The Ravens had a rough visit to the Steel City as they fell to their arch-rival Pittsburgh Steelers 17-10 in a tough defensive battle.
Ravens vs. Steelers Postgame Analysis
Ravens RB Justice Hill (43) – Matt Durisko/AP Photo
The game started the Raven’s way as Justice Hill scored the only touchdown for Baltimore. Hill finished the game with 32 rushing yards on seven carries.
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (8) – Courtney Culbreath/Getty Images
Even though Lamar Jackson had a passable game with 22 completions for 236 yards, he threw no touchdowns, and he threw one costly interception.
To compare offenses, the Steelers offense also looked tolerable to average in the first half all the way until the very end of the fourth quarter. Kenny Pickett completed 18 passes for 224 yards and threw one touchdown pass to George Pickens in the fourth quarter of the game. Pickens caught six receptions for 130 yards and scored the only touchdown for the Steelers.
The Steelers did have Chris Boswell kick three field goals and scoring a safety from Miles Killebrew in the fourth quarter.
The wide receivers for the Ravens get props for effort during the game but they made crucial drops that had they not happened would’ve been game-changers. Rashod Bateman caught one reception for eight yards but had a gut-wrenching drop that would’ve been a touchdown against the Steelers in the second quarter.
Ravens WR Zay Flowers (4) – Matt Durisko/AP Photo
Other wide receivers for Baltimore that were productive but did not haul in any touchdowns were Zay Flowers who caught five receptions for 73 yards and Odell Beckham Jr. who caught two receptions for 13 yards. OBJ did leave the game in the second quarter with an apparent leg injury.
Tight end Mark Andrews caught six receptions for 65 yards in the contest.
The game was decided more on defense. Both teams brought their competitive play on the defensive side of the ball.
The Steelers’ defense was serious business as TJ Watt had two tackles, two sacks, a fumble recovery for 18 yards, two pass deflections, and two stuffs on the line.
Minkah Fitzpatrick had nine tackles and a run-stuff while Joey Porter Jr. (the son of former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter) had two tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception against Jackson in the fourth quarter of the contest.
The Ravens defense also played well led by Patrick Queen who had seven tackles, 0.5 sacks, and a pass deflection during the battle while Roquan Smith had 11 tackles and a pass deflection.
The Ravens offense was not what fans expected during this game. They need to wake up and start making the necessary plays with the pass catchers brought in and drafted this season in order to stay afloat in the ever-so-competitive AFC North.
The Ravens also need to keep Odell Beckham Jr. and the other wide receivers healthy and off the injured list for upcoming games and get Flowers, his thus far illusive, first NFL touchdown of the regular season.
The Steelers enter week six in a bye week for the team to regroup and replenish themselves for an October 22 week seven matchup in Inglewood, CA against the Los Angeles Rams at 4:05 p.m. ET on FOX.
The Ravens conclude their road trip with a flight across the pond to London for a matchup against the Tennessee Titans in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at 9:30 a.m. E.T. on the NFL Network. This will be the Raven’s second time playing in London since the 2017 season when the Jacksonville Jaguars defeated them 7-44 in an ugly beatdown. Let’s see if they can bring the charm from Charm City to London.
