The Ravens and Steelers face off tonight at M&T Bank Stadium in a game that could decide the AFC North winner.
If the Steelers win, they celebrate on their rivals' field. If the Ravens win, they make it a race to the finish.
Here are my thoughts, all in 50 words or less:
- It's great to see the Ravens-Steelers rivalry renewed with a high-stakes game in December. This is the way it should be. Two rivals, under the lights, heaters blasting on the benches, trying to break each other's willpower. There are new faces, but the NFL's best rivalry is alive and well.
- How have the Steelers ruled this rivalry in recent years? I thought one Pittsburgh scribe put it best this week that the Steelers routinely drag the Ravens into the mud. The Steelers play ugly. They force errors. The Ravens' job Saturday evening is to stay out of the pit.
- The Ravens are a better team on paper. They have been for a while, and especially since Lamar Jackson entered the rivalry. But when these two teams square off, that advantage is mitigated because they know each other so well and beat the living stuffing out of each other.
- The Ravens could be short-handed at wide receiver, but they still have the health advantage. The loss of George Pickens is a big blow to Pittsburgh's offense and their secondary is without starting safety DeShon Elliott and cornerback Donte Jackson is questionable. Baltimore's late bye is paying dividends.
- Zay Flowers is 84 yards away from his first 1,000-yard season. He hasn't had that many yards in a game since Nov. 3 (Broncos), when he posted his fourth 100-yard game in five weeks. But his confidence never wavers, saying the Steelers, "don't really do [anything] that really stresses me."
- Speaking of Ravens stars who could break out, Derrick Henry hasn't cracked 70 rushing yards in three of the Ravens' last five games, including 65 versus the Steelers last time. His fumble on the first drive probably still eats at him. He'll look to finish off Pittsburgh this time around.
- I loved seeing Todd Monken stress ball security in a practice drill this week. The Steelers lead the league with 30 takeaways, including 15 fumbles. That early Henry fumble set the tone in the last meeting. Baltimore is on high alert. I expect it won't be a problem this time.
- Baltimore has become a more physically imposing defense since inserting Malik Harrison and Chris Board at inside linebacker. They're big, hard hitters that are made for this kind of game. I wonder if the Steelers counter with more Jaylen Warren speed instead of Najee Harris power.
- It's mind-boggling that Jackson is in his seventh NFL season and has never played a home game against the Steelers with fans in the stands. It's also wild that he's never played them twice in the same season. Both are reasons why I think he ends his losing skid.
- The last time the Ravens and Steelers met with the division title on the line was in 2016, a brutal Christmas night loss for Baltimore. It was also Zach Orr's last game as a Ravens linebacker. Now the defensive coordinator's game plan and play calls could turn the tables.
