Category: 2021 Week 13 Steelers vs. Ravens

Steelers HC Mike Tomlin calls criticism from alumni motivating

Mike Tomlin took no offense to the criticism leveled by former players last week.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbydbzmnr1bhxef player_id=none image=https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

The Pittsburgh Steelers took a fair amount of criticism last week from former players about just how poorly this team has played in the previous two weeks. Even Steelers legend Rocky Bleier felt the need to express his frustration at how far this team has strayed from the Steelers way.

I’m sure plenty of players took offense to all the old-timers calling them out but head coach Mike Tomlin wasn’t among them. Tomlin spoke to the media on Monday and he acknowledged the criticisms and said he drew motivation from it. He didn’t view it as insulting in any way and said if those players were currently on the team, they would be saying the same thing.

It’s impossible to know just how much of what was said inspired the team on Sunday but a win is a win and it is especially sweet over the team’s most bitter rival. The real mark of where this team is will come this week. Pittsburgh has a short week to prepare to take on the Minnesota Vikings and will get a few days of nothing but positive comments heading into the game.

[vertical-gallery id=506669]

[listicle id=506738]

5 unsung heroes from the Steelers win over the Ravens

The Steelers had several guys step up this week.

On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers found a way to squeak out a huge upset win over the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers have guys like wide receiver Diontae Johnson and linebacker T.J. Watt to thank for their huge games but we wanted to share with you five guys who should be recognized for what they did. Here are our five unsung heroes.

No folding for Steelers WR Diontae Johnson after huge drop

After an early drop, Diontae Johnson put on a show vs the Ravens.

https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=0Dh69QZEpx-1658085-7498&format=json&offsetx=0&offsety=0&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right&float=on

When the Pittsburgh Steelers offense needed a spark on Sunday, it was wide receiver Diontae Johnson who provided it. But it didn’t seem like it would happen early in the game. The talented wide receiver had been on a tear in 2021 with no drops after leading the league in them in 2020.

But when Johnson dropped an easy touchdown pass from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, everyone wondered how Johnson would rebound.  And oh boy, did he ever rebound.

Johnson came to life in the second half and caught two fourth-quarter touchdowns on his way to his best game of the season. Johnson finished with eight receptions on 11 targets, 105 receiving yards and those two huge touchdown catches.

After the game, Johnson was asked about the drop and how he was able to come back. “Last year I don’t know what I would have done in that situation — probably folded,” Johnson said.

Head coach Mike Tomlin also praised Johnson’s performance and noted that he’s often the first guy on the field and the last one off. You can see how all the hard work has paid off as Johnson is slowly ascending to truly elite status among NFL wideouts.

[vertical-gallery id=506526]

[listicle id=506595]

Did the Ravens make the wrong decision at the end of the game?

The Ravens nearly pulled on a win in regulation.

[mm-video type=video id=01fnprqnkhrdj7vb24hx playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fnprqnkhrdj7vb24hx/01fnprqnkhrdj7vb24hx-3599d15047043a22e5f655f07c95babd.jpg]

Talk about going down to the wire. The Pittsburgh Steelers pulled off a huge upset win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday due at least in part because the Ravens and their head coach John Harbaugh doesn’t live in his fears.

At the end of the game, the Ravens started their final drive on their own 40-yard line and marched right down and scored a quick touchdown to pull within one. However, instead of kicking the extra point with just seconds to play in regulation and heading to overtime, Harbaugh decided to go for it.

The try was close and the play call was perfect. The Steelers were in zero blitz and there was no way Baltimore was running it in. But Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson put the throw just beyond the outstretched hands of Ravens tight end Mark Andrews. If Jackson makes that throw, Andrews walks in as safety Terrell Edmunds was out of position to make a play.

After the game, Harbaugh was blunt about why he did it. His team was almost out of healthy cornerbacks and he wanted to try to win it in regulation. Hard to argue with that. Everything worked perfectly except the throw.

The question I have for all of you is how would you feel if the roles were reversed and that had been Mike Tomlin making the call and missing on it? Let us know in the comments.

