Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Preview
The upcoming matchup features the Baltimore Ravens (7-3) squaring off against the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2) this Sunday at 1 p.m. EST on CBS. According to BetMGM, the Ravens are favored by 3 points. In their historical encounters, the Steelers currently lead the series with a record of 35 wins to 25 losses. When it comes to betting, the Ravens hold a record of 5-4-1 against the spread, while the Steelers sit at 7-2.
In their last encounter, which took place on January 6, 2024, the Steelers emerged victorious, edging the Ravens 17-10 in Baltimore. In terms of their performances last week, the Ravens managed a narrow win over the Bengals, claiming a 35-34 victory, whereas the Steelers narrowly defeated the Commanders 28-27.
An examination of the teams’ statistics reveals that the Ravens boast a powerhouse offense ranked first overall, with their rushing attack also taking the top spot and their passing game coming in third. In scoring, they are again ranked first. Contrarily, the Ravens defense ranks 27th overall, with a first-place standing in rush defense, but 32nd against the pass and 25th in scoring defense. The Steelers have a more balanced offensive output, ranking 18th overall, 8th in rushing, 26th in passing, and 12th in scoring. Their defense is ranked 8th overall, with impressive rankings of 4th against the rush, 19th against the pass, and 2nd in scoring defense.
In terms of turnover differential, the Ravens stand at plus-4, while the Steelers enjoy a more favorable plus-9. A player to watch on the Ravens side is DL Nnamdi Madubuike; he recently showcased his potential by recording three sacks last week, significantly improving his season total and addressing a critical area of concern for Baltimore’s pass rush.
For the Steelers, LB T.J. Watt cannot be overlooked. Known for his consistent dominance, Watt had an unusually quiet performance last week against Washington, failing to record any tackles and missing out on a sack. If the Steelers hope to retake control against the Ravens, turning to Watt to pressure quarterback Lamar Jackson will be essential, particularly given Watt’s historical success against Baltimore, where he has garnered 16 career sacks.
Key injuries to follow include Ravens All-Pro S Kyle Hamilton who suffered an ankle injury during the game against Cincinnati, missing practice this week. TE Isaiah Likely made a return to practice after missing last week’s matchup due to a hamstring issue. For the Steelers, OLB Alex Highsmith will be sidelined due to an ankle injury, while OLB Nick Herbig, who has been absent for the last four games due to a hamstring problem, may return.
This rivalry has been fiercely competitive, with the Steelers winning six of the last seven matchups. Notably, the outcomes of the last eight games between these AFC North rivals have been decided by a touchdown or fewer. Last season, Pittsburgh swept the series, although it’s worth mentioning that Baltimore rested several starters, including Jackson, in the divisional matchup finale as they had already secured the title.
In stats and figures, this contest marks the 35th clash between coaches Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh, ranking second all-time for coaching matchups in the NFL. Jackson has achieved eight consecutive games with a passer rating of 100 or above, joining an elite roster of only three other players to do so within a single season. Under Harbaugh’s leadership, the Ravens have posted an impressive 47-19 record in November.
Additionally, the Ravens excel in both rushing and rush defense, leading the league in both categories, while also executing a high scoring efficiency in the red zone at a rate of 76.7%. Players to keep an eye on include Derrick Henry, who is nearing a single-season franchise record of rushing touchdowns. Additionally, Jackson is noted for his dual-threat capabilities, reaching significant milestones in passing and rushing yards.
Pittsburgh’s offense has notably improved this season, currently averaging 30.75 points over their last four games. This will be their first of six divisional matchups in the remaining eight weeks of the season, with the Steelers having previously fared well against the AFC North. In terms of ball security, both teams excel at minimizing turnovers, and the Ravens indeed rank among the league’s best.
In the realm of fantasy sports, while Baltimore’s offensive performance has been highly impressive, fantasy players might find it prudent to lean towards Russell Wilson, given the Steelers’ favorable matchup against the league’s lowest-ranked pass defense. Wilson has been delivering substantial passing numbers since resuming his starting role, showing potential for a strong performance against a struggling secondary.