Ben Roethlisberger Picks Ravens to Beat Steelers, Says Jackson Is 'On a Different Level'
Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said last week that his old team should not want to face the Ravens in the playoffs. His opinion about Pittsburgh's chances against the Ravens Saturday night at M&T Bank Stadium hasn't changed this week.
When making his predictions for this weekend's Wild-Card round games on his “Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger” podcast, Big Ben did not hesitate when picking the winner of Saturday night's Ravens-Steelers matchup at M&T Bank Stadium.
"Ravens. Sorry," Roethlisberger said with a shrug.
Roethlisberger also showed Lamar Jackson some love. He put the two-time MVP at No. 1 in his rankings of the top seven quarterbacks this season.
"Lamar is on a different level right now," Roethlisberger said.
Why Jackson and Ravens Offense Are Better Positioned for Postseason Run
The Ravens offense came up short in the AFC Championship Game last season after dominating in the regular season, but The Baltimore Banner's Jonas Shaffer said this season's attack and this version of Jackson "are better positioned than they've ever been to avoid playoff potholes."
Here are some excerpts from Shaffer's analysis:
They start fast
"In the 148 playoff games played since 2018, teams have scored an average of 12.3 points per first half. In the Ravens' six playoff starts with Jackson, they've averaged just six. This postseason, though, the Ravens seem better equipped to start fast. They finished third in the NFL's regular season in first-half scoring (14.8 points) and ranked first in yards per play (6.9) and fourth in expected points added per play (0.10), according to TruMedia.
"They averaged 15.6 first-half points during the regular season against other playoff teams, well ahead of the second-place Minnesota Vikings (14.2). They averaged 7.4 yards per play, well ahead of the second-place Denver Broncos (5.9). And they averaged 0.15 EPA per play, well ahead of the second-place Los Angeles Rams (0.08)."
Jackson avoids trouble
"Jackson has committed nine turnovers in his six playoff starts (six interceptions and three fumbles lost). Jackson has had some bad turnover luck, but most of his trouble has been self-inflicted. … This regular season, Jackson kept the ball out of harm's way at an elite clip. He led the NFL's starting quarterbacks in turnover-worthy-play rate (1.4%) and threw an interception on just 0.8% of his attempts, the NFL's second-best rate, behind only the Chargers' Justin Herbert (0.6%). And after losing four fumbles over the season's first seven weeks, he lost just one over the next 11."
Prognosticators See Ravens Defeating Lions in Super Bowl
The editors of NFL.com’s weekly game picks convened to predict how the entire postseason will play out. Ravens fans should hope the crew is prescient.
The panel of prognosticators has Baltimore beating the Detroit Lions in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.
"The Ravens don't have an easy road to the Big Easy, the place where Baltimore last won a Super Bowl, but they do have arguably the best player in the NFL right now in Lamar Jackson," Ali Bhanpuri, Tom Blair, Gennaro Filice, and Dan Parr wrote. "Naysayers will point to the two-time MVP's lack of postseason success (2-4), but this is the best version of the Ravens in the Jackson era. He is at the peak of his powers operating an offense that ranks first in rushing and total yards and is third in scoring. The biggest factor, however, in the franchise's run to a third championship is a defense that has improved drastically down the stretch, ranking tops in the NFL in multiple categories since Week 11.
"John Harbaugh's team carries its elite play into the postseason and executes in all three phases to get through the AFC gauntlet, knocking off the No. 2 seed Buffalo Bills and No. 1 seed Kansas City Chiefs on the road in back-to-back weeks – before shattering Detroit's hopes for its own jubilant end. Baltimore will more than earn this title."
From their mouths to the football gods' ears.
Meanwhile, NFL.com’s Kevin Patra named Ravens-Vikings as one of the five Super Bowl matchups he'd most like to see.
"Lamar Jackson, playing the best football of his career, against a blitz-happy Brian Flores defense would be entertaining on every level," Patra wrote. "We would see Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel try to corral the slippery quarterback, who has improved as a pocket passer. Derrick Henry would be facing a defense that has been burned by the ground game at times this season.
"How the Ravens handle the Vikings' unique blitz schemes and coverages would tell the story of the contest. The last time Jackson faced a Flores-led defense, the former Dolphins coach got the best of the quarterback with Cover 0 pressure. That came in 2021. Jackson is a far different player now."
PFF Names Jackson Offensive Player of the Year
Four Ravens players made Pro Football Focus’ All-Pro First Team, led by Jackson, who was named PFF's Offensive Player of the Year.
"Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson cemented his status as the NFL's most dynamic playmaker in 2024, making history as the first player to surpass 4,000 passing yards and 800 rushing yards in a single season," PFF’s Mason Cameron wrote. "His 94.3 overall PFF grade led all players who appeared in all 17 games and ranks sixth-highest in the PFF era (since 2006).
"Jackson's season-long excellence was capped by a phenomenal closing stretch that left no doubt about his place atop the league. Over the final three weeks, he delivered a remarkable 94.7 overall grade, including a 93.0 passing grade and an 85.7 rushing grade."
The other Ravens on the first team were Henry (PFF's Runner of the Year), safety Kyle Hamilton, and cornerback Marlon Humphrey.
Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame and Gilberto Manzano also selected their All-Pro team. Inside linebacker Roquan Smith was the only Raven named to the first team.
"Some might disagree with this designation because Smith had an up-and-down season against the pass. But his elite performances against the run turned Baltimore into the top run defense in the league," Verderame and Manzano wrote. "Smith making plays as a downhill linebacker allowed the Ravens to fix their issues in coverage. Smith again was one of the top tacklers in the league with 154 combined total tackles."
Jackson, Henry, fullback Patrick Ricard, Hamilton, and Humphrey made the second team, and edge rusher Kyle Van Noy received honorable mention.
