Steeler Nation doesn’t just reside in the surrounding areas of Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. It is a world-wide army that lives and dies with the team that calls Pittsburgh it’s home. The six-time Super Bowl champions always strive for excellence, and their fans expect nothing less.
This is the preview that all fans of the black and gold come to find everything they need to know about the Steelers and their upcoming opponent! Mike Drakulich (@PghSportsNation) of Steelers Wire brings you inside the huddle for both teams, providing a weekly game story, the Steelers game plan to victory, score prediction, game day information, a detailed breakdown of each team, and up to date team injury reports. Heck, you’ll even know the weather at kickoff. The only thing you’re missing is a game uniform.
Steelers and Ravens battle for first place in the AFC North
There are a few things in life that are guaranteed.
Death, taxes, and… Steelers-Ravens bloodbaths.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens square up at least twice a year, and in the aftermath of each game, you can count on many players spending the next day and the rest of the week healing up from a bruising battle on the field.
This week will be no different.
When the undefeated Steelers (6-0) travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens (5-1) this Sunday afternoon, first place will be the prize on the line between the two bitter rivals. If the Steelers win, they will gain a huge advantage, going up two games in the standings with a victory in hand.
The Ravens defense has brought down the opposing quarterback 22 times this year, and they will try to solve a Pittsburgh offensive line that has only allowed their star QB to be sacked just eight times so far in 2020.
The Ravens will definitely be bringing the pressure this week via blitz.
“This is a defense that brings guys from everywhere,” said Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Big Ben has been cool as the other side of the pillow against blitzes this year, completing 59.5% of his passes, the 4th best completion rate in the NFL under pressure.
“You’re not going to fool him,” Steelers offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner said. “You may beat someone individually and get pressure, but as a general rule, there isn’t pressure that puts him in a panic situation.”
Last week was the first time in quite awhile that the Steeler offense took the opening drive in for a touchdown, and Big Ben and his offense would like to continue that success this week vs a vulnerable Raven’s secondary.
Pittsburgh will also look to control the clock and the ball, keeping the best player from the enemy team’s offense watching from the sidelnes.
Last week it was Derrick Henry, who the Steelers held in check with just 75 yards rushing allowed.
This week it will be Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson they’d like to limit as much as possible.
“When you have an offense as good as Baltimore’s with a player as dynamic as him and a lot of guys on offense, you have to try to keep them on the sideline,” Roethlisberger said after practice Wednesday. “We were able to do that early in the game last week.”
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin agrees.
“We wanted to possess the ball,” Tomlin said. “There are so many ways you can possess the ball – short passes, high-completion percentages allow you to do that along with running it.”
Pittsburgh has won the time of possession in five of their six games. That has been a big reason they have started off 6-0. Now Pittsburgh just needs to learn to put teams away when having a big lead.
“I can’t say enough about all parties involved from that standpoint,” Tomlin said. “Ben with his accurate throws and decision making, the protection and can’t say enough about the receivers in some instances making combat catches and run after (the catch) – things of that nature, things we need to do collectively well in an effort to be good offensively in this league.”
The Steelers are 3rd in the NFL converting 51.1% of their 3rd downs, a key in keeping the ball and putting up points.
“They are executing,” Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said. “They are protecting the quarterback, and they are executing. They are making throws, they are making catches, they are scheming to get guys open. They handle pressure well, and they are executing on third downs, and that’s why those drives are being extended.”
The Ravens are giving up a league-low 17.3 points per game, and the Steelers are looking forward to putting a dent into that average.
“We hope to drive down every time and put points on the board,” wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster said. “It’s mainly staying positive. We want to come out in the first half and dominate and then come out in the second half and keep dominating and never let up.”
Prediction
Steelers vs Ravens. Just mentioning those two teams in the same breath raises the pulse and gets football fans salivating. The Steelers will be out for a little payback from last season when they faced their rivals without their future hall of fame quarterback under center.
