Bold Predictions: The Struggle is Real

The Baltimore Ravens (10-5) host the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8) for a New Year’s Night battle from M&T Bank Stadium. Originally scheduled for 1 p.m., the game was flexed to the national 8:20 p.m. primetime slot of NBC’s Sunday Night Football. The teams last met in Week 14, when the Ravens prevailed, 16-14, at Acrisure Stadium.

The Ravens, who have won seven of their past nine games, sit one game behind the Bengals (11-4) for the AFC North lead with two regular season games to play, including a Week 18 contest in Cincinnati. Pittsburgh has won two straight and four of its past five.

In the all-time Baltimore-Pittsburgh series, the Steelers lead the regular season count, 29-24, also going 3-1 in the playoffs. Under Coach Harbaugh, Baltimore is 15-17 (including playoffs) against Pittsburgh while posting a 7-7 mark in Charm City. A Steelers loss would assure Mike Tomlin of his first losing season as Pittsburgh’s head coach.

Will it happen on Sunday Night?

Tony Lombardi

Tyler Huntley has been at the offensive controls for the Ravens for the better part of the past four games. During that stretch the Ravens have averaged just 11.5 points and 304 yards of offense per game, yet they’ve managed to win three of the four contests thanks to an opportunistic defense. The last time these teams squared off the Ravens ran for 215, averaging 5.1 YPC. However through the air the Ravens posted just 94 yards, averaging 4.9 yards per attempt.

Perhaps somewhat embarrassed by the 215 rushing yards that they surrendered back in Week 14, the Steelers defense has been stingy on the ground, giving up a total of 79 yards rushing in their last two contests combined. Offensively Pittsburgh has averaged just 17.5 points per game over their last four outings. Signs point towards another defensive battle between these two rivals – or should we say offensive struggle?

• The Ravens have recorded multiple sacks in 11 consecutive games, marking the NFL’s longest active streak, during which they’ve averaged 3.3 sacks per game. They’ll add four more to their season total of 44 sacks, led by Justin Houston who notches 1 ½.

• The Huntley-led offense over the course of the last four games, is an anemic 3 of 11 (27.2%) in the red zone. Those struggles will continue as the Ravens go 0-3 during such touchdown scoring opportunities.

• Expect the Steelers to cut the Ravens rushing production in half compared to their 215 yard effort in Week 14. Huntley will be forced to make plays in the passing game. It won’t come easy. He’ll double the 94 yards by air in the first game, but the overall offensive output will still fall short of 300 yards.

• In Week 14, the Ravens had a +3 turnover margin but still won by just 2 points. The Ravens +1 turnover edge in this one won’t be enough to overcome the team’s offensive futility.

• A long-distance connection from Kenny Pickett to Diontae Johnson will be the difference in this one.

Mike Tomlin’s .500 streak is safe.

Steelers 13 Ravens 9

[Related Article: Keys to Sweeping the Steelers]

Darin McCann

This one means a lot to the Ravens. Win, and you sweep your most heated rival. Win, and you set up an AFC North championship battle next week. Win, and… well, winning is just better than losing, right?

Let’s take a look at some predictions for this week’s tilt:

• The proud Steelers defense does not get run on again like a few weeks ago, when the Ravens rushed for 215 yards. They will tighten it up a bit, and make it a little tougher for the good guys, holding the Ravens to less than 115 yards.

• Snoop hits a deep one, with Steelers defenders constantly lined up one-on-one as they load up against the run. Look for a 55-yarder to DeSean Jackson.

• Odafe Oweh gets two sacks. At this point, I’m just being stubborn with this one.

• Roquan Smith gets a pick-six, runs straight through the end zone and up the steps to Eric DeCosta’s box, where he signs a five-year extension on the spot.

Ravens 17 Steelers 16

Rob Shields

Was the game vs Atlanta the last win of this Ravens football season?

A report yesterday is saying Lamar’s injury is worse than discussed early on and he’s really out 4-6 weeks. If that is the case, he may be back for the playoffs but not likely before then.

A few weeks ago, the Ravens won in Pittsburgh in large part because Mitchell Trubisky threw three picks in the red zone. The Ravens still only won by two.

Pittsburgh is surging and trying to avoid Mike Tomlin’s first losing season while also trying to back door their way into the playoffs.

The Ravens are likely looking at the 6th seed now, meaning they will be traveling to Cincinnati (in all likelihood) two weeks in a row. They can hope for the Chargers getting upset and/or pulling off a win of their own this weekend but I think the most likely outcome is the 6th seed.

The Steelers are playing better, Pickett is settling in, they are pretty healthy, and are going to be playing another game against the Ravens where Lamar is hurt.

For some reason, NBC flexed this game to Sunday night. Maybe there will be a little extra bonus in that for the fans and players and maybe the defense can force some turnovers again.

John Harbaugh also has an outstanding home record in prime time games.

That said, I just don’t trust this team right now and I think Pittsburgh wins in a close game.

Steelers 14 Ravens 13

Derek Arnold

I keep hearing that the Steelers are on some kind of roll after they beat the Panthers and Raiders. However, I knew there was no way they were going to lose on the night of the celebration of the Immaculate Reception, and preceding passing of Franco Harris (RIP, legend) (I also won some coin on that one, thanks DraftKings).

If you watched that Raiders game, Vegas practically handed it to the home team down the stretch. They marched right down the field on the opening drive for a 7-0 lead, took a 10-3 lead into the break, and then…Derek Carr threw threw interceptions, including one on the play after a Pickett pick set Vegas up on Pittsburgh’s side of the field and with a two-touchdown lead in their sights. (He got benched this week, but two of those interceptions were right off his receivers’ hands, while the third was atrocious, and likely would have forced overtime).

