Ben Roethlisberger Says Steelers Should Not Want to Face Ravens in Playoffs
One of the potential first-round playoff matchups has the Ravens hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers, but former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said his old team should want no part of the Ravens.
"You do not want to go play in Baltimore right now, with two MVP candidates in Lamar [Jackson] and [Derrick] Henry," Roethlisberger said on his “Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger” podcast. "And that defense in Baltimore is starting to play. They were their Achilles heel earlier in the season; now they're playing much better football.
"I'm telling you right now, the way Baltimore's playing, you don't want that."
The Steelers (10-6) are currently the fifth seed. If they lose to the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday night and the Los Angeles Chargers defeat the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, Pittsburgh would drop to the sixth seed and come to Baltimore for a first-round playoff game. The Ravens beat the Steelers, 34-17, two weeks ago at M&T Bank Stadium.
Roethlisberger said the AFC South champion Houston Texans (9-7), who are locked into the No. 4 seed, would be a much more favorable matchup for the Steelers. The Texans are banged up and coming off back-to-back losses, including a 31-2 blowout to the Ravens on Christmas.
Three Pending Ravens Free Agents Who Could Be Candidates for Contract Extensions
General Manager Eric DeCosta has a history of signing key players to contract extensions late in the season before they hit the free-agent market in the offseason.
Baltimore Beatdown’s Joshua Reed identified six potential pending free agents he believes are worthy of contract extensions before the end of the season. Here's a look at three:
LT Ronnie Stanley
"After agreeing to a contract restructure in the offseason that reduced his salary and voided the final year of his 2019 mega-extension, the Ravens' franchise left tackle came into the 2024 season with a lot to prove after years of injuries impacted his availability and effectiveness. With a clean bill of health in a 'make-it-or-break-it' year, he has been integral to the success of the offense line as its veteran leader and one of its best performers. Stanley has started every game this season and played 100% of the team's offensive snaps in all but four. It is near-impossible to find elite blindside talent outside of the top-10 draft picks, so locking up the rejuvenated 30-year-old lineman now would avoid a free agency bidding war."
DB Ar'Darius Washington
"The fourth-year pro will be a restricted free agent after the season, so the Ravens have an easy path to keep him on the roster in 2025. Washington's ascension into a full-time role next to Kyle Hamilton as deep safeties has coincided with the turnaround of the Ravens' pass defense. Washington began to take his game to an even higher level as of late, emerging as a playmaker who can generate clutch takeaways and big hits for key stops. Washington has recorded career highs in total tackles (60), tackles for loss (five) and pass breakups (seven) to go along with two interceptions, a forced fumble, a sack and two quarterback hits."
LB Malik Harrison
"Since Week 12, when Harrison filled in at the MIKE spot for Roquan Smith, the fifth-year veteran has played at least 60% of the team's total defensive snaps at a high level on four occasions. He has started six games and recorded career-highs across the board including total tackles (51), tackles for loss (three), sacks (two) and quarterback hits (three). Originally drafted in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft as an off-ball linebacker, Harrison's positional versatility to play on the edge as a SAM on early downs has made him a key cog in this defense who can make impactful plays no matter where he lines up. Multifaceted players such as Harrison who contribute on defense and special teams are well-deserving of another deal."
No Ravens Players Make ESPN Writer's All-Pro First Team
ESPN's Bill Barnwell announced his All-Pro teams. No Ravens players made the first team, but Jackson and Henry were named to the second team.
Barnwell went with Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen over Jackson on the first team, but he reserved the right to change his mind.
"Lamar Jackson has been absolutely spectacular, and Allen has been more consistent (while still, of course, occasionally looking like he's a space alien). They're both incredible," Barnwell wrote. "I very narrowly lean toward Allen, but I'm not ruling out changing my mind between now and next week."
Notable Ravens players who were snubbed include safety Kyle Hamilton, cornerback Marlon Humphrey, and center Tyler Linderbaum.
Ravens Select Viral Offensive Lineman in The 33rd Team's Mock Draft
The 33rd Team’s Ian Valentino has the Ravens bolstering an offensive line that has exceeded outside expectations in his latest mock draft.
Valentino mocked LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell to the Ravens with the 27th-overall pick.
"This has been a fantastic season for Baltimore's offense, but the Ravens can't get complacent along the offensive line," Valentino wrote. "Will Campbell can theoretically play either tackle or guard spot, and he'd upgrade the Ravens at one or more of those positions early in his career. An efficient pass-blocker and impact road grader, Campbell can solidify one of a few shaky holes on the roster."
A recent video of Campbell making a quip about the difference between offensive and defensive lineman went viral.
