The Ravens defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-14 in the wild card round. RSR staff react to the win here.
Kevin McNelis
As I type this, I’m walking to my car in the dark and cold, and I couldn’t be happier. The Ravens did what they set out to do, and ended the season of their most hated rival. They ran all over the Steelers, wearing them down even when it looked like the defense was starting to let up. It wasn’t perfect, but there was rarely a game this season that was. As long as they maintain their composure in the face of those down periods, they can beat the best of ‘em playing like that.
The D-line stepped up to clamp down when it mattered, and the run game bled the clock and closed it out. Now to rest, recover, and await the next foe.
Derek Arnold
Without Zay Flowers, the Ravens came out leaning HEAVILY on their running game, with incredible results, 299 yards on the ground before the final kneedown. The Lamar Jackson–Derrick Henry combo was postseason ready from the opening gun, with Jackson running on five or six consecutive plays at one point on an early drive, and Henry breaking into the open field and dribbling Minkah Fitzpatrick‘s head off the turf. Jackson’s first TD pass to Rashod Bateman was an incredible throw, threading the needle between two Steelers.
Scoring with two seconds on the clock to end the first half and make the score 21-0 had this one looking like a blowout, with Pittsburgh completely demoralized.
Pittsburgh wasn’t dead though, putting together a 98-yard touchdown drive and then another score on the back of some Russ Wilson moonballs. The pass defense was disappointing on those sequences, and many of us were having flashbacks from some of the big blown leads of the not-too-distant past. But Justin Madubuike and Odafe Oweh came through with huge sacks at key moments and Pittsburgh never got within less than 14. Josh Allen was probably taking some notes watching Brandon Stephens continue to get picked on.
That’s a problem for another day, though. The Ravens sent the Steelers packing in the postseason for the second time, we’ve got Lamar Jackson and King Henry on our side, and life is good, Flock.
Jared Pinder
Well, the Ravens did what they needed to do. The team got off to a blazing 21-0 start, and then they let the foot off the gas a bit. The defense was good; these moonballs thrown Stephens’s way are constant easy money, making the entire defense look bad. Stephens is a huge disappointment, but nothing will change on that front. We just have to hope that the defense’s sums are more significant than their flaws and find ways to make critical stops late. Do that, and we will know what the offense is all about. The game plan on the offensive side was perfect as Henry and Lamar both got it going on the ground, and Lamar played like the MVP he is.
We must now root for the Broncos to get a home playoff game for the divisional round. No excuses. Just win.
Nick Polinsky
This was a perfect display of hard nosed football that wins you playoff games. Touchdown drives with 13 straight runs on 13 plays. Derrick Henry rushing for 186 and the team rushing for 299 as a whole.
Lamar Jackson once again played mistake free football and threw a few frozen ropes to push the ball down the field.
The defense is locked in, and I think this team is ready to handle anything that’s thrown their way.
Chad Racine
I’ll keep this short and sweet because I’m leaving the game now. Ravens just pounced the division rival where they were 9.5 point favorites by 14 points. Henry rushed for a record 186 yards. One drive was 13 straight runs I believe. I think the Ravens are ready for anyone right now.
Nikhil Mehta
300 rushing yards. That’s all you really need to know about this game. There’s not a team in the NFL – now or ever – that can withstand that in a frigid January playoff game.
There were hiccups – namely, two deep touchdowns from Russell Wilson – but the Ravens never felt like they were going to lose this game. They stuck to their identity on both sides of the ball and never wavered in their determination.
Roquan Smith called this game “an appetizer on the menu,” and he’s right. The Steelers were the coldest team coming into the playoffs and were unable to complement their scores with stops on defense. But there’s still something to be said for beating – no, demolishing your biggest rival at home in the playoffs, especially in such classic AFC North fashion.
Rob Shields
The Ravens dominated the Steelers and did something that doesn’t normally happen in this series..they left no doubt.
After taking a 21-0 lead going into halftime, the only thing that could stop the Ravens was a turnover. They avoided doing that, which made the game almost impossible for the Steelers to win.
The Ravens were and are the clearly superior team and Pittsburgh just had no answer for the Ravens running game. Derrick Henry has the stats and he dominated the game but as Mike Tomlin talked about in the press conference, “8” was in total control and they had no answer for him. Lamar didn’t have to pass it much but when he did, he was efficient and the Ravens moved the ball at will. Credit to the defense for shutting them down for most of the game but a couple of blown assignments on the back end did allow them to get back into things.
Overall though, it was a dominant effort and a much needed playoff win for Lamar and the Ravens.
5 Responses
Game well played, a real curb stomping! Stephen’s is going to be the death of us if we can’t get him figured out. I’m surprised it took the Steelers as long as it did to go at him. 1 down 3 to go!
This has been a crazy season. It took awhile but now everything seems to be clicking after the defensive changes. Less penalties, another masterpiece by Lamar and the King, very good defensive play with a few hiccups.
It appears we are trending up at the right time. Stay healthy and zoned in and this could be another parade worthy season. I would have never felt this way earlier in the season, even 6 weeks ago. Everything seems to be aligning.
My only worry right now is do we get away from the game plan. WHAT if we fall behind early? Do we stay the course. Is this team mentally tough enough to overcome adversity. I don’t know but with the recent play I am beginning to look at this team differently. I believe.
Ravens O line and Henry are peaking. Defense needs to get better in the secondary. On to the next victory.
I was pleased with the game plan of overwhelming the steelers w/ our run game…it worked. But I don’t see that happening against the Bills or Chiefs so the WR/TE better be ready to shoulder the burden the rest of the way.
As for Brandon Stephens, he stinks and he will be picked on from the get go the rest of the way. He is the weakest link BY FAR on the defense and I see it being a major problem. I can see the why they went so run heavy….dominate the TOP so Stephens can stay hidden on the sidelines.
Ravens coaching staff better be taking some detailed notes on the Broncos/Bills game today.
A very strong, convincing performance by the Bmore Ravens (minus Zay Flowers) against a Steelers team essentially at full strength with all their players available to play. That’s a strong opponent. Pickens was contained. Our dream of a two-headed monster with Lamar and Henry (plus all our other very notable/significant weapons) was on full display for all to see during the first half. Wish we had the two-headed monster for last year’s playoff run. We need to give Brandon Stephens help, or something.