 

Steelers HC Mike Tomlin reminds everyone there will be no music at practice

Mike Tomlin cracks a rare joke at a postgame press conference.

https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=F3V6rjrCQ4-1658086-7498&format=json&offsetx=0&offsety=0&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right&float=on

We all saw a very different Mike Tomlin this week after the Pittsburgh Steelers found a way to get past the Baltimore Ravens than we had in previous weeks. An upbeat Tomlin at the postgame press conference seemed to be very relieved his team snapped a three-game winless streak.

One media member asked a light-hearted question about the outstanding game outside linebacker T.J. Watt played after a week without practice and wondered if Watt would ever practice again. Tomlin was ready with his answer.

“Yes, and there won’t be music,” Tomlin mused. This goes back to last week when wide receiver Chase Claypool told reporters he thought the team might practice better if the team played music. An idea Claypool was alone in endorsing.

[vertical-gallery id=506526]

[listicle id=506595]

Steelers hold off Ravens rally for improbable win

Steelers beat the Ravens 20-19.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbydbzmnr1bhxef player_id=none image=https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

No one gave the Pittsburgh Steelers much of a chance against the Baltimore Ravens. But after hearing how bad they are for the last three weeks, the Steelers did everything they had to do and pulled on a huge upset win over the Baltimore Ravens 20-19.

On offense it was all about wide receiver Diontae Johnson. After dropping a sure touchdown in the first half, Johnson came alive in the fourth quarter with two huge touchdown catches. Roethlisberger took control of the offense late in the game and marched the team down the field leaning heavily on Johnson.

Defensively, it was all about pressure. After getting gashed in the run game in the first half, the Steelers defense stiffened and that let them tee off on Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Steelers defense sacked Jackson seven times including 3.5 by linebacker T.J. Watt, 2.5 by Chris Wormley and even Cam Heyward pitched in with one.

The win pushes the Steelers to 6-5-1 and keeps them in the hunt for the playoffs. Pittsburgh now has to prepare for a road game with the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night.

[vertical-gallery id=506526]

[listicle id=506595]

Steelers OL B.J. Finney OUT with back injury

The Steelers are playing backups of backups on the offensive line.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbydbzmnr1bhxef player_id=none image=https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be without starting left guard B.J. Finney for the remainder of today’s game with the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers announced that Finney suffered a back injury in the first quarter and will not return.

Finney was in the starting lineup replacing Kevin Dotson who is on IR. Without Finney, Pittsburgh will count on swing lineman John Leglue to replace him.

The Steelers left tackle Dan Moore Jr. also left the game briefly with an injury but has been able to return.

[vertical-gallery id=506526]

[listicle id=506502]

DLs Isaiah Buggs and Carlos Davis among Steelers inactives vs Ravens

Here are your Steelers inactives for this week.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbydbzmnr1bhxef player_id=none image=https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Well, maybe the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line won’t be better this week after all. The Steelers put out its inactive list for this week’s game with the Baltimore ravens and among them are two seemingly healthy defensive linemen in Isaiah Buggs and Carlos Davis.

Additionally, starting cornerback Joe Haden is inactive again this week as he continues to deal with a foot injury. Quarterback Dwayne Haskins and running back Anthony McFarland round the inactives.

The Steelers will have defensive linemen Isaiahh Loudermilk and Cam Heyward against Baltimore. Both players missed Friday practice with an illness but are good to go. As is outside linebacker T.J. Watt who spent the week on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.

[vertical-gallery id=506526]

[listicle id=506502]

Steelers vs Ravens: 5 bold predictions for this week’s game

Najee Harris gets his numbers but the Steelers can’t pull off the upset.

The last three weeks have been a nightmare for the Pittsburgh Steelers. After winning four in a row, the Steelers have gone 0-2-1 in their last three and are on the outside looking in for the playoffs. This week the Steelers continue to hold onto the season by a thread but things don’t look great.

Here are our five bold predictions for this week and spoiler alert, they aren’t all good.