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OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Lamar Jackson’s difficulties against the Pittsburgh Steelers have been widely noted, but this time he will have an unprecedented advantage. For the first time in his career during this rivalry, he will play in front of a supportive home crowd.
This weekend’s match-up between the Steelers and Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens marks only the second occasion the prominent quarterback will face Pittsburgh at home. In their last encounter in Baltimore back in 2020, attendance was severely limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with only 4,345 fans allowed inside the stadium.
That number will be significantly higher this Saturday, as the Steelers have a chance to secure the AFC North title with a victory, while the Ravens aim to thwart that outcome. “Playing in front of our crowd, Flock Nation, knowing it’s a rivalry game with so much at stake, I think that crowd energy will provide us with that extra push we need,” Jackson commented.
Jackson has recorded a mere 1-4 record against the Steelers as a starter, which is striking for a quarterback in his seventh season. He achieved his only victory against the Steelers during his debut against them in 2019, but that game saw him sacked five times and he threw three interceptions.
Throughout his career against Pittsburgh, Jackson has never managed a passer rating over 80.1 in a complete game. Over the course of his matches against them, he’s thrown five touchdown passes contrasted with eight interceptions. Most of these challenges have occurred away from home in a notoriously tough environment. In Jackson’s MVP season of 2019, he did not play in the home game against Pittsburgh once the Ravens clinched the No. 1 playoff seed. A similar situation arose last season, and Jackson was absent due to injuries during the matches in 2021 and 2022.
As the Ravens (9-5) look to secure a win at home this time, the weight is on them to perform well, especially with BetMGM giving them a six-point advantage as of midday Wednesday. Jackson is enjoying a remarkable season, showcasing a passer rating of 120.7, placing him among the elite in NFL history. He’s successfully thrown 34 touchdowns and just three interceptions.
“Whenever he has the chance to make a play, he goes for it. He doesn’t hold back, particularly during the season’s closing stages,” expressed Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen, a former Ravens player. “With everything on the line, he’s showing a lot more aggression, from lowering his shoulder to pushing the ball downfield to make those big plays.”
Pittsburgh (10-4) heads into the game with a slight one-game lead in the division following their earlier 18-16 victory against the Ravens in Week 11. That game reflected a familiar pattern when Jackson faces the Steelers, with misfortunes abound for Baltimore as they faced a vibrant crowd in Pittsburgh.
In that encounter, the Ravens missed two field goals and turned the ball over twice. Jackson also experienced an interception when Payton Wilson seized a pass originally targeted for running back Justice Hill. Late in the game, the Ravens had an opportunity to level the score but failed a crucial two-point conversion, a narrative that has played out many times in this intense rivalry. In 2021, the Ravens sought a game-winning two-point conversion in Pittsburgh but ended up losing 20-19.
Baltimore has encountered difficulties against Pittsburgh, losing eight of their last nine games. However, it hasn’t always been one-sided, as the Ravens have rested their starters in some clashes, and Jackson was missing from several of these games. This season, the encounters between these two teams could significantly impact the division standings.
“This rivalry will be discussed. Some may have felt the intensity previously, and the last game had its moments, but this match holds considerable weight,” emphasized Baltimore cornerback Marlon Humphrey. “This game matters a lot, especially for someone like me who has been around for a while, and it will become increasingly apparent throughout the week.”
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