Baltimore Faces AFC North-Rival Pittsburgh Steelers In Key Matchup
By Daniel Benjamin
The Baltimore Ravens are back at M&T Bank Stadium for the first time in four weeks. The Ravens host AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers in an important matchup on Nov. 6 with kickoff slated for 1 p.m. The winner of the matchup will have a leg up on claiming the all-important divisional crown, which secures an automatic playoff berth.
The Ravens went into their bye week looking to right the ship after losing four straight games. The Ravens' main goals over the break were to get healthy on both sides of the ball and to fix a sputtering offense. They have been outscored 95-76 during their recent skid.
Yet, the Ravens are just two games out of the final wild card spot, and one game behind the Steelers in the division.
Steelers record: 4-3
Pittsburgh is also coming off a bye week. Like the Ravens, the Steelers had key players miss the last couple of weeks: QB Ben Roethlisberger, RT Marcus Gilbert and DE Cameron Heyward. All three players returned to practice on Monday, though the Steelers are still preparing as Landry Jones will be behind center on Sunday.
Pittsburgh has lost two straight with consecutive losses to Miami and New England. They are 1-2 on the road and 3-2 against AFC teams, including 1-0 versus North division foes.
Steelers on offense
The Steelers offense has struggled with putting up points during their mini-losing streak. They have scored 31 points over the last two weeks as they have reached the end zone just three times. In their last game, with Jones directing the offense, Pittsburgh totaled 375 total yards of offense, but managed just 16 points in their loss to the Patriots.
Landry Jones' first start of the season wasn't horrible, though he wasn't accurate, either. The 27-year-old completed 29-of-his-47 throws for 281 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The Steelers' biggest problem against the Patriots were penalties (10-85), third down (5-16) and red zone (1-4) execution.
Overall, the Steelers rank in the middle third of the league in scoring, total yards and passing yards. They are in the bottom third in rushing yards.
Steelers on defense
Pittsburgh's defense was uncharacteristically carved up by the Dolphins and Patriots. The Steelers have surrendered 57 points and 836 total offensive yards, with 362 yards and five touchdowns coming on the ground, over their last two games.
Prior to the games against Miami and New England, the Steelers ranked in the top third of the league in scoring and rushing defense. They currently rank in the mid-third of the league in scoring, rushing defense and total defense, while they are in the bottom third in pass defense. Pittsburgh has only registered eight sacks and picked off three passes.
Player to watch: WR Antonio Brown
Antonio Brown is one of the best receivers in the league, and he could have a big day if CB Jimmy Smith is not completely recovered from his concussion. Smith is playing some of his best football since 2014, previously shutting down DeSean Jackson of the Washington Redskins and Odell Beckham of the New York Giants.
Brown is fourth in the league with 48 receptions for 592 yards and five touchdowns. The seven-year pro is not a big-play type receiver, though he does have eight catches for 20 or more yards, and one reception for 40-plus yards. Brown hasn't experienced an exorbitant amount of success versus the Ravens as he has caught 58.2 percent of his 97 targets, hauling in 57 passes for 11.59 yards per catch and one touchdown. He has three 100-yard games in his career against the Ravens with the occurrence being during the 2014 playoffs.
Outlook
Pittsburgh leads the all-time series 24-20, including 21-19 during the regular season. The Ravens, however, have won five of the past six meetings—and three straight at home.
Expect the game to be a typical Ravens-Steelers grudge match with lots of hard hits and emotion. If the Ravens get most of their key players back healthy, and are able to fix or—at least masquerade—their major deficiencies, they have a good chance of picking up a win. Obviously, the Ravens wold benefit if Roethlisberger (knee) and Brown (hip) are unable to go. Pittsburgh is 1-6 versus the Ravens in games Roethlisberger misses.
Post Author: Daniel Benjamin.