While the Ravens walked out of M&T Bank Stadium victors last Thursday night against the Bengals, those on the defense didn't feel like celebrating.
Ravens Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr said he felt "crushed" leaving the stadium and he returned to the office early Friday morning and worked with the coaches throughout the weekend trying to find solutions.
On Tuesday, the defense had what seems to be a spirited meeting hashing out what was going wrong.
"You can't allow a team to do some of the things that was done this past week," defensive leader Roquan Smith said. "It was definitely embarrassing in a sense. But we've moved on from that. We're focused on Pittsburgh now. We've just got to get better."
Baltimore's proud defense ranks 27th in the league in yards, 25th in points, and last against the pass.
The Ravens surrendered 428 passing yards and four touchdowns to Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and 264 receiving yards and three touchdowns to wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, including 67- and 70-yard scores.
Big plays have hampered Baltimore all season. The Ravens have already given up more gains of 15+ yards this season than they did all last year, with seven games still remaining.
"We're looking at what we're calling, what we're running [and] looking at what we're asking the guys to execute and just trying figure out the best way to go out there and put the best product on the field," Orr said.
"It's definitely been a work in progress – not just this past week – but I feel like this week has really amped up, because time is clicking with the truth be told. It's only seven weeks left in the season, and things are not where they need to be at for us, especially in the pass defense. So, we've been working hard – coaches and players – to try to get this thing figured out."
The Ravens defense will look to get on track against a Steelers offense that, under veteran quarterback Russell Wilson, has averaged more than 30 points per game the past three weeks. The Steelers have a strong running game behind Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren and a big-play wide receiver threat in George Pickens.
"Regardless of the coverage, regardless of where you're at – you can be on them – the ball is going to go up to [Pickens] at some point and time," Orr said. "We're going to have make those plays if we want to come out with a win on Sunday."
But while there's a ton of nuance in how the Ravens will improve their coverage, Smith feels like Sunday's game will be decided by the same thing that always ruled Ravens-Steelers slugfests.
"I think the most physical team is going to win this game," Smith said. "Make no mistake about it."
Smith Is Happy for Patrick Queen, But 'No Brother Stuff' Sunday
Smith and Patrick Queen made up the best inside linebacker duo in the league last season. They sat side by side in the locker room. They became close friends.
Now on opposite sides of the NFL's best rivalry, Smith has no hard feelings towards Queen but wants to see him on the losing end Sunday.
"I'm happy for him as a brother outside of this football stuff," Smith said. "I know [our] offense has a great plan and we have to take it to him. Out there on the field, even though I don't get to go against him, there's no brother stuff."
Orr Impressed With Tre'Davious White's Progress
The Ravens' new defensive addition is getting up to speed quickly, as Orr said Tre'Davious White had a strong practice on Thursday.
It remains to be seen how much of a role White will carve out in the short- and long-term given that the Ravens have Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Stephens, and first-round rookie Nate Wiggins already.
With the secondary struggling, however, and now Arthur Maulet dealing with a calf issue that left him limited in practice Thursday, the Ravens could give White a shot if he's ready.
"Honestly, I've been surprised [at] how fast he's picked up the playbook and the language and the terminology," Orr said. "Obviously, he's been an All-Pro player, he's been a savvy player [and] a smart player – we've known that about him for a long time, but I was really impressed with him.
"He came in on Monday and got in with our DB coaches and grinded out the playbook, and he's coming out here and had a good day practice. I think every day at practice, he's gotten better and better. Like today was really good, so we'll see Sunday. I have full confidence in him if he has to go out there and play good ball for us."
Ravens Have to Be Wary on Special Teams
It seems like nearly every week the Steelers get a big play on special teams.
Last week, they recovered a muffed punt deep in Commanders territory and turned it into a touchdown. Pittsburgh also attempted a fake punt from deep in its own territory and would've pulled it off if not for a dropped pass.
The Steelers blocked a Ravens punt last season in Pittsburgh, which went out of the back of the end zone for a safety. Steelers safety Miles Killebrew came up the middle to block it, cutting into a Ravens seven-point lead in the fourth quarter.
Former Ravens outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon blocked a punt earlier this year against the Raiders.
Baltimore's special teams unit needs to be on the lookout, but Special Teams Coordinator Chris Horton said they aren't doing anything out of the norm this week.
"It's Pittsburgh week. Anything is expected," Horton said. "When we've played these guys, they do things they don't normally do against other opponents. We'll be prepared for every and anything. It's our job to execute in that moment."
