Winners and losers from Steelers close loss to the Ravens

The Steelers fell short of their third straight win on Sunday, and here are the winners and losers from the matchup.

The Steelers entered week 14 on a mini-win streak. Despite the recent success, this team needed to continue winning if they wanted to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. They faced a battered Ravens team that were very beatable this week. It was a game that Pittsburgh had to find a way to win.

That didn’t materialize though, as the Steelers fell short by two points this week. They were dominated on the ground as the Ravens ran at will against this defense. No matter the look or scenario, the Ravens were dominating on the ground en route to their win. Here are the winners and losers from the Steelers loss to the Ravens.

Steelers Winners:

Diontae Johnson

It wasn’t a perfect day for Diontae Johnson, but it was a solid outing for a player that has struggled in recent weeks. He made quite a few good catches, highlighted by his deep shot in the fourth quarter. You would like to see more from your top receiver, but it was a good rebound day for the veteran receiver.

George Pickens

George Pickens has the ability to be a superstar in this league. His body control as a rookie is insane, and his hands are even better. His first deep shot would have been a touchdown had it not been underthrown, but his final stat line was good for the day. His ability to win in one-on-one scenarios makes him a dangerous receiver for this offense.

Steelers Losers:

Mitch Trubisky

I’ll be the first to say, I was impressed with Mitch Trubisky when he first came unto the field. He was willing to take effective deep shots and early on, looked like a good fit for what the offense needed. Then the forced throws occurred, leading to a slew of interceptions, something this mediocre offense can’t have. I’m not overly impressed with Kenny Pickett, but he is the far better option for this team.

Run Defense

This was about as ugly as it could get for the defense. The Ravens offense was led by two backup quarterbacks, one of them being an undrafted rookie. Despite the limited passing attack, the Steelers were destroyed on the ground. Even when it was obvious Baltimore was running late in the game, Pittsburgh had no answers, and it killed the chances for a win.

It was a needed win for a team somehow still in the playoff hunt, but the Steelers fell short and suffered their eighth loss of the season. A lack of a run defense allowed Baltimore to play ball control, and despite a late rally, the Steelers couldn’t catch up. It was a tough loss, especially considering just how beatable this Ravens team was.