4 biggest causes of concern for Steelers vs. Ravens Week 8

Ravens defensive line

The Ravens have had a formidable defensive front for years it seems, as they constantly cycle through players yet maintain a high level of play. This year, they added seasoned veterans Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe to the group, cementing this unit as one to watch out for. This group can cause issues for opposing quarterbacks, as the pass rush can come from a variety of directions and wreak havoc on an offense.

Luckily, the Steelers have done a decent job of protecting against the pass rush this year, and while that may be tested this game, there is plenty of reason to believe the offensive line will hold their own. The issue more comes down to batted footballs, as Ben Roethlisberger had quite a few attempts swatted down at the line of scrimmage last week.

Tipped passes are always frightening, as it can give the defense an easy takeaway. Considering some of the size on the Ravens line (Campbell is 6’8 while both Wolfe and Jihad Ward are 6’5), this could be an issue for the second week in a row. If Roethlisberger struggles to get the ball out, the Steelers may become one dimensional and struggle to move the ball. Those tipped passes need to be cleaned up because Ravens will make you pay for them.