Pittsburgh has passed all six tests this season, including dispatching the formerly undefeated Titans last week in Tennessee. If it weren’t for a few mental mistakes, the Steelers should have cruised to an easy victory instead of hanging on for dear life as they did. Baltimore has played one very good team as well, that being Kansas City, in which they were handed their teeth by 14 points. Just like we mentioned last week, Pittsburgh is the better team, from top to bottom than Baltimore is. The Steelers have far more playmakers than the Ravens do, and that includes defensively, where this game, like so many before them has in this rivalry, will be won. It will be close and it will be a hard hitting affair, but when the clock strikes zero at M&T Bank Stadium, it will be… Steelers 24 Ravens 20.
Steelers game plan to victory
Offense
- No turnovers: Last week witnessed the Steelers turning the ball over to Tennessee three times. They escaped with their lives in a game that should’ve been a blowout. If that happens this week, they won’t be as fortunate. Ben Roethlisberger needs to be smarter in situational football.
- Control the clock: Roethlisberger and his offense need to establish a better balance in play-calling, especially with big leads. Grind out the ground game with James Conner, chip away in the passing attack with a variety of patterns– both short and long downfield to keep the Raven’s defense on their heels.
- Utilize all weapons: Who will step up this week? Diontae Johnson? Juju Smith-Schuster? Chase Claypool? Week after week, Pittsburgh has found a weak spot in opposing defenses and elevated one of these three to cause major damage. Baltimore has a good defense, but they can be passed on, especially if Jimmy Smith is limited or out. Find the weak link and turn Big Ben loose.
Defense
- Shutdown Ravens rushing attack: Like Tennessee, which thrived off its run game, Baltimore is exactly the same, if not more dependent on running the ball, controlling the clock, and keeping its defense rested up between series. If Lamar Jackson is forced to throw to win, Pittsburgh’s defense will come up with a few turnovers. Mark Ingram is hurting, and yes, Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins run well, but as Derrick Henry learned, running against Pittsburgh is a whole different story.
- Keep Lamar Jackson inside the tackles: Jackson leads the team in rushing, so he will have designed rush plays as well as runs when flushed from the pocket. He is more dangerous in open space, so it would be best to bottle him up, and when you do get to him, you make him pay physically with big hits. Make Jackson think twice about how much he wants to take a lick before taking off with that ball.
A look at the Pittsburgh Steelers
Overall record: 6-0
Head coach: Mike Tomlin (13th Season with Steelers)
- Overall regular-season record: 139-74-1
- Playoff record: 8-7 (Qualified for playoffs 8 times)
2020 Pittsburgh Steelers Team Roster
Steelers Team/Individual Statistics
Pittsburgh Steelers 2020 Schedule
Last game: Steelers 27 Tennessee 24
Steelers offense
- Points per game: 30.5
- Total yards per game: 358.7
- Passing yards per game: 229
- Rushing yards per game: 129.7
Scouting report: Ben Roethlisberger is playing as good as he ever has in his eventual HOF career. Big Ben has 13 touchdowns so far and passed for 1,446 yards and three interceptions.
Juju Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson, and Chase Claypool lead a talented trio of wide receivers. Johnson has 24 receptions for 227 yards and three TDs. Claypool is having a big rookie year with 18 catches for a team-leading 333 yards and four TDs. Claypool also has rushed for 21 yards and two more touchdowns. Smith-Schuster leads the team with 32 catches for 279 yards and three touchdowns. James Washington (17-185-1) can line up in a few spots and usually comes up with some big catches. TE’s Eric Ebron and Vance McDonald give Big Ben huge targets across the middle and down in the red zone. Ebron now has 22 catches for 215 yards and a TD.
James Conner can put up numbers when he is healthy, and so far, so good. Conner has rushed for 451 yards and four scores and has 15 receptions for 112 yards. Benny Snell looks good in his 2nd year, leaner and a hint faster. He rushed for 113 yards in the opener when Conner sustained an ankle injury and has 167 overall. Anthony McFarland, Jr. has been plugged into the rushing attack and has run for 56 yards on 13 carries.
Ray-Ray McCloud has been used as an x-factor type weapon, gaining 63 yards on two carries, and has five catches for 24 yards.
