It's finally here. The first Ravens-Steelers playoff game in Baltimore.
Tonight's wild-card playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium will be electric.
Here are my thoughts on the game and the Ravens' outlook heading into the postseason, all in 50 words or less:
- How much does momentum count in the playoffs? The Ravens have won four straight. The Steelers have lost four straight. I'm generally a momentum believer, but it can start from virtually nothing. Baltimore lost four of its last five in 2012 before getting hot en route to the Super Bowl.
- John Harbaugh's message this week has been that the playoffs are an extension of the regular season. You stand on what you build and try to climb even higher. The Ravens have the league's best quarterback, best offense, and best defense since Week 11. That's a good place to start.
- Know who's not a momentum believer? Lamar Jackson. A couple weeks ago he said, "I feel like that went out the window last year, because we got hot last year, and we went on a win streak, and then we lost in the AFC Championship." He's locked in.
- Above all else, my belief is that when the Ravens and Steelers get together, you can throw out everything that happened leading up to the game. They know each other so well and play each other so tough that it's a cage match regardless of the circumstances.
- It stinks not to have Zay Flowers for this game. Even when he doesn't get the ball, his speed and motions impact defenses. But the Ravens have talked all year about having a "pick your poison" offense. Beyond the ground attack, there's still plenty of venom in the receiving corps.
- It's important for Jackson and the Ravens offense to get off to a strong start. In their two playoff wins with Jackson at the helm, they've scored 10 points in the first half. In their four losses, they've scored less than that. The hope would be to go well over 10.
- It sounds silly to say this is Derrick Henry's time to shine because he's been shining all year. But this is when I can envision Henry taking it to even another level. I think the Ravens want to ground opponents into the turf in the playoffs.
- T.J. Watt is in his eighth season and has never won a playoff game. He's going to be possessed. The Ravens' scheme and rookie Roger Rosengarten have neutralized him so far this season, but Watt was dealing with an ankle injury last time. This is the game's biggest matchup.
These five battles could decide who goes home this weekend.
CB Nate Wiggins vs. WR George Pickens
The Steelers were without Pickens in the Week 16 matchup against the Ravens, and Pittsburgh's pass game looked out of sync for most of the night. Pickens can take over games and the Steelers will want to get him going early after he had a rough regular-season finale. He'll spend most of his time lining up across from Wiggins, who is enjoying a terrific rookie season capped by a pick-six a week ago. The Wiggins-Pickens matchup will be a staple in this rivalry for years, and Saturday night will be an important chapter.
![WR Rashod Bateman vs. CB Joey Porter Jr.
With Zay Flowers out, expect more volume for Bateman, who will be shadowed by the Steelers' No. 1 cornerback in Porter. While Bateman won't take over all of Flowers' workload, there will certainly be more on his plate in the wild-card matchup. "My job is to go out and make plays no matter who's on the field," Bateman said. "It might look a little different as far as where I'm at and different things, but overall, we [have] a football game to play, and I [have] to go play ball."](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album_2x/t_lazy/f_png/ravens/gajuj89zoq8nqwuifgva.png)
WR Rashod Bateman vs. CB Joey Porter Jr.
With Zay Flowers out, expect more volume for Bateman, who will be shadowed by the Steelers' No. 1 cornerback in Porter. While Bateman won't take over all of Flowers' workload, there will certainly be more on his plate in the wild-card matchup. "My job is to go out and make plays no matter who's on the field," Bateman said. "It might look a little different as far as where I'm at and different things, but overall, we [have] a football game to play, and I [have] to go play ball."
C Tyler Linderbaum vs. DT Cameron Heyward
The Ravens will look to get Derrick Henry going, and winning the war in the middle will be pivotal. It will be strength on strength with the two Pro Bowlers matching up, and whoever can get the most push could make a big difference on the outcome. Heyward has over a decade of experience on Linderbaum, but both players are difference makers in the trenches.
RT Roger Rosengarten vs. OLB T.J. Watt
In two games this season, Rosengarten gave up zero sacks to Watt as the rookie passed every test thrown his way. However, Saturday may be the biggest one yet as Watt will be on a mission to get his first career postseason win. The former Defensive Player of the Year doesn't have a quarterback hit over his past three games and keeping him in check will be a top priority for Rosengarten and the offensive line. Watt is also healthier than the last time these two faced off, when he was dealing with an ankle injury.
QB Lamar Jackson vs. S Minkah Fitzpatrick
Jackson threw three touchdowns in Baltimore's Week 16 win over Pittsburgh, but the one throw he won't forget is his fourth-quarter interception to Fitzpatrick. Marlon Humphrey virtually iced the game two plays later with a pick-six, but Jackson was fuming on the sideline after his turnover. Jackson's chess match with the Steelers' ball hawk is critical to the Ravens' offensive success.
- Pittsburgh's offense has limped down the stretch and Russell Wilson's hot start has cooled. They're going to pull out all the stops in a win-or-go-home game against their rivals, and it wouldn't surprise me (or the Ravens) if Justin Fields plays significant snaps as a change-of-pace runner.
- This is a huge game. After the season the Ravens have had, after coming so close to tasting the Super Bowl in years past, it comes down to this – playing your rival in your house in the playoffs. I can't wait to be at The Bank to experience it.
717: Previewing Ravens-Steelers Wild-Card Playoff; How the Ravens Adjust Without Zay Flowers
Team insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing discuss the Ravens' mindset heading into their wild-card playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, how Lamar Jackson is different going in this year, how they'll adjust without Zay Flowers, what the defense needs to do to keep Pittsburgh's offense cold, and more.
