Game Overview ::
By >> Mike johnson
- Several key matchups are scheduled down the stretch of the season that will determine the outcome of a competitive AFC North race that no one seems to want to win.
- These teams will meet again in Week 18 in Pittsburgh.
- Ravens star QB Lamar Jackson was limited in practice Wednesday and then missed practice Thursday.
- After a hot start to the season, Pittsburgh has lost 3 of their last 4 games and 5 of their last 7.
- The Steelers have completed only two passes 15+ yards downfield since Week 9.
JM’S JOURNAL ::
Find JM’s Journal on Friday in The Scroll. If you are an Inner Circle member, you can read JM’s Journal on Thursday in Discord.
How pittsburgh Will Try To Win ::
The Steelers offense has scored 30+ points three times this season – twice against the Bengals and in Week 1 against the Jets. Recently they have been crawling deeper and deeper into their shell, as their defense has improved but they have just used that as a reason to play extra conservative on offense. Since Week 9, the Steelers have completed only two passes 15+ yards downfield while throwing four interceptions in that area. This is a team who could really use a downfield threat, maybe someone like George Pickens is available?
The Steelers are running the ball at a top-10 rate relative to expectation over the last month as they try to manage the game and win slugfests. Their only true threat on the perimeter is WR DK Metcalf, whose skill set is not dynamic enough that the team can do much with him anyways. The Steelers utilize four different tight ends and rotate them often, while using multiple tight end formations and packages on at least half of their offensive plays. Pittsburgh’s receivers behind Metcalf are Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson, who each play around half of the snaps on average. Wilson has surpassed 40 receiving yards once this season, while Austin has done so twice. The Steelers signed veteran WR Adam Thielen this week in a sign of their concern at the position. On the ground, the Steelers backfield is a full-blown timeshare with Jaylen Warren operating as the primary early down rusher and goal line back and Kenneth Gainwell playing on all clear passing downs while also mixing in on some early downs and in the red zone. Pittsburgh is likely to struggle consistently moving the ball once again this week as they are incapable of generating explosive plays and it is an absolute grind for them to get first downs. They will try to move the ball a few yards at a time and bank on their defense and special teams giving them short fields to try to “win ugly” against a Ravens team that has also been struggling to find their footing.
You must be logged in to view collective notes about a game.
You must be logged in to add notes about a game.