OTL: Ben Roethlisberger Picks Ravens to Beat Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger picks Ravens to win, Ravens Flock celebrates an important birthday, Zay Flowers misses practice, & more in today’s OTL!
First up, we had an important birthday on Tuesday, that of star QB and MVP hopeful Lamar Jackson.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LAMAR JACKSON!
Baltimore loves you, let’s go make this a year to remember. pic.twitter.com/l3LW0sZXEK
— Ravens Nation ð™‡ð™„ð™‘𙀠(@LIVERavenNation) January 7, 2025
Happy birthday @Lj_era8 pic.twitter.com/qga9vc3gLo
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 7, 2025
Needless to say, it was a fun day online for Ravens fans, but the team continues to stay dialed in for a date with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round. Most importantly, nobody’s more focused than Jackson:
Lamar Jackson says he has no 28th birthday plans today. “Dialed in.”
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) January 7, 2025
For the now 28-year-old QB, thinking about past playoff trips is largely unimportant. With the exception of last year’s AFC Championship defeat, it’s all about moving forward:
Said it before and I’ll say it again, Lamar Jackson is so locked in pic.twitter.com/I34fV91bgp
— The Ravens Realm (@RealmRavens) January 7, 2025
I’m glad Jackson acknowledged last year’s loss to KC, though – it should motivate him and help fuel the team for a deeper run this time around. With a tough stretch likely, including trips to Buffalo and Kansas City, it’ll be critical to stay composed:
Lamar Jackson acknowledges he’s gotten too excited, too antsy in some past playoff games. Feels like experience has helped him in that area
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) January 7, 2025
One thing the #Ravens cannot do on Saturday is turn the ball over.
Playoff History:
2023 loss to the chiefs: 3 turnovers (2 INT, 1 strip sack)
2022 loss to the Bengals 2 (1 INT, 1 fumble)
2020 loss to the Bills 1 (1 pick 6)
2019 loss to the Titans : 3 (2 INT, 1 fumble)ADDED…
— Cole Jackson (@ColeJacksonFB) January 7, 2025
If the Ravens can stay within themselves and take care of the ball, they’re primed for a deep playoff run this year (and potentially more).
“This is a dangerous team, they can win it all.”@PriscoCBS on the Baltimore Ravens. pic.twitter.com/X6TAOvAalz
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) January 7, 2025
Final 2024 NFL Numbers Thread pic.twitter.com/ZIdlwu7JH9
— Computer Cowboy (@benbbaldwin) January 7, 2025
The first key is obviously the birthday boy, Lamar Jackson. Playing at the top of his game, Jackson has the chance to silence all haters and essentially solidify his legacy forever by delivering a Super Bowl. And for many, including one of the team’s all-time rivals, there’s nobody better at the position:
Yikes: Former #Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger is picking the #Ravens to beat the Steelers this weekend.
Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/ibnyet0zWM
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 7, 2025
In fact, Ben Roethlisberger picks the Ravens to beat the Steelers! I don’t know about you, but the “That’s Bait” GIF comes to mind for me.
Ben Roethlisberger’s Top 7 QB rankings from the 2024-25 NFL regular season:
1. Lamar Jackson
2. Joe Burrow
3. Josh Allen
4. Patrick Mahomes
5. Jared Goff
6. Sam Darnold
7. Justin Herbert#RavensFlockvia Channel Seven/YT pic.twitter.com/A9gvrFv9Md
— Bobby Trosset (@bobbybaltim0re) January 7, 2025
Lamar Jackson: PFF’s 2024 Offensive Player of the Year
4,172 passing yards
915 rushing yards
45 total TDs
1.4% Turnover Worthy Play Rate pic.twitter.com/uA0VBmCKnl— PFF (@PFF) January 7, 2025
I noted earlier that Jackson acknowledged his past mistakes and how quickly he found himself in playoff situations before. This year, I look forward to seeing an experienced, composed, and complete QB leading the team.
Alongside Jackson, of course, is Derrick Henry, who many feel gives Baltimore the “closer” that they didn’t have in years past. Either way, Henry highlighted how Jackson’s presence helps even him excel:
Derrick Henry’s response to people who use him to argue against Lamar Jackson’s MVP case:
“You can put anybody by Lamar, and they’re going to have a helluva year. It’s just the type of player that he is. My success shouldn’t knock his, or vice versa.
“Lamar is the main reason… pic.twitter.com/eSCqY89yCt
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) January 7, 2025
We know first-hand how difficult it is to stop King Henry in January, and I can’t wait to see the kind of impact he has, assuming the coaching staff remembers why he was brought to Charm City.
Ravens fans have to be more confident this year going into the playoffs because of Derrick Henry pic.twitter.com/MJ2Pira0IO
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) January 6, 2025
On the opposite side of the ball, it’s about maintaining momentum into the playoffs. DC Zach Orr’s work to turnaround the unit has been nothing short of incredible, and while they do pass the eye test, it’s hard not to worry about a reversion or decline in the big moments.
The key, however, has been reshaping the Safety room, which Baltimore continued to do on Tuesday:
The Ravens and Marcus Williams have agreed to a restructured contract, giving the team the option to release him next offseason with a post-June 1 designation for cap flexibility. pic.twitter.com/QT5FtYpL3T
— Ravens Nation ð™‡ð™„ð™‘𙀠(@LIVERavenNation) January 7, 2025
It’s been tough to see Williams struggle so much this year, but again, Orr and company made the right call. Ar’Darius Washington has flourished, and Kyle Hamilton continues to show that he’s worth the big bucks:
Ravens S Kyle Hamilton allowed the second-lowest yards per reception among all safeties this season, giving up just 8.0 yards per catch. pic.twitter.com/xpPOTtolXF
— Ravens Nation ð™‡ð™„ð™‘𙀠(@LIVERavenNation) January 7, 2025
PROJECTION: #Ravens DB Kyle Hamilton is eligible to sign an extension today.
Hamilton is projected to sign a 4-YEAR, 88-MILLION-DOLLAR CONTRACT, which would make him the highest-paid safety in #NFL history.
Hamilton, 23, has been the best safety in the league this season. pic.twitter.com/haAnnQ7WD0
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) January 7, 2025
Come playoff time, I expect them to continue making plays.
Lastly, it’s all about staying healthy. Baltimore seems to have evaded a scare with WR Zay Flowers, but he missed practice on Tuesday:
Zay Flowers spotted walking in the locker room with a minor brace on his knee.
I also can confirm he did cut off the locks.
— Kyle Phoenix (@KylePBarber) January 7, 2025
Kyle Van Noy speaks on Zay Flowers’ injury
“Knowing Zay, he’s played when he hasn’t practiced. He’s a tough little sucker bro…He’s gonna do everything he can to play. I’m going in expecting to see him…I’m going in knowing I got him in the game” pic.twitter.com/NIuYatcjnY
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) January 7, 2025
KVN seems to think he’ll suit up, but I have my doubts. Regardless, if each piece of the puzzle clicks, the Ravens can absolutely win the Super Bowl. If my two cents are worth anything, I do think they will.
The post OTL: Ben Roethlisberger Picks Ravens to Beat Steelers appeared first on Russell Street Report.
Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2025/01/08/out-to-lunch/roethlisberger-picks-ravens/
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