Steelers report card: Pittsburgh's stellar defense steals victory vs. Ravens
It shouldn't shock any fanbase from either side of the Steelers-Ravens rivalry that this was another close low-scoring contest in Week 11. Both teams seem to tighten up their offenses when they play one another. Perhaps it's because they play a similar brand of football, or maybe it is just because the two clubs know each other too well. Either way, it was a close game that came down to the wire.
Pittsburgh's defense was the best group of the day for the Steelers. They allowed the Ravens to get up and down the field multiple times, but they caused turnovers and held a potent Baltimore offense to 16 points. Thankfully the Ravens kicker missed a couple of attempts, but winning the game is all that matters. You just saw the win that should put the Steelers on the contention map.
Steelers offense report card grade: C
After an electric start to the "Russell Wilson era" the offense hit a dud in Week 11. They could only sink field goals after being held out of the end zone the entire game. They received great field possession from their defense plenty of times, but they couldn't cash in besides three points each time. Add in the interception, and the offense had a fairly bad day at the office.
Besides Wilson not being able to lead the offense into the end zone, the run game wasn't great either. They did enough to win the game, but they were able to provide some run support against a quality Ravens defense front.
It was a day that could've been better if the Steelers hadn't made boneheaded calls on offense. This was one of the worst games for Arthur Smith this season.
READ MORE: 4 winners (and 3 losers) from Steelers win vs. Ravens
Steelers defense report card grade: A-
You could argue that the Steeler's defense didn't play great in some respects, but what they did was impressive. Pittsburgh's defense didn't get many sacks, but they were able to provide enough pressure on Lamar Jackson and slow down his rushing attack. Baltimore tried to win the game with Jackson's arm, which has normally gone in Pittsburgh's favor in previous games.
Holding this Raven's group to only 16 points cannot be overstated enough. The Steeler's defense has shown signs of struggle in past weeks, but they were able to step up this time around. They kept their team in the battle and won the game by the skin of their teeth.
If they can keep this momentum moving forward, then they should have no problem making some noise in the playoffs.
Steelers special teams report card grade: A
Turns out a team can win a game with only field goals. It seemed like every time the Steelers settled for a field goal rather than a touchdown, they were heading to an impending doom. Chris Boswell has been fantastic this season. He doesn't get enough credit around the NFL for the consistency he brings with his game. Many think Justin Tucker is one of the best, but Boswell is great too.
Speaking of Tucker, his two missed field goals were the difference-makers in this game. If he made either of those, then it is probable that the Steelers would have lost. We don't like to deal with nightmare scenarios, and Pittsburgh won, so it doesn't matter since he missed them. Corliss Waitman also had a strong game for the black and gold and helped keep the field position in check.