HOT TAKES: Ravens v. Steelers Ain’t What it Used to Be!

A friend of mine asked me to travel with him to Pittsburgh to take in the Ravens v Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. It was a hard pass for me.

The rivalry has the reputation for being the best in the NFL. Whenever these two teams clash, the fan experience is different. It’s more intense than when the Ravens tee it up against the Bengals, Browns or even the Chiefs. There’s history in this rivalry and therefore it means more.

But while the intensity is greater in a Ravens v Steelers clash, it’s just not the same. It lives in part on reputation. The personalities are different. There’s no longer a Suggs v. Roethlisberger battle; Ward v. Reed; Bettis v. Lewis; Porter v. the Ravens bus. Plus, the league has legislated out of the game a huge part of what fueled the head-to-head ferocity.

Physicality!

The games just aren’t as physical as they once were. Tell me I’m wrong.

I was asked if the #Ravens #Steelers rivalry is as good as it used to be? Put me down for a resounding “NO!” How about you? pic.twitter.com/4DzQeBlppa

— Tony Lombardi (@RSRLombardi) November 15, 2024

But back to my friend’s invite…

Over the years, I’ve been able to temper my emotions when taking in these Ravens v Steelers games. A loss to the Steelers would wipe me out for days. But not anymore. A loss might ruin my Sunday, but by Monday afternoon and after flushing things out through my game recap piece, The Good, Bad, Ugly & The Paige Spiranac, the demons have been exorcised.

However, if I entered the building formerly known as Heinz Field and had to leave as a loser, all of the emotions, all of those unwelcomed feels would return in a rush that is on par with the dreaded, “turn on your side and lift your legs towards your stomach”, accompanied by the snap of latex gloves.

Thanks again Bully.

But no thanks.

“Only Bet What You Can Afford to Lose”

You’ve heard these words when listening to a spot promoting betting apps. I take that seriously and I’ve yet to add my own money to any of those apps, preferring to play until the house money they gifted me with is fully depleted. And while I play with the house money, I usually bet against the Ravens.

Maybe you think it’s weird, but I actually hope that I lose the bet, but just in case I don’t, the winnings become a consolation prize. This week, I took the Steelers and the money line and a two-part parlay with the Steelers +3 and over the total of 49 points. Here’s to another wagering loss in the Lombardi household.

DEFENSE!

Despite the Ravens sporting a (7-3) record and fielding the best offense by far across several layers of metrics, fans don’t have the swagger that they may have exhibited in past years when the team played .700 ball. Even Purple Friday, once a weekly celebration, seems to be nothing more than a passing thought.

And for that, we can blame the Ravens sorry ass pass defense.

“The Baltimore Ravens are No. 1 in sacks and pressures with a four-man rush in the NFL, but you’ll never know because R.C. and them ain’t doing their job back there.”@Realrclark25 really caught the stray from @mspears96 pic.twitter.com/HOQ2U5Eg6i

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) November 14, 2024

Maybe the Ravens have the wherewithal to fix the defense – at least to the point where they can protect a two score lead in the fourth quarter. Is that too much to ask for?

During the coming offseason, there’s little doubt that the Ravens will spend a big chunk of their draft capital on defense. But more importantly they need to honestly assess their substandard defensive coaching staff.

As Marcus Spears illustrates in the video above, the Ravens are bringing pressure with four better than any other team in the league. But they are lacking in simulated pressures (a Mike Macdonald hallmark) and defending intermediate and deep passes. It’s rather embarrassing.

You might think that Zach Orr should be able to coach up the inside linebackers being just a few years removed from playing the position himself. And the back end of the defense, a strength in 2023 when guided by Dennard Wilson, is a complete cluster. I’m looking at you Chris Hewitt.

Should the Ravens fail in 2024 because of their defense and they then invest resources in better personnel during the Spring, AND Hewitt returns in his current role, it would be akin to handing your money over to a financial planner with a string of clients claiming a precipitous drop in their net worth.

“I’m still the best safety in the league!”

Kyle Hamilton didn’t make this claim. Nor did Brian Branch. And it wasn’t Budda Baker or Xavier McKinney although any could make that claim.

Said safety also added, “I’m better than Ed Reed. I’m better than Troy Polamalu.”

Cue up the music…

Ok, enough of the suspense.

The player who claims to “still be the best safety in the league” is a player who once was late for a team meeting because he got a car wash (not like that at say Canton Car Wash). He’s a player who was kicked off his team after punching a team leader. He’s a player who was once part of a legion. And, he’s a safety who when trying to defend Derrick Henry, was practically dribbled down the field by The King as if he was a mere pee wee player.

I’m talking about Earl Thomas.

If you need a laugh, check out his recent interview below with Josina Anderson.

NEW CLIP: Does your #NFL team need a free agent safety?

What former #Seahawks and #Ravens S @Earl_Thomas wants to say to NFL GM’s:

“I know I still can play….cause my opportunities were slim to none after I had that incident in baltimore…it has to be a good atmosphere where… pic.twitter.com/9TrRH4mFFM

— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) November 15, 2024

Shock The Monken Tonight

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“Todd Monken’s impact on the Ravens has been impossible to ignore. Under the former Georgia offensive coordinator’s watch, Baltimore’s offense has gone from curiosity to monolith. The past two seasons have been Lamar Jackson‘s best in terms of completion percentage, by far. Jackson leads the league in nearly all major analytical categories.” ~ Connor Orr, Sports Illustrated

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There’s an opinion being floated that seems to be gaining momentum – that Todd Monken will be a head coach somewhere in the NFL in 2025. The rationale of course being, that the Ravens have the league’s best offense and Monken is the guy pushing its buttons. And while that’s true, any other offense that Monken could guide in 2025, will be missing Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and a rather loaded supporting cast.

But if Monken shocks me and is hired by another team, let’s hope that his current boss doesn’t promote from within to replace him.

Tomlin v. Harbaugh, Ravens v Steelers

When discussing these two head coaches, the prevailing narrative, at least for the moment, is that Mike Tomlin gets more out of his players than John Harbaugh. I don’t know if that’s true but what I do believe, is that Tomlin keeps his team focused for four quarters and he doesn’t make decisions fueled by emotion.

The Ravens have lost 7 of their last 8 against the Steelers. And I get that Lamar didn’t play during four of those games, one of which was a COVID game that forced the Ravens to reach way down into their practice squad just to field a team. But with that being said, the Ravens need a win to get the stink off their uniforms – the unsavory aroma that suggests the Steelers own the Ravens.

And it would be a nice little get for Harbaugh as well because the tension triggered by this Swiss Pees defense is getting to him. Check out this video beginning at the 27:00 mark and then watch Harbaugh’s reaction to Joe Burrow’s incomplete pass during the two-point conversion attempt.

Have a great weekend everyone!

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Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2024/11/15/tltakes/ravens-v-steelers-3/