No matter where these teams are at in the standings, the Steelers and Ravens will always be a dogfight. Most of the time, these two keep things within a one-possession differential. If anything other than that outcome happens, it is a big headline in the lore of this rivalry. There is going to be a rough and tumble fight in Week 16 as this could be the direct indicator of the AFC North crown.
If Pittsburgh wins, they will claim the division lead the rest of the way. If Baltimore wins, the Ravens will keep their hopes alive to claim the lead. You can say that the Ravens have more to play for, but Mike Tomlin's club has a lot of meat left on the bone. They got destroyed last week against the Eagles, and they are looking to prove to themselves that they can bounce back from that outing.
When it comes to the history of Tomlin's led Steelers, they have been able to find victory after some tough losses. Going up against the Ravens on a short week after being humbled has only raised the stakes.
Pittsburgh heads into this game with plenty of unknowns on the injury front as their offense and defense have shown signs of struggle in recent games.
Expect Lamar Jackson to push the Steelers to their limit in Week 16
There has been a consistent trend for Lamar Jackson since he started his career with the Ravens. He can't deliver in big moments. When it comes to playoff time, Jackson has been lacking in terms of success. He turns over the football and fails to get wins for Baltimore. He might stack up big numbers in the regular season, but many just want to see what he can do when the elimination process begins.
Pittsburgh has been one of his sore spots throughout his career. For one reason or another, Jackson hasn't been able to play well against them. He seems to get flustered each time he plays the Steelers. They have a good plan to try and contain him for the most part, but he continues to make mental gaffs in some of the biggest moments. Pittsburgh will hope to keep that going this week.
READ MORE: Predicting the outcome of Steelers' Week 16 matchup vs. Ravens
A lot of Jackson's success will be determined by the availability of some injured players on the other side. If T.J. Watt, Larry Ogunjobi, and Donte Jackson can suit up, then that will make life tougher for the Ravens offense. If only a couple of those names can go, then Baltimore will be licking their chops. The frustration of past games could seep into Jackson's mind once again, but he will be out to prove something.
Since this Week 16 contest will be in Baltimore, expect Jackson and the Ravens offense to get things going early. It will be up to Russell Wilson and Company to keep them in this game at the start. If the defense can force a couple of turnovers in big situations and capitalize on those with points, then the Steelers have a great opportunity to leave the Ravens stadium with AFC North champion's gear.