BOLD PREDICTIONS: Ravens at Steelers

In an unusual scheduling quirk, the Ravens travel to Pittsburgh in Week 14 to take on their arch-rival Steelers for the first time this season. In an equally unusual quirk, the Ravens are 3-point underdogs despite being up on Pittsburgh by three games in the AFC North.

Sunday’s game marks the 32nd meeting (including playoffs) between head coach John Harbaugh and head coach Mike Tomlin. The 32 head-to-head battles will be the second most by a pair of opposing head coaches in league history. (Curly Lambeau vs. Steve Owen is third with 31.) The only head coaches in NFL history to produce more head-to-head matchups are Lambeau vs. George Halas (49 times). Tomlin holds a 15-13 regular season edge and a 2-1 playoff advantage.

Will Harbaugh pull within one game of Tomlin in the regular season when the final whistle blows on Sunday?

Tony Lombardi

I’m torn over how this battle will end for the Ravens. Just a couple of weeks ago I had this pegged as a rather simple “W” for the visitors. Now, with the Ravens offense stuck in the mud and without the services of the injured Lamar Jackson, my thoughts are drenched in doubt. The only thing I’m sure of is that this game will not be one for those who enjoy a high-scoring tilt. Nor will it be a game that fantasy football GM’s have to pay much attention to unless you plan on starting one of the two defenses or if you have Justin Tucker.

So what does my crystal ball look like for this one?

Well, let’s just say it looks more like one of those snow globes just after it’s shaken violently.

• Both offenses will struggle. The Ravens are averaging 350 yards per game while the Steelers average 316. Neither team will eclipse the 275 yard mark in net offense.

• The game will feature more turnovers than touchdowns and it will keep the teams’ punters active. Punters Jordan Stout and Pressley Harvin, III will combine for 12 or more punts.

• There will be only 1 successful red zone conversion in the game and that conversion will decide the slugfest.

• Justin Houston gets sack No. 10 on the season while Calais Campbell lands career sack No. 100.

• George Pickens scores the game’s only touchdown and immediately afterwards, he’ll get flagged for taking off his helmet. (Ravens fans on Twitter will also have a meltdown and swear at EDC for taking an injured David Ojabo ahead of Pickens in the 2022 NFL Draft). The ensuing kick return will give the Ravens a chance to win it on the foot of Justin Tucker but the late rally will end abruptly thanks to a game-clinching INT from Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Coming into the game Tyler Huntley has a (1-3) record as a starter. Make that (1-4). Oh and if you are the wagering type and you’re looking for what amounts to one of those free spins for 1$, bet the under.

Steelers 13 Ravens 12

[Related Article: In Defense of Greg Roman]

Darin McCann

Well, it’s Pittsburgh week, and that sound you hear buzzing around this game is most likely crickets. There just isn’t that same buzz around this game we’ve grown accustomed to over the years.

Regardless, it still looks like it will be a competitive, defensive-minded game, and it should be a three-plus-hour show of hard hits, bruising tackles and field goals. Let’s look at some predictions:

• The Ravens will have a little more success running the ball this week, and will generate more than 160 yards on the ground.

• Tyler Huntley will throw a touchdown pass, but even it out with an interception under pressure.

• Odafe Oweh… wait for it… will get two sacks.

• That touchdown pass from Huntley? It will be Demarcus Robinson hauling it in.

• Roquan Smith goes full box-score: 10-plus tackles, a sack, a pick and a forced fumble.

Ravens 13 Steelers 9

Rob Shields

Well, it’s Steelers week finally. Pittsburgh has been playing better as of late and their defense has a lot of pieces that can hurt the Baltimore offense.

In a week where the Ravens are getting healthier in most areas of the team, their most important player, Lamar Jackson, will be out, so that can play right into the hands of the Steelers defense.

The Steelers have beaten Baltimore a lot recently, but that’s largely because they have rarely faced Lamar (he has either been hurt or had COVID) and the team has had other injury or COVID issues and even then, Pittsburgh has struggled to win the games.

That said, I expect more of the same. I suspect the offense continues their struggles and while the defense should play well, I expect that the Steelers can score enough to win.

Steelers 14 Ravens 13

Derek Arnold

Another first-to-ten-wins game? It sure does look that way on paper. I love how quickly Snoop gets the ball out, but a defense as talented as Pittsburgh’s, that prepares for him all week, will sit all over those quick hitters. Can he complete the first 30+ yard air pass of his career to back them off?