Chris Boswell also missed two kicks of course, a rarity for him.

• Pickett has some success with back-shoulder sideline routes to Johnson & Pickens. Unfortunately, that will continue this week as he picks on Brandon Stephens a bit after a pretty strong showing against Atlanta.

• Dobbins & Gus combine for 160 yards. Huntley adds 20. It’s not 215, but it will do.

• Andrews finally finds the end zone again, on a 17-yard catch.

• Pickett is sacked four times, and throws the game’s only interception, to Kyle Hamilton. Huntley takes three sacks of his own.

• These kickers redeem themselves, with Boswell going 3-for-3 and Tucker 4-for-4, including a 45-yarder as time expires.

Ravens 19 Steelers 16

Kevin McNelis

One of my favorite hockey commentators, Doc Emrick used to say, “Anything you can do once, you can do twice.” I’m hoping that conventional wisdom applies to the Ravens as they see the Steelers again for the second time in four weeks. Baltimore got the better of Pittsburgh on the strength of a great defensive effort and a balanced running attack, and here’s hoping they can do it again at home on Sunday.

• JK Dobbins continues a run of impressive games and records over 100 yards on just 13 carries.

• Mark Andrews FINALLY breaks a stretch of ho-hum games as he reels in six catches and a touchdown.

• Kenny Pickett fares slightly better than Trubisky did in their last clash, but still throws two interceptions. Marcus Williams derails a Steelers drive in the red zone with one of them.

Ravens 24 Steelers 16

Chris Schisler

The Baltimore Ravens will get a victory and sweep the Steelers. The Ravens will protect the football, and the defense will get the takeaways it needs to win the game. This game won’t be pretty, but that’s par for the course in a Ravens vs. Steelers game. The one exciting thing is that this is a chance for the Ravens to get a real introduction to the Kenny Pickett era of Steelers football. Pickett left the last game early in the first quarter after Roquan Smith’s legal but brutal hit landed him in concussion protocol. This game will be shockingly similar to the last game, but Pickett will just supply the Baltimore turnovers this time.

The Ravens will run the ball and hog it, dominating time of possession. Unlike the previous weeks with Huntley, the Ravens won’t get cute with their play-calls. The Ravens are going to end up kicking more field goals than they want to, but the points will add up. These teams will have similar stat lines. In the end, the Ravens will design the game to have one or two more chances to burn the clock and score at least three points. The Ravens win because of turnovers and Justin Tucker. Classic Ravens-Steelers mayhem, right?

Six field goals win the day (this time the special teams will actually block for him). Put the Ravens down for an 18-17 win that will nearly give you heart failure.

Bold Predictions: 

• The Ravens get in the red zone four times and kick a field goal each time.

• JK Dobbins has 80 yards, Gus Edwards has 110, and Huntley picks up 25 on the ground.

• Huntley has 150 passing yards and it’s just enough.

• Marlon Humphrey forces a George Pickens fumble in the fourth quarter that will remind you of his 2019 punch out against JuJu Smith-Schuster.

• Justin Tucker makes four easy field goals and two beyond 50 yards.

• The Ravens sack Kenny Pickett 3 times.

• Roquan Smith has an interception

Ravens 18 Steelers 17

Ron Toothe

It’s Ravens-Steelers under the lights once again, a clash of titans at the quarterback position! Ok…maybe not, but nonetheless there’s still a level of excitement in the air any time the black and gold takes a trip down to The Bank.

As you’d expect, there won’t be fireworks galore on the offensive side of the football in this one, and as cliche as it sounds, it’s simply going to come down to which inexperienced QB makes the fewest mistakes. If the Ravens can establish the run again like they did against the Steelers a few weeks ago, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t come out with a victory and inch closer to a divisional title.

Don’t completely count Pittsburgh out though. Riding the high of an emotional win against the Raiders on Christmas and with a sliver of playoff hope still alive, they’re going to throw absolutely everything at the Ravens on Sunday night, from the deepest darkest depths of their playbook.

Ravens 17 Steelers 16

Chad Racine

It’s difficult to beat a division opponent twice no matter how the teams are playing. The Ravens have already clinched a playoff berth while the Steelers are basically playing to avoid a losing season. With the division within reach I believe the Ravens will be the hungrier team along with the advantage of playing at home.

• Huntley does enough to manage the game and avoid any major mistakes, throwing for one touchdown and zero interceptions.

• Mark Andrews’ passionate fiery attitude shows up on the field with a touchdown reception amidst five for 70 yards.

• Gus and J.K combine for 180 rushing yards and a touchdown for JK.

• Roquan Smith will force a fumble on a sack of Kenny Pickett.

• Marlon Humphrey will only allow George Pickens one catch for under 20 yards.

Ravens 17 Steelers 13

Jared Pinder

It feels great to have Ravens-Steelers back on prime time. What isn’t great is that Huntley is going to be the quarterback for this game and probably the rest of the regular season. The Ravens defense handled their business against the Steelers last time, but with Kenny Pickett playing this game instead of Mitch, the Steelers offense might be a lot better.

The Ravens offense has got to step up and run. Unfortunately, those expectations are long gone. Roman for some dumb reason wants to throw the ball with a backup quarterback and the league’s worst weapons. I will never understand why he does that.

The Ravens have to find a way to win this game. Please just run the ball on a soft Steelers defense.

• J.K. Dobbins runs the ball well and has a touchdown

• Kenny Pickett finds some success and throws for two touchdowns in Marcus Peters‘ absence.

• The Ravens win another close game because Roman wants to get cute and not run the ball.

Ravens 17 Steelers 14