Knee-Jerk Reactions: Ravens 28 Steelers 14

The Ravens defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-14 in the wild card round. RSR staff react to the win here.

Kevin McNelis

As I type this, I’m walking to my car in the dark and cold, and I couldn’t be happier. The Ravens did what they set out to do, and ended the season of their most hated rival. They ran all over the Steelers, wearing them down even when it looked like the defense was starting to let up. It wasn’t perfect, but there was rarely a game this season that was. As long as they maintain their composure in the face of those down periods, they can beat the best of ‘em playing like that.

The D-line stepped up to clamp down when it mattered, and the run game bled the clock and closed it out. Now to rest, recover, and await the next foe.

Derek Arnold

Without Zay Flowers, the Ravens came out leaning HEAVILY on their running game, with incredible results, 299 yards on the ground before the final kneedown. The Lamar Jackson–Derrick Henry combo was postseason ready from the opening gun, with Jackson running on five or six consecutive plays at one point on an early drive, and Henry breaking into the open field and dribbling Minkah Fitzpatrick‘s head off the turf. Jackson’s first TD pass to Rashod Bateman was an incredible throw, threading the needle between two Steelers.

Scoring with two seconds on the clock to end the first half and make the score 21-0 had this one looking like a blowout, with Pittsburgh completely demoralized.

Pittsburgh wasn’t dead though, putting together a 98-yard touchdown drive and then another score on the back of some Russ Wilson moonballs. The pass defense was disappointing on those sequences, and many of us were having flashbacks from some of the big blown leads of the not-too-distant past. But Justin Madubuike and Odafe Oweh came through with huge sacks at key moments and Pittsburgh never got within less than 14. Josh Allen was probably taking some notes watching Brandon Stephens continue to get picked on.

That’s a problem for another day, though. The Ravens sent the Steelers packing in the postseason for the second time, we’ve got Lamar Jackson and King Henry on our side, and life is good, Flock.

Jared Pinder

Well, the Ravens did what they needed to do. The team got off to a blazing 21-0 start, and then they let the foot off the gas a bit. The defense was good; these moonballs thrown Stephens’s way are constant easy money, making the entire defense look bad. Stephens is a huge disappointment, but nothing will change on that front. We just have to hope that the defense’s sums are more significant than their flaws and find ways to make critical stops late. Do that, and we will know what the offense is all about. The game plan on the offensive side was perfect as Henry and Lamar both got it going on the ground, and Lamar played like the MVP he is.

We must now root for the Broncos to get a home playoff game for the divisional round. No excuses. Just win.

Nick Polinsky

This was a perfect display of hard nosed football that wins you playoff games. Touchdown drives with 13 straight runs on 13 plays. Derrick Henry rushing for 186 and the team rushing for 299 as a whole.

Lamar Jackson once again played mistake free football and threw a few frozen ropes to push the ball down the field.

The defense is locked in, and I think this team is ready to handle anything that’s thrown their way.

Chad Racine

I’ll keep this short and sweet because I’m leaving the game now. Ravens just pounced the division rival where they were 9.5 point favorites by 14 points. Henry rushed for a record 186 yards. One drive was 13 straight runs I believe.  I think the Ravens are ready for anyone right now.

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