My prediction is that they try this early, with a deep shot to Desean Jackson…and Minkah intercepts it. Following that, the slog is really on.

• The teams combine for under 500 yards of offense, and four turnovers

• Each kicker misses a FG attempt in the 45-50 range

My prediction is based on Ronnie Stanley and Pat Mekari being active. If Daniel Faalele has to line up for any significant number of snaps, throw it out the window.

Ravens 10 Steelers 9

Kevin McNelis

Watching an AFC North team every week, you learn to love the old-school style of football. With defensive-minded approaches and offensive inefficiency on both sides of this matchup, this one might wind the clock back to about 1930.

• If last week’s pass protection was any indication of what’s coming this weekend, Christmas may very well have come early for TJ Watt. The Steelers record six sacks on the day.

• Baltimore is going to keep it simple offensively, as the deep shots downfield have largely been a bust recently. As a result, Mark Andrews gets back on track after a couple of ho-hum games, recording seven catches for 90 yards and a TD. Andrews leads the Ravens pass-catchers on the day.

• The end result of the game comes down to turnovers. Both sides will force multiple turnovers, but I fear that Baltimore’s recent offensive inefficiency costs them as they try to force plays late. A fourth-quarter interception on their own end of the field gives Pittsburgh the winning drive.

Pittsburgh 16 Baltimore 13

Chris Schisler

I think the Ravens pull through and win this game. The Ravens defense will be stifling. It’s going to be an uglier game than you’ll want to see but it will be a win.

Tyler Huntley will have 220 yards passing. Mark Andrews will have six grabs for 80 of those yards. The Pro Bowl tight end will also score the Ravens’ only two touchdowns of the contest. Justin Tucker will do the rest of the Ravens’ scoreboard bidding in Pittsburgh.

• Ravens force three turnovers

• Kyle Hamilton gets a pick 6

• Justin Tucker attempts three 50-yard field goals and makes all of them

• Kenny Pickett gets sacked 5 times

Somewhere I found my Ravens positivity. Put me down for a Ravens victory.

Ravens 23 Steelers 10

Jared Pinder

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, Ravens vs. Steelers. The Steelers defense has had Greg Roman’s number ever since he took over, no matter the Quarterback under center. They have been a different team ever since T.J. Watt came back. This will also be the first game that the Ravens will see Kenny Pickett, who has played OK. The Steelers’ offense has been fine these last couple of games. They have playmakers, but they have issues getting the ball to them and have a very limited play-caller in Matt Canada, who fans hate.

Sounds familiar, right? The Steelers’ defense against the Ravens offense with Huntley gives me nightmares. I think the Baltimore defense matches up with the Steelers well, so this game will be a bloodbath.

• Get buckled up for a defensive game with Tyler Huntley and Greg Roman.

• The Steelers defense forces two turnovers, and the Ravens counter with one.

•  The offense struggles through the air, but they do get some yards on the ground, and Gus Edwards has a good game.

Ravens vs. Steelers always comes down to the last play, so I am predicting a Justin Tucker kick to win it.

Ravens 17 Steelers 14

Chad Racine

The Steelers are coming off of two straight wins and have won three out of the last four games. While the Ravens have won five out of the last six games, it feels like the season is just barely hanging on. If not for the final impressive drive by Huntley last week I think we’d all feel like it’s last season’s ending all over again. T.J Watt is now back and Kenny Pickett isn’t throwing the pick-it’s he was earlier in the season. The major Ravens concern has to be if Daniel Faalele gets the start at left tackle. As of now that is looking like the case. Not only may he deal with Watt, but Alex Highsmith already has double digit sacks.

• Kyle Hamilton gets his first interception.

• Oweh records a sack in his second straight game, after being very quiet in the stats department.

• Marlon Humphrey forces a fumble but Pittsburgh falls on it.

• Huntley continues to operate his ball-out-quick approach, playing mistake-free football. He will throw for one touchdown and 200 passing yards with no interceptions. He will run for another 30 yards.

• Andrews will be the recipient of the Huntley passing touchdown.

• The Ravens run game will continue to struggle being held to less than 100 total yards.

Steelers 13 Ravens 10