Steelers surprisingly open as home underdogs vs. Ravens despite recent history

The red-hot Pittsburgh Steelers are home underdogs against the Baltimore Ravens in their first divisional matchup of the year. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Steelers are three-point home underdogs against their hated rivals despite boasting a 7-1 record in their last eight meetings dating back to 2020.

While oddsmakers are right to value spreads based on the present and not the past, it is worth noting that the Steelers have had the Ravens' number for years now. Lamar Jackson has defeated Mike Tomlin's Steelers just once as a starter, back in 2019, and has posted a handful of ugly performances against them throughout the years.

Jackson, the two-time league MVP, has thrown four touchdowns and seven interceptions in five career matchups as QB1 versus the Steelers, paired with a less-than-stellar 59.1 completion percentage. Mike Tomlin has clearly found a formula for success against one of the NFL's most dynamic athletes.

We will see if this trend continues Sunday or if the addition of Derrick Henry will finally turn the tide for Harbaugh's Ravens.

Can the Steelers slow down the league's best Offense?

While the Ravens have always been a run-heavy offense, this year's team is on a different level, leading the NFL in points per game with 31.8. The addition of a future Hall Of Fame running back still in his prime has paid dividends for Baltimore. The AFC North's second-place Ravens lead the league in rushing yards by a considerable amount and are grinding out a ridiculous 182.6 rushing yards a contest.

Pittsburgh's fourth-ranked rush defense will have its first test of the season. Teryl Austin's defensive unit can only hope to slow the bullet train that is Derrick Henry and force Lamar Jackson into continuing his trend of turnovers against the Steelers.

To make matters worse, Pittsburgh will be without stud pass-rusher Alex Highsmith, who suffered an ankle injury in last week's impressive win over the Washington Commanders.

The acquisition of veteran edge-rusher Preston Smith for a seventh-round pick ahead of last Tuesday's trade deadline should lessen the blow, making the trade look better and better by the day. The Steelers should also have Nick Herbig back in action for the first time since injuring his hamstring last month, another plus.

Will Ravens-Steelers be typical AFC North football?

The last eight games between these AFC North powerhouses have been decided by one score. Only once in those eight games has either team scored over 21 points. The point differential in those games favors the Steelers 147-119.

History would tell you this game should follow the same old gritty AFC North recipe, but based on what we've seen this season from these offenses, fans may be in for the rare shootout between the Steelers and Ravens.

Russell Wilson's presence at quarterback has unlocked new heights for the Steelers offense, which is averaging 30 points a game since Wilson returned from injury. The Steelers will need every bit of Wilson's magic to keep up with the Raven's dominant run game.