This is an offense capable of putting up big numbers weekly, especially if they start finishing drives in the endzone instead of settling for field goals.
The Steelers are 6th in the NFL averaging 30.5 points per game.
Starting Quarterback: Ben Roethlisberger / Back-up: Mason Rudolph
Running Backs: James Conner, Benny Snell, Anthony McFarland, Jr., and Jaylen Samuels
Fullback: Derek Watt
Wide Receivers: Juju Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson, James Washington, Chase Claypool, and Ray-Ray McCloud III
Tight Ends: Eric Ebron, Vance McDonald, and Zach Gentry
Offensive Line
Left Tackle: Alejandro Villanueva
Left Guard: Matt Feiler
Center: Maurkice Pouncey
Right Guard: David DeCastro / Kevin Dotson
Right Tackle: Chukwuma Okorafor
Steelers Defense (Base 3-4)
- Points per game allowed: 19.7
- Total offense yards per game allowed: 286.3
- Passing yards allowed: 217.5
- Rushing yards allowed: 68.8
- Sacks: 26
- Interceptions: 8
Scouting report: One of the top units in the NFL. They are fast and physical. Pittsburgh defends the run well and puts constant pressure on opposing quarterbacks with a variety of blitzes. Cam Heyward anchors the defensive line and is a yearly all-pro, with the vastly underappreciated Stephon Tuitt and Tyson Alualu alongside him. Tuitt has four sacks in 2020.
OLB T.J. Watt is one of the best defensive players in the NFL, and he is aided by Bud Dupree on the other side. Watt and Dupree have combined for 10.5 sacks. Inside LB Vince Williams is stout against the run, as is the hard-hitting Robert Spillane, who replaced star LB Devin Bush who tore his ACL.
Minkah Fitzpatrick leads an impressive secondary with two good corners in Joe Haden and Steven Nelson. Terrell Edmunds never gets the credit he deserves but is always around the ball.
Mike Hilton is the most unheralded player on the defense, a do-everything player in Pittsburgh’s nickel package. Hilton has three sacks, one interception, and 29 tackles in just five games.
The splash play Steelers have recorded 26 sacks so far and eight interceptions.
Defensive End: Cam Heyward
Defensive Tackle: Tyson Alualu
Defensive End: Stephon Tuitt
Left OLB: T.J. Watt
Left ILB: Robert Spillane
Right ILB: Vince Williams
Right OLB: Bud Dupree
Cornerback: Joe Haden
Strong Safety: Terrell Edmunds
Free Safety: Minkah Fitzpatrick
Cornerback: Steven Nelson
*Nickle: Mike Hilton
Special Teams
Placekicker: Chris Boswell
- Extra Points: 20-21
- 1-19 yards: 0-0
- 20-29 yards: 2-2
- 30-39 yards: 5-5
- 40-49 yards: 2-2
- 50+ yards: 0-0
Scouting report: Chris Boswell is solid as ever at placekicker. Ray-Ray McCloud is making a name for himself, averaging 26.3 yards per kickoff return, and 18.1 per punt return.
Punter: Jordan Berry
Kickoff Returners: Anthony McFarland, Jr. and Ray-Ray McCloud
Punt Returner: Ray-Ray McCloud
A look at the Baltimore Ravens
Overall record: 5-1
Head coach: John Harbaugh (13th season with Ravens)
- Overall regular-season record: 121-75
- Playoff record: 10-7
Baltimore Team/Individual Statistics
Last game: Ravens 30 Eagles 28
Ravens Offense
- Points per game: 29.8
- Total Offense per game: 342.2
- Passing yards per game: 177.8
- Rushing yards per game: 164.3
Scouting report: Lamar Jackson is having a good, but not great year, as compared to last season. Jackson and the Ravens offense is averaging 29.8 points per game. They are very balanced and efficient on offense, only gaining 342.2 yards per game, only 177.8 through the air, but 164.3 on the ground.
Jackson leads the team with 346 yards rushing with two touchdowns. He has thrown for 1,135 yards with 10 TD’s and just two interceptions.
