The Pittsburgh Steelers’ secondary enters a crucial Week 16 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens with something to prove. After a tough 27-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, where Jalen Hurts torched the secondary for 290 passing yards and two touchdowns, the Steelers are hungry for redemption.
The defense, particularly cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and his fellow defensive backs struggled to contain Hurts and standout receiver A.J. Brown, allowing the Eagles to dominate through the air. As Pittsburgh heads into this pivotal AFC North clash, they know they must adjust and rise to the occasion, especially with playoff seeding on the line.
Against Baltimore, the challenge will be even greater. Lamar Jackson, playing at an MVP level this season, leads a Ravens offense that has become one of the most dynamic in the league. Jackson has been consistently dangerous both through the air and on the ground, and his ability to keep defenses off-balance will require the Steelers’ secondary to be at their best.
Fortunately, Pittsburgh’s defensive backs have shown they can rise above challenges. After the disappointing loss to the Eagles, they understand what went wrong and are determined to fix their mistakes. They’ll need to do so quickly, as the Ravens are hungry for a win to jump ahead of the Steelers in the AFC North standings.
Steelers secondary must eliminate Lamar Jackson's injured targets
While Jackson is undoubtedly the primary focus for the Steelers’ secondary, the receivers he’s throwing to are also playing at a high level. Though Baltimore’s receiving corps has been banged up, with Rashod Bateman’s status uncertain due to a foot injury, the Ravens still pose a serious threat.
Bateman has been a key contributor this season, including his two-touchdown, three-reception performance against the New York Giants. If Bateman is inactive, Zay Flowers will likely take on a bigger role. Flowers, who has four 100-yard games this season, has the speed and agility to break open the game at any moment, making him a player the Steelers secondary cannot afford to ignore.
For the Steelers, a win in this game would give them a 2-0 season sweep over their division rival and provide a massive boost in the AFC playoff race. To succeed, the secondary must bounce back from their lackluster performance against Philadelphia.
By slowing down Jackson and keeping Flowers and others in check, they can force the Ravens to rely on their run game, which has been inconsistent this season. If Pittsburgh’s defensive backs can limit Baltimore’s aerial attack, they will put their team in a strong position to claim a crucial victory and strengthen their playoff hopes.