BOLD PREDICTIONS: The King Trumps the Queen

But Will it be Enough?

The Baltimore Ravens (7-3), who have won seven of their past eight games, visit Acrisure Stadium to battle the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2), who sit atop the AFC North standings after winning four consecutive contests.

Betting Line: Ravens -3; over/under at 48
On The Call: Ian Eagle, Charles Davis and Evan Washburn for CBS
Officiating Crew: Clay Martin
Game Time Forecast: Overcast with 9% chance of rain; 60 degrees with winds SE 4 mph

On the call this week during #Ravens @ #Steelers for @NFLonCBS is Ian Eagle & Charles Davis. The officiating crew chief is Clay Martin, averaging 12.8 flags per game, 52.4% against the visitors. Martin can get confused at times as evidenced by this video.https://t.co/MnNNQN9uAT

— Tony Lombardi (@RSRLombardi) November 13, 2024

Tony Lombardi

In the last 7 contests since the COVID game on November 1, 2020, (six games being won by the Steelers) the average point differential is 4 points. One possession. And the combined point total on average, has been 30.6 points. But that was before Lamar Jackson played like a Hall of Fame quarterback – before the Ravens defense went soft. And if you think otherwise about Zach Orr’s defense, you’re either an apologist or you need to make an appointment with an ophthalmologist. Immediately.

• Lamar will continue his hot streak, but the stats will be somewhat tempered. The Steelers have the NFL’s 19th-ranked pass defense, giving up an average of 216 yards per game. Lamar will throw for 260 yards, including a couple of big chunk plays – one to Rashod Bateman and another to Nelson Agholor on play-action slants. Lamar throws for 2 scores, one to Zay Flowers and another to Pat Ricard.

• Derrick Henry scampers in for a score from 20+ yards out and along the way employs one of those patented stiff-arms on none other than Patrick Queen. The King will absorb some punishment during the game but a few chunk runs will push him up over the 100-yard plateau.

• Keaton Mitchell will get 3 carries and manage to post 45 yards, include a 35-yard scamper deep into the red zone.

• Zay Flowers catches 8 passes for 85 yards but explosive plays will be eliminated.

• Defensively, the Ravens will once again struggle defending inside the numbers and that spells a big day for Pat Freiermuth who will collect 7 passes for 105 yards and 2 scores.

• George Pickens will be tamed and kept out of the end zone but the attention he attracts will open things up for Calvin Austin and Van Jefferson who combine for 120 yards receiving.

• Russ Wilson will cook to the tune of 310 yards by air and 3 TDs.

• The Ravens will have the ball and a 27-24 lead late in the game but on a third-and-8 with just under 4 minutes, who else, T.J. Watt, quiet the entire game, comes up big in a crucial moment with a strip sack that leads to the go ahead and game-winning TD for the home team.

The week ahead will be excruciating for #RavensFlock after another fourth quarter blown lead.

Steelers 31, Ravens 27

[Related Article: Ravens suffer a brain drain]

Derek Arnold

Have you guys heard? John Harbaugh doesn’t live in the past! How nice for him. Unfortunately for Ravens fans, we have to remember all the times recently that Harbaugh played down to clearly inferior Pittsburgh teams, allowing them to win seven of the last eight matchups. Even if you toss the meaningless Week 18 versions out the window, it’s still five of six. “But Lamar didn’t play in those,” I hear you saying. Ok, sure. But not having Lamar doesn’t excuse letting KENNY FRIGGIN’ PICKETT march his team down the field in the final moments in YOUR HOUSE to beat you.

The good news for Harbs is that this Steelers team is actually decent, so there’s no opportunity to play down to them. Bad news is that there’s still plenty of time for the other things those of us at the end of the bar are cursed with remembering: lack of discipline leading to untimely penalties, brain farts that say “let’s ignore #90 on this play!,” and assorted other ridiculousness that’s contributed to several losses to bad teams in 2024, and L’s at the hands of these western PA scumbugs in others.

