The Pittsburgh Steelers got back in the win column with a thrilling 27–22 victory in Baltimore, taking over the top spot in the AFC North. In classic Steelers–Ravens fashion, it came down to the wire, with Pittsburgh finding a way to finish strong and come out on top.
They entered the game already missing several key players, and the injury situation only worsened as the afternoon went on. By the end of Sunday, Pittsburgh’s roster looked even more banged up, raising concerns heading into next week.
The Steelers now turn their attention to a Monday night matchup in Pittsburgh against the Miami Dolphins, a game they’ll likely have to navigate while still short-handed after the injuries suffered in Baltimore.
Steelers escape Baltimore with a win, but injuries cloud their future
The Miami Dolphins, winners of four straight games, come into Pittsburgh on Monday night still fighting to stay alive in the playoff race. Miami has found its rhythm recently and will look to keep that going in a primetime matchup. The Steelers, back on top of the AFC North and now in control of their own destiny, will likely head into the game short-handed again.
Before Sunday's game in Baltimore, Pittsburgh was already missing two key starters. Safety Kyle Dugger was out with a hand injury, and defensive lineman Derrick Harmon missed his second straight game with a knee issue. Things only got tougher as the game went on.
Darnell Washington, Malik Harrison, and Andrus Peat all exited with concussions, while Keeanu Benton and Patrick Queen were also shaken up but managed to return. Queen was already dealing with a hip problem during the week, so both he and Benton will be important names to watch on the injury report. Washington, Harrison, and Peat, however, are less likely to be available.
For the Steelers offense, the injuries create real challenges. They are now down to their third-string tackle, and losing Washington hurts significantly in the run game, where his blocking plays a major role. Defensively, the hope is that Harmon and Dugger can return, but as of now, the Steelers look very thin heading into Monday night.
Despite the injuries piling up, Pittsburgh will look to push forward and protect its spot at the top of the division against a Miami team that is gaining momentum at the right time.