While the Steelers have the better record, the Ravens will be one of the toughest tests of the season. Here are the causes for concern in their matchup
There may not be a better standing rivalry in the NFL right than the Ravens and Steelers. It seems like any time these teams meet; it ends in a hard-fought game and goes down to the final minute. These games are never easy and are always physical, and one small mistake could spell a loss for either team. Even last year when the Steelers suffered due to injuries, they made sure to show up and compete with the Ravens.
This year, the teams seem far more even. The Ravens return with their explosive rushing offense while the Steelers hope to combat that with their top of the line run defense. Both teams have some quality pass rushers as well, and secondaries that can do some damage if they are tested often enough. This game is likely to be grueling for both teams, and no matter who wins, it will be hard-fought.
Considering the talent that the Ravens have though, there are plenty of reasons that the Steelers undefeated record should be in doubt. Yes, this team has been impressive, but the Ravens pose the toughest task of the year for the Steelers. The team and fans both should be concerned, as this game will likely have a lot of bearing on who wins the AFC North and potentially who lands the top playoff seed in the AFC. With all of this considered, here are the reasons the Steelers should be concerned with their matchup against the Ravens.
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.
Ben Roethlisberger
Speaking of Roethlisberger, the veteran needs to be on point this week. The Ravens defense is a stout unit, meaning he won’t be able to carve it up like some of the softer defenses he has played so far this year. Worse yet, if he has a similar showing to last week, the Steelers could be in trouble as the turnover deficit would give the Ravens a huge advantage. It is paramount Roethlisberger plays a clean game this week.
Simply not turning the ball over won’t be enough though, as Roethlisberger will have to be able to execute deep passes better. He has struggled with going deep, often overthrowing his target and wasting the Steelers down because of it. Enough mistakes like that could lead to some troubles for the Steelers offense, as drives stall and no points are scored.
Roethlisberger needs to be sharper this week for the Steelers. While cutting back on the mistake will certainly better the odds of a Steelers win, he needs to make sure he is firing on all cylinders. There can’t be a weak point on this roster, as the Ravens will exploit it early and often. Roethlisberger needs to have a clean game and focus on completing passes deeper than he has been in order for the Steelers to secure a win.
Speed at receiver
While it is true that the Ravens have posted some lackluster passing stats on the season, they are about to face an extremely soft secondary. As well, this is a secondary that is susceptible to long plays, which bodes well for the Raven’s group of receivers. Their receivers are built on speed, as each of their starters has the ability to burn secondaries with their top-notch athleticism.
Marquise Brown was drafted as early as he was due to his electrifying speed with rookie Devin Duvernay is also known to have great deep speed. Fellow speedster Miles Boykin also has great size to go along with his ability to win deep. The only Ravens starting receiver that isn’t built for speed is Willie Snead, as he relies on his sharp route running and good hands.
If the Ravens speedy receivers can blow past the Steelers secondary, the team could be in trouble. While forcing Lamar Jackson to beat you through the air is your best bet to win, allowing him easy long passes will likely end in a loss. The Steelers need to make sure the deep pass is prevented this week. Given the struggles in the secondary, this could be a primary reason for a potential loss.
Lamar Jackson
That takes us to the final cause for concern of this week, and it has to be Jackson at quarterback. While the reigning MVP is having a tamer season that he did last year, he is still playing like the top quarterback that he is. He can hurt you anyway, as he has top-end speed, a great arm, and solid accuracy. There isn’t a clear weak point to his game and taking him lightly would be a serious mistake.
All of this said the Steelers did a good job of limiting Jackson in the one game they played against him last year. He had less than 200 total yards in that meeting and he threw three interceptions. A big part of that was due to the athletic Devin Bush spying on Jackson more often than not. Due to his ACL injury though, the Steelers will have no such player to do that this year. While Vince Williams and Robert Spillane have looked good in their roles, neither are athletic enough to keep up with Jackson.
Considering this Ravens offense runs through Jackson, stopping him will be the primary focus. While they have tape on how to do that, it will certainly be more challenging this year than last year. That said, if the Steelers find a way to minimize Jackson’s impact, it could aid in a victory for the team. They’ve done it before, but don’t be fooled; stopping Jackson is not an easy task for any defense.
The matchup this Sunday will certainly be a good one, as both the Steelers and Ravens are playing for a lot right now. Given the nature of hard-hitting games between these two teams and the talent that the Ravens, be aware of the causes for concern in this matchup.