Jackson’s favorite target is WR Marquise Brown, who leads Baltimore with 26 catches for 376 yards and one touchdown. Willie Snead IV (11-149-1), Myles Boykin (11-122-0), and Devin Duvernay (10-90-0) round out the receiving corps but don’t do much damage.
Tight end Mark Andrews is Jackson’s big target, having found the endzone five times off of 20 receptions for 243 yards. Nick Boyle has turned in nine receptions for 63 yards and a pair of TD’s.
Mark Ingram is the lead back but has been battling the injury bug. He has rushed for 225 yards and two touchdowns. Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins will both see plenty of carries during the game. Edwards has 218 yards with Dobbins gaining 154, but Dobbins does have 11 receptions for 74 yards.
Starting Quarterback: Lamar Jackson / Back-up: Robert Griffin III
Running Backs: Mark Ingram II, Gus Edwards, and J.K. Dobbins
Wide Receivers: Marquise Brown, Willie Snead IV, Myles Boykin, and Devin Duvernay
Tight Ends: Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle
*Injured
Ravens Defense (Base 4-3)
- Points per game allowed: 17.3
- Total offense yards per game allowed: 339.8
- Passing yards allowed: 230.8
- Rushing yards allowed: 109
- Sacks: 22
- Interceptions: 3
Scouting report: Allowing an NFL league-best 17.3 points per game. They might not be the Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Terrell Suggs Raven defenses of the past, but they get the job done, as did their predecessors. Baltimore has collected 22 sacks, with DE Calais Campbell leading the team with four. LB’S Tyus Bowser, Matthew Judon, Patrick Queen, and Pernell McPhee all have two sacks each. CB Marlon Humphrey has 2.5 sacks and one interception. Queen leads the team with 44 tackles.
If the Ravens have weakness defensively, it’s in the secondary, where they are giving up 230.8 yards per game through the air.
Special Teams
Placekicker: Justin Tucker
- Extra Points: 20-20
- 1-19 yards: 0-0
- 20-29 yards: 2-2
- 30-39 yards: 3-3
- 40-49 yards: 7-7
- 50+ yards: 1-2
Scouting report: Justin Tucker remains as one of the leagues best kickers. KR Devin Duvernay is very dangerous in returns. He is averaging 34.4 yards per return with one touchdown. James Proche is the punt returner averaging 8.7 yards a return.
Game Day Information
Venue: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD.
Field: Bermuda Grass
Game-time: Sunday, November 1st, 1:00 pm
TV: CBS (Local on KDKA-TV)
- Announcers: Jim Nantz (play-by-play) Tony Romo (analyst) Tracy Wolfson (reporter)
Local radio: Pittsburgh- 102.5 WDVE-FM & 970 WBGG-AM
- Announcers: Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play) Tunch Ilkin (analyst) Craig Wolfley (sideline) Missi Matthews (sideline)
Internet broadcast: Steelers Nation Radio (SNR) on Steelers.com
Weather at kickoff: 63 with a 60% chance of rain. Winds SW 10-20 mph.
Vegas line: Baltimore -4
NFL Standings / NFL Scoreboard
Steelers vs Ravens history
Steelers are 28-24 overall vs Ravens
- Series History: Began in 1996
- At home: 17-11
- On the road: 11-13
- Postseason: 3-1
- Streak: Ravens won the last two games.
- Last regular-season meeting: Ravens Win, 28-10 (Dec. 29, 2019)
- Last postseason meeting: Ravens Win, 30-17 (Jan. 3, 2015)
Injury report (10/30/20)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Out: LB Devin Bush (Knee), NT Chris Wormley (Knee)
- Doubtful: S Jordan Dangerfield (Quadriceps), LB Ulysses Gilbert (Back)
- Questionable: CB Mike Hilton (Shoulder), FB Derek Watt (Hamstring)
Baltimore Ravens
- Out: None
- Doubtful: RB Mark Ingram II (Ankle), CB Jimmy Smith (Achilles), NT Brandon Williams (NIR)
- Questionable: DB/LB Anthony Levine (Abdomen)
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