Until a Harbaugh team shows that they’re up for Mike Tomlin’s challenge of playing four full quarters against the Steelers, I’ll remain skeptical.

Steelers 31 Ravens 27

Kevin McNelis

Baltimore comes into this one, the rivalry of all rivalries, with a few extra days rest after their season sweep of the Bengals. The offense is humming along at a historic clip, and the team appears to be filled with confidence. The problem is… this is Pittsburgh. IN Pittsburgh. The boogeyman that has perplexed them so badly over the past few seasons. Will this flamethrower of an offense be enough to exorcize their demons?

-The Steelers have allowed the second-fewest points of any team in the league, and they’re going to have to prove they can stop a top-tier offense with extra rest. Pittsburgh allowed three rushing TDs last week to a Washington squad missing their starting RB, and if Baltimore’s O-line can continue their solid run-blocking, you see Derrick Henry record a multi-TD game despite being held to around 75 yards on the day.

-Here’s a hot prediction for ya: Rashod Bateman outgains Zay Flowers on the day. Bateman manages to do so well on slants when beating the blitz, and the film against Pittsburgh will show vulnerability when bringing extra rushers. Lamar’s numbers against the blitz this year have been stellar, and I think LJ is going to hit Bate for a few big gains.

-It’s not all good news, though. An already maligned secondary will likely be without its best player in Kyle Hamilton, and the Steelers seem to have revived Russell Wilson’s arm just in time for this matchup. Awesome. The secondary’s struggles continue, as Russ carves up the defense for over 300 passing yards, and Mike Williams goes 75+ on the day with a TD. And because this is just the way it goes when division opponents acquire free agents: Mike Williams’ most productive two games for the remainder of the year will be this weekend and the next matchup against the Ravens.

It’s heresy of the highest order before the football gods for me to predict that the Ravens will lose this game. But it’s a road game with maybe the softest version of this secondary I’ve ever seen… and it’s the Steelers and their devil-magic. Until Baltimore can prove me wrong, I expect heartbreak against the black and gold, because life is pain.

Steelers 21 Ravens 20

Tanner George

This is setting up to be the best and most meaningful Ravens-Steelers game we’ve seen in years.

Pittsburgh has been one of the biggest surprises of the 2024 season, rolling to a 7-2 record with two quarterbacks that were not-so-kindly shown the door in their previous homes. Their defense, on the other hand, has been tenacious as ever, and I see this one coming down to the wire…

Lamar Jackson has a modest day, throwing for 250 yards and a pair of touchdowns along with an interception. The Steelers’ defense has really limited him throughout his career and, until I see otherwise, I can’t reasonably expect this to change. After a quiet game against Cincinnati, Zay Flowers racks up 80 yards through the air, and Rashod Bateman makes it back-to-back games with a touchdown reception. Mark Andrews will haul in the other Jackson TD throw. Diontae Johnson gets a bit more involved (3 catches for 40 yards), but his role remains fairly limited. And I can’t bet against Derrick Henry scoring a touchdown; he flirts with 100 yards on the day, including a 30-yard rumble where he blasts right through Patrick Queen, a play spurs some extracurriculars.

The defense again continues its struggles. Marlon Humphrey will once again play well, recording a pair of pass breakups, but Brandon Stephens has another disappointing day, giving up multiple touchdowns. Nmadi Madubuike is disruptive, logging 1.5 sacks, and Nate Wiggins has another solid game. Marcus Williams, however… we can only hope his night against Cincy was rock bottom, because I can’t really imagine this getting any worse. Yet, with the danger of Russell Wilson’s signature moonball, I don’t see it getting better, either. His issues in coverage persist this week, with George Pickens and Mike Williams both snagging deep passes. Pickens goes for over 100 yards on the day.

Tempers will flare in this one, with Patrick Queen, Deshon Elliot, and Pickens being instigators on Pittsburgh’s side. Expect a lot of personal fouls.

