogunjobi recovered.

Unfortunately, the Steelers gave the ball back on a fumble of their own. Baltimore started a drive, but Mark Robinson sacked Tyler Huntley that eventually forced a punt.

But the Steelers defense faltered. Huntley connected with Laquon Treadwell for 16 yards to convert a 3rd and 9. Then Gus Edwards ran for 29 yards. Watt stopped Edwards for a 2-yard loss, but then Huntley threw a 27-yard touchdown as the tight end Isaiah Likely broke some tackles on the way to the end zone. Three of the Ravens’ four longest plays of the game came on this drive. It’s 7-7.

The second half started without the Ravens’ quarterback. They took a delay of game until a ball boy delivered a helmet to Huntley. Watt sacked Huntley and Baltimore punted a couple plays later.

Watt Hurt but Key Takeaway

Watt sacked Huntley again on the next possession to force another punt. Baltimore got a 16-yard completion on the next drive when Watt hurt his knee. The Ravens reached midfield before punting, but the Steelers had to finish the game without the best defensive player in the league.

Pittsburgh scored to open the fourth quarter to go up 14-7. Baltimore reached midfield again before the defense forced another punt. After a punt exchange, the Ravens gained seven yards. They ran again for five, but Eric Rowe forced a fumble. Markus Golden, in for Watt, recovered the ball to set up the field goal that made it a two-score game.

Baltimore got the ball with 3:13 to play, needing 10 points to tie. Huntley ran and passed to get the Ravens to the Steelers’ 9-yard line. Golden sacked Huntley on third down to force a field goal. Connor Heyward gathered up the onside kick to end the game.

Special Teams

Special teams are an underappreciated facet of the game. One big play can shift momentum or even decide the game.

I break special teams into three phases: Kickoffs, punting, and scoring (field goals and extra points.) Here is an overview of the special teams play during the game:

KICKOFFS

Chris Boswell kicked off four times. All were touchbacks.

Justin Tucker kicked off three times. His first was a touchback, and his second one near the sideline was when Godwin Igwebuike made a heads-up play. He placed his feet out of bounds then took possession of the ball. By rule, the ball was out giving the Steelers starting position at the 40-yard line. Near end of game, Tucker attempted an onside kick that Connor Heyward recovered to put Pittsburgh into victory formation.

It’s not often that Baltimore is outplayed on special teams.

THE STATS

*Onside kick recovered by Connor Heyward

Advantage Steelers

PUNTING

Pressley Harvin III punted six times. Harvin only averaged 41.7 yards per punt but netted 38.3. A touchback at end of game was close to being downed, which would have boosted his average closer to 45. He also had a 49-yard punt downed at the 6 negated by too many players on the field. He shanked his next punt out of bounds. Not sure if he had to alter his kicking motion due to the rush. He has been inconsistent but negated Baltimore’s return game.

Jordan Stout punted seven times. He averaged an impressive 53.9 yards a punt. But that’s only part of the story. Calvin Austin III returned five punts for 92 yards. As a result, Stout only netted 37.9 yards per punt. Austin returned the last punt 34 yards to the Pittsburgh 43-yard line, but the Steelers couldn’t score off the favorable starting field position.

Still, Harvin outkicked Stout in this game.

THE STATS

Advantage Steelers.

FIELD GOALS AND EXTRA POINTS

Boswell perfect with two extra points and a field goal. Tucker was also perfect with an extra point and a field goal. Steelers special teams edge the Ravens 5-4 in scoring.

THE STATS

Advantage Steelers

YOUR HOT TAKES DURING THE GAME

Thank you, Ross McCorkle, for keeping us up to date on the game’s first- and second-half Live Update and Discussion Threads. Steelers Depot respondents contributed 1,409 first-half comments. Respondents added  1,850 more second-half comments. Here are the top-three comments from each half. I don’t know the algorithm used by Disqus but here is how they stacked it up:

Pat’s C-gap had the best first-half comment observing: “I want a replay but that looked like a big lack of effort by DJ”. CoachCot added, “DJ looked like he pulled up a tad on that one.” Diontae Johnson made up for that play later in the game. I thought maybe he sandbagged until the fourth quarter.

Runamok mentioned the same play. “Diontae busy hand fighting with the DB instead of running full speed. That ball was right where it was supposed to be.” 

Chris92021 switched it up and commented on a defender and a special teamer: “That right there is why I still have hope for Mark Robinson. If we do make the playoffs next week, bring in new punters because this current one has shown for 3 years, he is inconsistent at best. Downright awful at worst.”

In the second half, Chad Sanborn had the top comment, criticizing the play calls. “Horrible. Just Horrible. WTF are our coaches doing? The middle of the field is open. Najee averaging 5ypc up the middle. and we for some reason run him side to side for -2 yards each time. Coaches are just retarded at this point.”

MVG vented about the officiating. “I don’t even know what would be called holding at this point. They literally tackled our DT, and it was fine.”

Steel City Slim wanted more ‘Muth. “Freiermuth across the middle every once in a while may work too.”

Hope you all enjoy the banter on the live update and discussion threads! Tennessee pulled it off yesterday, so we’ll have at least one more game to discuss.

CONCLUSION

Pittsburgh gave a gritty performance. The weather an equalizer to the players Baltimore sat. And Pittsburgh’s defense devastated by injuries. Najee Harris ran very hard. Mason Rudolph completed 18-of-20 passes. He fumbled twice in collapsed pockets. But his 71-yard touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson a beauty.

The patchwork defense held together even after losing T.J. Watt. Eric Rowe, Markus Golden, and Mark Robinson made big plays.

Pressley Harvin III will take a lot of heat. But I’d like to study the one punt out of bounds because otherwise he outkicked Ravens P Jordan Stout.

A Baltimore player said teams don’t like playing Ravens brand of football. Mike Tomlin said the Steelers do. And they did.

The Steelers did what they had to do and Tennessee’s win over Jacksonville put Pittsburgh into the playoffs.

Your Song Selection

I always like to include a bit of music. The Steelers went to Baltimore. The Ravens sat some players but laid a trap. The Steelers went ahead and walked into their trap. Then took over their trap. Here is Take Over Your Trap played in the locker room last year after a 16-13 win in Baltimore.