By Mike DeFabo, Jeff Zrebiec and Alex Andrejev
The Pittsburgh Steelers maintained their place atop the AFC North, clinching an 18-16 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in front of a hometown crowd at Acrisure Stadium.
Pittsburgh’s defense quieted a typically stout Ravens offense that struggled to find the end zone. Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker, considered one of the league’s all-time best at his position, uncharacteristically missed two first-quarter field goals continuing his recent woes.
The Steelers, meanwhile, chipped away at the scoreboard with kicker Chris Boswell making six field goals, including three over 50 yards, to help Pittsburgh maintain the lead through most of the contest. The Ravens had a chance to tie the game after quarterback Lamar Jackson hit Zay Flowers on a TD pass with 1:06 left in the fourth quarter. The ensuing two-point try failed, though, and the Steelers went on to seal the win.
Baltimore’s defense also suffered a late loss with linebacker Roquan Smith, who had 13 tackles, exiting with a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter.
Steelers defense wins a battle of strengths
A game that’s traditionally a low-scoring, defensive-minded rock fight had the opportunity to be something different, as the Ravens offense entered Sunday leading the league in numerous categories, including scoring, yards, red zone efficiency and rushing. It created a five-star, strength-on-strength matchup against the Steelers, who entered the game with the NFL’s second-best scoring defense.
Pittsburgh largely won this battle, beginning on the second play from scrimmage when outside linebacker Nick Herbig forced a Derrick Henry fumble. The Steelers went on to force three turnovers (including a critical, late-game interception by rookie Payton Wilson) and held the Ravens to just two touchdowns, which is a win against an offense as potent as Baltimore’s.
The Steelers defense often plays Jackson better than almost anyone else, and did it once again, keeping the MVP candidate in check. That’s not to say there weren’t some tense moments. After Jackson led the Ravens down the field for a touchdown in the two-minute drill, Herbig and Joey Porter Jr. applied pressure on the two-point try to force Jackson into a desperation pass that fell incomplete.
While the Steelers’ improved offense has shown it has more than one formula to win games, this was a statement from the defense in its biggest test to date. — Mike DeFabo, Steelers beat writer
Steelers red-zone woes almost prove costly
The Steelers offense has been clicking at a different level since Russell Wilson took over for Justin Fields. It appeared Pittsburgh would need the veteran QB’s trademark moon ball — and much more — to expose the NFL’s worst pass defense. While the Steelers moved the ball reasonably well between the 20s, their issues in the red zone nearly came back to haunt them going 0-for-4 in the red area.
That was especially true late in the game. The Steelers were clinging to a five-point lead when they faced first-and-goal from the 5-yard line. After the first two plays fizzled, Wilson lofted a jump ball in the direction of Darnell Washington on third down with 9:23 left. The 6-foot-7 tight end didn’t do much to make a play on the ball, allowing defensive back Marlon Humphrey to intercept the pass. That play could have proved costly as the Steelers missed a chance to extend their lead to eight points. However, Payton Wilson’s interception bailed out the offense and set up Boswell for his sixth field goal of the game. — DeFabo
Steelers have Ravens’ number
The Steelers are in the Ravens’ heads. That’s really the only conclusion you can make at this point after the Steelers have now beaten the Ravens in eight of the past nine matchups.
During the week, the Ravens lamented how they simply haven’t played well against their biggest rival and they’ve given away some of the games. They then went out and did it again. The Ravens turned the ball over three times, twice deep in their own territory. They had 12 penalties for 80 yards. Jackson again looked nothing like an MVP quarterback as he fell to 1-4 in five career starts against the Steelers.
He didn’t get much help either as Justice Hill was outmuscled for an interception and there were a handful of drops. This has become a common occurrence whenever these two teams meet. The Ravens are at their worst. — Jeff Zrebiec, Ravens beat writer
Ravens’ defensive changes improve play, but it’s not enough
Seeking to improve a pass defense that ranked dead last in the NFL, the Ravens made some changes on the back end. Starting safety Marcus Williams was benched as the Ravens used Kyle Hamilton and Ar’Darius Washington at safety. Trade acquisition Tre’Davious White came in as an outside corner on third downs and other obvious passing situations.
The results were pretty good, at least for the better part of three quarters. The Ravens mostly eliminated the Steelers’ big plays and held up on third down and in the red zone. The Ravens may have found something defensively, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the issues on offense and special teams. — Zrebiec
Required reading
- NFL Week 11 live updates: Ravens-Steelers, Chiefs-Bills, predictions, odds, league scoreboard, inactives
- QB Betrayal Index: Lamar Jackson acing his toughest test; Justin Herbert finally gets a break
- After week of soul-searching, Ravens defense looking to get right against Steelers
- Patrick Queen embracing ‘villain’ role in Steelers-Ravens rivalry: ‘I wasn’t wanted back’
(Photo: Justin K. Aller / Getty Images)
