Pittsburgh is coming off of a humbling loss to the Eagles. They could keep the game tight at halftime, but Philadelphia took over. It is not often that you see the Steelers get dominated in a game, but they did last week. They will try and turn things around quickly as they get ready to take on the Ravens only six days after their battle against the Eagles.
Baltimore is coming off of a dominant win over the putrid New York Giants. They found a way to destroy them, and Lamar Jackson was able to sit for a portion of the game since they had a commanding lead. The Ravens have to win this contest if they want a shot at taking the AFC North crown. They don't want to lose twice to the Steelers in a season for another year in a row.
Joey Porter Jr., CB
We will see what the health of everyone will be, but the Steelers will be relying on Joey Porter Jr. to have a bounce-back game. He has played well against Baltimore throughout his young career, and he will need to keep that going. If Donte Jackson can participate then that takes some pressure off of Porter, but if James Pierre or Cory Trice Jr. start opposite of him, then he will need to play perfectly.
Russell Wilson, QB
He wasn't terrible against the Eagles, but Russell Wilson needs to have one of his best starts in Week 16. If they win this game, then they secure the division. That should be motivation enough. On one hand, he didn't have a great game against Baltimore earlier in the year, but neither team produced many points. Wilson and the offense have been sputtering, so they need to get things right.
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Patrick Queen, LB
Everyone was talking about the first matchup between these two clubs as the revenge game for Patrick Queen. He showed up big time in that battle, and the Steelers will be hoping for more of that in this rematch. Queen still has a bitter taste in his mouth with how things ended for him with the Ravens organization. He will be relied upon not only to cover but stop Jackson from big runs in the open field.
Jaylen Warren, RB
One of the main issues on offense has been the lack of a run game. Najee Harris has been slowed down in recent weeks, so it might be wise for Pittsburgh to give Jaylen Warren some extra looks. Neither team was very effective running the ball in their previous matchup, but Warren has provided a spark to the Steelers rushing attack before. He might be their best shot against a tough defensive front.
Keeanu Benton, DT
Speaking of the run game, the Steelers must stop Derrick Henry and Jackson from running the ball effectively. They did a good job last time, but they couldn't do enough against the Eagles last week. That was an appetizer for Pittsburgh's game against the Ravens in Week 16. Keeanu Benton will be a key cog in the outcome of that battle on the ground, and they need him to have a great performance.