Jackson and the offense play a tight game and give the Ravens a chance to win, but Baltimore’s defense ultimately fails them in the end. Lamar will lead a quick touchdown drive to knot things up at 24 near the end of the 4th quarter, but Wilson and the Steelers respond by picking apart the secondary and nailing a game-winning field goal in the final seconds. And, naturally, that effort is aided by the Ravens shooting themselves in the foot with a dumb penalty.

With how Tomlin’s group has performed against Baltimore over the past few seasons, I just don’t see this one going the other way. Pittsburgh takes a significant step towards securing the AFC North crown, while the Ravens will once again be left searching for answers.

Steelers 27 Ravens 24

Chad Racine

Sure the Steelers have had the answers to the Ravens in recent years, sure the Steelers are playing well, sure the Ravens defense has been atrocious, but there are some reasons for optimism this Sunday. Well except for the defense, I don’t know how confident any of us can be that confident about that unit. The Ravens are coming off a mini bye-week with last Thursday’s game and that alone should be a huge difference. The Ravens have had some players banged up that should be much healthier come Sunday. I admitted not having much confidence in the defense yet but I do think they will improve especially after the full bye-week. They need some time to assess specifically what’s going wrong and they’ll need adequate time to do that. The Steelers have not faced a team with an offense like the Ravens this season and I think they’ll be shocked by just how good they are. I think the Steelers will commit heavy to stopping the run both Henry and Jackson and Lamar can have his choice of targets through the air. It’s a division game and it’s the Steelers so no doubt it will be tough but I also wouldn’t be surprised if the Ravens put a big stamp on this one and let the Steelers know that they’re just different this year. The defense just has to hold on for dear life.

-Lamar will throw for 300 yards and 4 touchdowns.

-Henry will be slowed down early but by the late 3rd quarter will start to get some big runs going and finish with over 100 yards and a touchdown. Henry will also force a missed tackle against the Queen P.

-Keaton Mitchell will have limited carries but will break a few big runs of 10 plus yards.

-Diontae Johnson will have a touchdown. Seems unlikely but these are bold predictions and I think he can pull this off against his old team.

– Bateman, Andrews and Likely will be the recipients of the other 3 touchdowns.

– The defense won’t be up to par yet but will show signs of improvement and just enough big plays to not blow the game.

– Marlon Humphrey will be the star of the defense again with an interception and a forced fumble recovered with his classic punch out.

Ravens 38 Steelers 23

Nick Polinsky

Sure, the Ravens-Steelers games of the past with Tyler Huntley facing Kenny Pickett were still intense, but when you have both teams with 7 wins through 10 weeks of football it ramps it up tenfold. This game will be the decider for who temporarily holds the AFC North crown 11 weeks through the season.

The Steelers have Steeler’d harder than ever this year, to everyone’s surprise holding a 7-2 record through 10 weeks of football on the backs of Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. It seems as though every game they play has a similar script. It comes down to the fourth quarter and they just somehow make it happen. Mike Tomlin should be commended for the work he’s done with this squad, even if the crazy success comes as a result of some devil magic, which we can’t rule out at this point.

Since Russell Wilson’s controversial takeover, the Steelers have scored 26 or more in all three of those games with Russ at the helm. They’ve grinded out three straight victories and come in with momentum.

We all know by now the trajectory of this Ravens offense is pointing steeply upward, but Lamar Jackson has struggled in his career against Pittsburgh. His lone win in four starts against the Steelers came during 2019 in a game in which he threw just 1 touchdown to 3 interceptions. His career TD to INT ratio is 4:7 against Pittsburgh, yeesh.

This game will be chippy; both teams have plenty of guys who don’t shy away from conflict and love to talk. Pittsburgh has former Ravens DeShon Elliott and Patrick Queen, and other talkers like George Pickens and Minkah Fitzpatrick, who actually got into it with Patrick Queen a few years back during pregame warmups. The Ravens have their fair share of talkers as well, and let’s be honest, everyone is a talker during Ravens-Steelers.

