Top 4 keys to a Steelers win over Ravens
The Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11 of the 2024 NFL regular season at Acrisure Stadium. The Steelers (7-2) hold a slim lead in the AFC North and the Ravens (7-3) look to spoil Pittsburgh’s three-game win streak. If the past is any indicator, the game will be fiercely contested abd the score close; nine of the last 10 rivalry games have been decided by seven or fewer points. Below, we look at the top four keys that should bring the Steelers their fourth consecutive win.
Getting the offense moving early
Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has an opportunity to solidify his position in Pittsburgh – to fans – this week by calling the right plays to foil the Ravens defense. Over the past three weeks, since Russell Wilson took over as the starting quarterback, the Steelers have averaged 30.3 points per game and 382.3 yards per game offensively.
The Steelers can’t afford to allow the Ravens to stall offensive drives, which means they’ll need to open the entire playbook and get into the end zone early. That won’t be an easy task due to the strength of the Baltimore defensive front.
“Every game our job is to outscore their team’s offense. A lot goes into games like this. It feels like a playoff game as much as it can feel in the regular season…” – Arthur Smith
Test the Ravens’ defensive backfield
With the addition of Mike Williams to the roster, Pittsburgh has found a way to take away their opponents’ ability to double-team George Pickens. Calvin Austin, Pat Freiermuth, and Van Jefferson have all gotten more targets with Wilson at quarterback, as well.
The Ravens defensive backfield has vulnerability. Baltimore ranks at the very bottom of the league in passing yards allowed, giving up 22 touchdown passes to opponents.
If the Steelers offense can spread things out, Wilson has the poise and experience of having played in big games to be able to test the Ravens’ backfield by spreading passes to multiple targets while keeping an eye on deeper routes to Pickens and Williams.
Lock down Jackson
Preston Smith will start opposite T.J. Watt this weekend due to an injury that has Alex Highsmith sidelined again this season. The pressure will be dialed up to pressure Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and lock him down.
Pittsburgh is 3-1 when facing Jackson, and they utilized Justin Fields in practice to simulate the dual threat the defense will face on Sunday. Yes, they kept Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders from running on them, but Jackson has more experience.
When asked about what will be required to keep Jackson from running the field, linebacker Patrick Queen said,”Just keeping everything simple, try to get after him, not let him do what he does. Everybody just do their job the same. Basically, the same way the Washington game was. Just everybody do their job. Everybody does that and we’ll be fine.”
Preventing big runs by Henry
If there’s a guy on the roster with experience and understanding of what needs to be done to prevent big plays by opposing running backs, it’s team captain Cameron Heyward.
“Guys stepping up and making critical plays at critical times. That’s what it has always come down to. And I don’t think that’s ever going to change,” Heyward said this week about the upcoming game with rival Baltimore.
“Derrick Henry has been a home run hitter in Tennessee, now he’s bringing that over here [to Baltimore]… I think having a guy like Derrick Henry where you don’t have to gain 10 yards a pop, now Lamar’s like shoot, I can go out there and just play ball.”
It won’t just be the defensive line that will have to keep Henry from gashing Pittsburgh with big run plays, the interior linebackers, like Payton Wilson, will need to be solid sideline to sideline, too. This will be a big test for the Steelers, but they have been able to limit Henry in the past.
On November 2, 2023, Henry was limited to just 75 yards on 17 carries by the Steelers with the Titans gaining just 105 yards on the ground. Henry’s longest run went for 15 yards. Heyward was a big piece of that success.
The game is scheduled to kick off at 1:00 p.m. (Eastern US) at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. Fans who’ve been looking forward to Ravens Week should hold on as this game will be a must-watch.
