For the fifth time in history, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens will face off in the playoffs, meeting for the third time this season. While the Steelers have won eight of their last 10 against the Ravens, it was Baltimore that had the last laugh with a 34-17 blowout as the home team just a few weeks ago.
The Steelers have been counted out by many, being one of just four teams in NFL history to enter the playoffs on a four-game losing streak, but there are some reasons for optimism. Last time, the Steelers were without Donte Jackson, Larry Ogunjobi, DeShon Elliott, and George Pickens, while Joey Porter Jr. exited early in the game. All of those players are back, and the Ravens will be without Pro Bowl WR Zay Flowers.
The 34-17 score last time around wasn’t fully indicative of how that game went. That was the last time the Steelers were actually able to move the ball, they just didn’t punch it in and had some untimely turnovers that turned it into a blowout.
Russell Wilson is starting, to the dismay of some fans after a month of poor play, but Justin Fields is reportedly set to see a “sprinkling” of plays throughout the game. Both teams will be throwing wrinkles at each other as you must after two times playing each other this season.
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Steelers’ Inactive Players
QB Kyle Allen (3rd QB)
G Mason McCormick
CB Cory Trice Jr.
DL Dean Lowry
OLB Preston Smith
WR Scotty Miller
WR Jamal Agnew
Ravens’ Inactive Players
WR Zay Flowers
LB Adisa Isaac
S Beau Brade
C Nick Samac
RB Rasheen Ali
WR Keith Kirkwood
S Marcus Williams
No big surprises for the Ravens in terms of their inactives. I am pretty surprised by Cory Trice Jr. being inactive after being the top option with Joey Porter Jr. or Donte Jackson hurt. The defensive line will be a little thin with Dean Lowry down, and OLB Preston Smith not dressing is slightly surprising to me, though he was inactive against the Chiefs on Christmas.
The biggest impact will be McCormick, who broke his hand last week. That means Spencer Anderson will be playing his first significant snaps since Week 4.
The Steelers won the coin toss and elected to receive. They want to attack and try to get an early lead. The Steelers haven’t scored a touchdown once on the opening drive this season.
START OF GAME
The kickoff resulted in a touchback, but not before bouncing in the landing zone. The Steelers start at the 20.
1st and 10, Russell Wilson to Pat Freiermuth, but he dropped it. 2nd and 10, complete to Darnell Washington for 9 yards. 3rd and 1, Jaylen Warren up the middle for 2 yards. Justin Fields was in on that play.
Wilson back in, 1st and 10, incomplete to Mike Williams with a long time to throw. Nobody getting open. 2nd and 10, Harris off right tackle for 4 yards. 3rd and 6, Wilson scrambled away from pressure for just a few yards and well short. They didn’t go three-and-out, but it wasn’t much better than that.
The punt was bobbled by former Steeler Steven Sims and tackled down at the 5. The defense needs to make a statement here with a long field.
1st and 10, Derrick Henry up the middle for 4 yards. 2nd and 6, false start. 2nd and 10, complete to Isaiah Likely for 8 yards. 3rd and 2, Jackson scrambled for 3 yards to convert.
1st and 10, Keeanu Benton tackled Jackson scrambling up the middle for 1 yard. 2nd and 9, Jackson scrambled for 8 yards. 3rd and 1, Jackson off right end for 5 yards. They are committed to the QB running game.
1st and 10, Jackson scrambled again and DeShon Elliott tackled him out of bounds for a gain of 4. 2nd and 6, complete to Mark Andrews for 7 yards to convert.
1st and 10, Henry up the middle for 12.
1st and 10, Henry off left tackle for 33 yards.
1st and 10, Jackson threw the ball away with Watt bringing pressure. 2nd and 10, Justice Hill lost 3. 3rd and 13, complete to Rashod Bateman for a touchdown. 7-0 Ravens.
Allowing a 95-yard drive after electing to receive and not getting points. Even the optimistic few (like myself) are re-thinking things at this moment.
1st and 10, Russell Wilson sacked for a loss of 3 on a flea flicker. 2nd and 13, complete to Warren for 6 yards. 3rd and 7, complete to Freiermuth for about 5, but tackled short. The punt was downed at the 15. Good field position again, but that barely feels good after a 95-yard drive. Had Wilson thrown the ball away on first, that could have been enough to convert.
A penalty was assessed for the gunner running out of bounds. The Ravens start at the 20.
1st and 10, Elandon Roberts made the tackle for a gain of 1. 2nd and 9, complete to Anthony Miller for 5 yards. 3rd and 4, complete to Likely for 24 yards. Cam Sutton nowhere near him in coverage.
1st and 10, Jackson delayed draw for 2 yards. 2nd and 8, complete to Hill for a loss of 4.
END OF 1ST QUARTER: 7-0 RAVENS
3rd and 12, complete to Hill for 5 yards. The Steelers failed to put a punt returner in the game, but it resulted in a touchback on a good bounce.
1st and 10, Najee Harris up the middle for 5 yards. 2nd and 5, Harris up the middle for 3 yards. Warren checking into the game for Harris. 3rd and 2, complete to Freiermuth but just inches short. The punt went 56 yards to the 15 downed by Ben Skowronek. At least Corliss Waitman brought his A-game.
1st and 10, Henry up the middle for 1 yard. 2nd and 9, Jackson scrambled up the middle for 9 yards. 3rd and inches and Jackson easily converts.
1st and 10, Derrick Henry uip the middle for 9 yards. 2nd and 1, Payton Wilson was trying to rip the ball out of Jackson and he gained 0. 3rd and 1, Henry up the middle for 3 to convert.
1st and 10, Henry up the middle for 2 yards. 2nd and 8, false start. 2nd and 13, holding on defense to tack onto Jackson’s long run. Jackson was dinged up on the play a bit.
1st and 10, Jackson around right end for about 3 yards. That was his 10th run of the game. 2nd and 7, Jackson scrambled for 8 yards.
1st and 10, Henry up the middle for 3 yards. 2nd and 7, toss left to Henry for about 16 yards.
1st and 10, Henry up the middle through multiple tacklers for 8 yards and a touchdown. The defense looked cooked. 14-0 Ravens.
Cordarrelle Patterson returned the kickoff to the 27.
1st and 10, complete to Pickens for 8 yards. 2nd and 2, complete to Warren for 5 yards.
1st and 10, Fields incomplete throwing the ball away. 2nd and 10, Warren up the middle for 2 yards. 3rd and 8, deep completion to George Pickens but offensive pass interference. 3rd and 18, complete to Freiermuth for 9 yards. The one exciting thing this game erased by a penalty.
Waitman boomed another good punt to the 10-yard line.
1st and 10, Henry around the left end for 3 yards. 2nd and 7, Henry off left tackle for 5 yards.
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
3rd and 2, complete to Bateman for 7 yards.
1st and 10, complete to Nelson Agholor for 25 yards.
1st and 10, Jackson complete to Anthony Miller for 4 yards. 2nd and 6, Jackson complete to Andrews for 20 yards.
1st and 10, Jackson scrambled around and finally found a wide open checkdown for a touchdown. 21-0 Ravens.
To make matters worse, Heyward may have hurt himself on that touchdown. They kneeled the ball to send it to halftime.
Good thing the Steelers received the ball to start the game.
END OF 1ST HALF: 21-0 RAVENS
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