Mink: Derrick Henry didn't get as many carries (14) as people were perhaps expecting against the New York Giants, but you'd have a tough time convincing me that was the wrong strategy considering the Ravens scored 35 points. Lamar Jackson was carving up the Giants' injury-hampered secondary.
Henry's 254 rushes are the fourth most in the NFL this season, only trailing Saquon Barkley of the Giants, Kyren Williams of the Rams, and Josh Jacobs of the Packers. King Henry is getting the ball a lot.
Do I think he could get the ball even more? Sure. But I'm not sure this is the week.
The Ravens will want to put their physical fingerprint on Saturday's game against the rival Steelers. With that said, Pittsburgh's run defense is ranked No. 4 in the NFL and Henry was held to 65 yards on 13 carries in their earlier meeting. Outside of one 31-yard run, he averaged less than three yards per carry.
With as well as Jackson is playing, and going against a pass defense ranked 22nd in the league, I'm also not keen on taking the ball out of Jackson's hands too often. Henry will continue to be a massive part of what the Ravens do, but I don't think they need to feed him.
Brown: I'd say Brandon Stephens and Nate Wiggins will both defend Pickens, with Stephens seeing the most action against Pittsburgh's No. 1 receiver.
The Steelers will use formations and motion to get the matchups they're looking for, and Pickens is a confident receiver who believes he can beat any corner one-on-one. He made a superb catch against Stephens in Week 11 on a throw that Russell Wilson dropped perfectly into the bucket for a 37-yard completion. Stephens' coverage was tight, but the throw and catch were better.
Wiggins is having a strong rookie season and played a career-high 90% of the defensive snaps against the Giants. He twice denied Giants star wide receiver Malik Nabers when they were matched up one-on-one in the end zone. Any Wiggins-Pickens battles will be fun to watch.
Marlon Humphrey is spending significant time in the slot, leaving Wiggins and Stephens as the primary outside corners. Keeping Pickens, who has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury, in check will be crucial for Baltimore if he plays. He had eight catches for 89 yards against the Ravens in Week 11, and in 2023 he had five catches for 160 yards and a touchdown during a Steelers' win in Pittsburgh.
Mink: The Ravens offensive line is coming off a strong game against the Giants but you're right that the Steelers defensive line is a tough assignment, led by veteran Cameron Heyward. Obviously, if defensive end T.J. Watt can't play because of his injured ankle, that would make Baltimore's job easier (but not easy).
Jackson was sacked twice and hit six times in the teams' earlier meeting. Keeping him comfortable is the key to the offense. I believe that the Ravens are equipped to win that battle in the trenches, and it will be a critical part of Saturday's game.
Brown: I understand your frustration!
Something needs to be done about the Ravens' problem with flags as quickly as possible. They lead the NFL in penalties and have been talking about it all season, yet they had 12 for 112 yards against the Giants.
The Steelers have been very opportunistic in recent games against the Ravens. They thrive when their defense forces long-yardage situations, and their offense takes advantage when given extra downs.
Head Coach John Harbaugh mentioned after the Giants game that avoiding penalties will be a point of emphasis this week. The Ravens had 12 penalties for 80 yards in their Week 11 loss in Pittsburgh. Doing a better job of avoiding penalties on Saturday will improve their chances.