• Mark Andrews has somehow never caught a touchdown against Pittsburgh despite playing in 9 contests against them. That will change Sunday.
• In the last 7 Ravens-Steelers matchups, both teams have failed to score over 20 team points. With both teams finally coming in with healthy quarterbacks and sound offenses. Both teams will score at least 20 Sunday.
• This feels like one of those games where Lamar is going to turn on the turbo and get the legs more active then he’d usually have to. Lamar will carry the ball 10+ times for the first time in a little over a month.
• Zay Flowers will redeem his poor performance in Pittsburgh from last year, catching at least 6 passes.

I’ll be lucky enough to travel up to Pittsburgh to catch this heavyweight bout on Sunday, and how can I go all the way up there just to predict the Ravens would fall short?

Ravens 23 Steelers 20

Rob Shields

In what feels like the biggest game of the season so far, the Ravens travel to Pittsburgh on Sunday to face their rivals.

Led by Russell Wilson and T.J. Watt, the Steelers are off to a surprising 7-2 start. They are doing well on offense since Wilson took over. He has a good connection with George Pickens, they are running it well and Wilson looks better than he has in recent years.

On defense, the Steelers are playing well but not as well as some of their defenses of the past. Still, they have game wrecker Watt, who has given the Ravens a lot of problems, on the outside. Cam Hayward, former Raven Patrick Queen, and Minkah Fitzpatrick help make them formidable up the middle and Joey Porter Jr. is playing a strong corner.

Lamar Jackson has struggled vs Pittsburgh in the past, although some of that is overblown, like the seven dropped passes game last year. But still, Lamar’s numbers are down against this team, and he hasn’t beaten them since 2019.

In general, the Steelers have won seven of eight. Again, context is needed – the Tuesday Covid game, Ravens resting starters in Week 17-18, etc. But still.

This is a different Ravens offense with Lamar throwing it the best he ever has and Derrick Henry giving them a bigger running threat. This is the most formidable Baltimore offense Pittsburgh has seen.

While the Ravens tend to step up when facing better competition and the injury news is good for the Ravens (Hamilton practicing today), I need the Ravens to prove we can trust them in this spot before I pick them.

They have shot themselves in the foot too many times and this Steelers team will take advantage of that.

Steelers 27 Ravens 23

John Hughey 

Sunday’s matchup between the Ravens and Steelers is arguably the most intriguing in years. A battle for the AFC North lead between two seven-win teams. Baltimore’s secondary will continue to haunt the optimism towards games until the obvious struggles are cleaned up. With Wilson progressing under center week by week, the Ravens need everyone to play at the top of their game in order to leave with a win. Coming off a game in which the Ravens pass rush produced 40 pressures on Joe Burrow, Zach Orr and company will look for more of the same to disrupt Wilson’s rhythm. Offensively the Ravens gameplan should be interesting. In three career games against the Steelers, Derrick Henry averages just 4.1 yards per carry.

— Derrick Henry keeps the streak alive and punches in a TD

— Jackson overcomes past struggles against Pittsburgh throwing for 250+ and 3 TDs

— Marcus Williams makes DeShon Elliot eat his words, picking up an INT

— Marlon Humphrey continues his All Pro campaign holding George Pickens to his lowest receiving total of the season

Ravens 31 Steelers 21

Chris Schisler 

The Ravens offense is hard to bet against right now. Lamar Jackson has his best chance to beat a team that usually gives him a hard time and I’m here for it. Look for the Ravens to come out hot in this game as a carryover from Thursday night.

Here’s how it happens. The Ravens are going into this game being the enforcers. They’re going to be amped for this Sunday afternoon like it was a night game. Derrick Henry is going to break an early run for a long touchdown. It will be a statement. The Ravens are going to put up 38 points against a dominant defense.

— Lamar Jackson 4 touchdowns and 320 total yards

— Derrick Henry breaks a 60-yard touchdown run.

— Defense forces three fumbles, recovers two of them.

— Russell Wilson is sacked 4 times.

Ravens 38 Steelers 27

The post BOLD PREDICTIONS: The King Trumps the Queen appeared first on Russell Street Report.

Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2024/11/14/bold-predictions/steelers-ravens-2024-game-1/