Steelers vs Ravens: 3 key matchups to watch on Sunday
Steelers Secondary vs Ravens Receivers
What is significant about these matchups is that they all must play hand in hand to win this game. The offense must be able to utilize their weapons to sustain drives and score, which rests the defense and gives a better opportunity to contain Lamar Jackson, the running game, and leads to the battles of the secondary and receivers.
If the Lamar Jackson throws, the secondary cannot let him have easy/big completions. They have to execute at the same level as they did against Cincinnati.
The play in the secondary has steadily improved since being embarrassed in week one. The acquisition of Minkah Fitzpatrick was a huge boost and might have benefited in more ways than one.
After forcing two turnovers in week 3, Fitzpatrick had a quiet game against the 49ers. With that, however, the communications in the secondary were better as well as the overall play. Yes, it was against a lowly team, but they executed the way they were expected to against a bad team.
If the Steelers want to prevent Jackson from tearing the defense apart, they will have to contain him in the pocket, eliminate the ground game, and smothers the Ravens receiving corps.
The Ravens have proven talents such as Mark Andrews, Hollywood Brown, and Willie Snead in the lineup. The rest of the receiving corps has a lot of unproven talent that will look to take advantage of a Steelers secondary that, though improving, is still perceived as a weak secondary.
The Steelers corners will be faced with a tough task in shutting down the Raven’s young play makers, but it is a battle that they are built for. Steve Nelson and Joe Haden have had solid years in pass coverage and are battle-tested veterans.
The Steelers will little margin for error in this game and the rest of the season. These three matchups will all play an important part in helping each other. One weak area and the Steelers will lose their opportunity at a spot at first place in the division.
Next. 5 Steelers who made great improvements in week 4 against the Bengals. dark
The Ravens @ Steelers game will be broadcast Sunday on CBS at 1 PM. Stay tuned to Stillcurtain.com for all of your latest analysis and the upcoming Steel City Down South Podcast–this week with a special guest joining!
Here we go Steelers!