Tag: AFC North

How the Ravens can beat the Steelers to the AFC North title

In spite of the result today, things are still looking better for the Pittsburgh Steelers than they are for the Baltimore Ravens. 

Saturday was, in some ways, the de facto AFC North division title game. The Pittsburgh Steelers could have clinched the division had they won, but the Baltimore Ravens prevailed, 34-17, leaving the race wide open for these final two weeks of the regular season.

Both teams are 10-5, but the Steelers are in first place via tie-breakers. Therefore, neither team can clinch in Week 17.

Either team can claim the AFC North by going 2-0, provided the other team goes 1-1 or 0-2 during the run-in.

That’s self-explanatory, but what happens if the Ravens and Steelers split their final two and thus finish 11-6?

Well, one permutation of outcomes would hand the division title to Baltimore instead of Pittsburgh.

In the early 2000s, Canadian rocker Avril Lavigne asked, “Why’d you have to go and make things so complicated?”

Because we have to; that’s our job here.

It all comes down to the divisional record tie-breaker. If both teams finish 11-6, the Steelers would have to lose at home to the Cincinnati Bengals on January 5, and Baltimore would have to win at home against the Cleveland Browns on the same Sunday.

In other words, this is coming down to the final day, but despite this weekend’s result, the Steelers still look better than the Ravens.

Steelers’ defense makes history for all the wrong reasons vs Ravens

Derrick Henry’s 162-yard rushing performance broke records, marking the most yards by a Ravens RB against the Steelers defense.

While the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers defense has enjoyed tremendous success throughout the season, Week 16’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens will be forever etched in history—at the expense of the Black and Gold.

Heading into the contest, the Pittsburgh Steelers boasted one of the NFL’s best run defenses, but Ravens RB Derrick Henry more than put them to the test—rushing for 162 yards on 24 attempts.

Henry’s Week 16 performance against the Steel City was not only dominant but also historic, as no other Ravens player had ever rushed for more yards against any Steelers defense.

To play devil’s advocate, the Pittsburgh Steelers faced one of the NFL’s greatest running backs of all-time in Henry—who is in the midst of his greatest season to date—while also missing one of the league’s best run defenders, DeShon Elliott, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury.

It is not only understandable why Henry set the Ravens’ rushing record against the Steelers, but it is also a valuable lesson during the regular season—allowing the defense to hone their craft ahead of a potential deep playoff run.

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Steelers’ turnovers and injuries spell disaster in Week 16 loss to Ravens

Injuries and turnovers doomed the Steelers in Week 16, as the Ravens denied them the AFC North title with a 34-17 victory.

Hearts have shattered all throughout the Steel City. With the Pittsburgh Steelers on the cusp of clinching the AFC North, the Baltimore Ravens prevented the Black and Gold from securing the divisional title in Week 16.

The Ravens soundly defeated the Steelers 34-17, with injuries and turnovers playing a huge role throughout the Week 16 contest.

Heading into the matchup, the Pittsburgh Steelers were down several key starters on both sides of the ball: WR George Pickens, SS DeShon Elliott, DT Larry Ogunjobi, and CB Donte Jackson. Black and Gold injuries continued to pile up as the team lost starting CB Joey Porter Jr. and ST/WR Ben Skowronek during the game.

As if this wasn’t bad enough, Russell Wilson’s fumble in the red zone—when he could have easily slid to avoid the big hit—and his costly pick-six all but handed the Ravens the Week 16 victory and potentially the division.

There is little time to correct their mistakes, however, as the Pittsburgh Steelers must now turn their attention to the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day in Week 17.

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Tomlin owns Steelers inability to stop the run vs Ravens

The Steelers couldn’t slow down Derrick Henry and that was the difference in the game.

Of all the things that went wrong for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday against the Baltimore Ravens, none stood out as much as the team’s inability to slow down the Ravens run game.

Baltimore running back Derrick Henry ran roughshod over the Steelers’ defense to the tune of 162 yards on 24 carries. The image of Henry dragging Pittsburgh defenders will dance in our heads all the way until Christmas like sugar plums.

After the game, head coach Mike Tomlin acknowledges the Steelers’ shortcomings in run defense in the most Tomlin way possible.

“We didn’t control the run game,” Tomlin said. “We never did.”

In fairness, the Steelers were minus defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, safety DeShon Elliott and cornerbacks Donte Jackson and Joey Porter Jr. Losing four of 11 starters makes it tough to stop any NFL-caliber offense, much less all the weapons the Ravens bring to the table.

There’s no time for the Steelers to sit around and ponder what went wrong. Pittsburgh is working on a short week and have to prepare to take on the Kansas City Chiefs and their 13-1 record on Christmas day in Pittsburgh.

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Minkah Fitzpatrick broke his ‘turnover curse’ in Week 16 vs Ravens

Minkah Fitzpatrick snagged his first interception of the season in Week 16, a bright spot in the Steelers’ tough loss to the Ravens.

Don’t call it a comeback! Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson gifted Pittsburgh Steelers FS Minkah Fitzpatrick his first interception of the season in the AFC North divisional showdown in Week 16.

Fitzpatrick had previously addressed his lack of splash plays in 2024, attributing it to a lack of opportunities rather than skill issues this season.

With the Baltimore Ravens on the verge of scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter, Fitzpatrick positioned himself perfectly for an interception in the red zone.

Jackson’s intended pass was seemingly aimed at WR Rashod Bateman, who had scored a touchdown earlier in the contest, but pressure from Steelers LB Patrick Queen may have forced the Ravens’ QB to miss his mark.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were unable to capitalize on Fitzpatrick’s turnover, as Steelers QB Russell Wilson threw a pick-six to Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey shortly afterward.

Ultimately, despite the disappointment surrounding the Week 16 contest for the Black and Gold, Fitzpatrick’s return to form against the Ravens should excite fans moving forward.

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Steelers fans call for Diontae Johnson reunion following Ravens exit

Steelers fans are calling for the team to reunite with Diontae Johnson after his surprising release by the Baltimore Ravens.

The fears and doubts surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers’ biggest problem, the wide receiver room, may soon be solved! Fans of the Black and Gold have finally gotten their wish: former Steelers WR Diontae Johnson has been waived by the Baltimore Ravens.

Drama and dropped balls aside, Johnson is one of the most accomplished route runners in the NFL. With that in mind, a reunion with the Pittsburgh Steelers could soon be on the horizon. The Ravens certainly believed so, as it appeared the team was content to allow Johnson to remain on the roster for one extra week to potentially prevent the Steel City from acquiring his talents in time for their Week 16 AFC North showdown.

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense, with a healthy George Pickens, would be near unstoppable with Johnson back as the team’s WR2. After a chaotic and excitement-filled day for Steelers fans, here are some of the best reactions to Diontae Johnson’s exit from the Baltimore Ravens.

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George Pickens’ injury proves Steelers made Roman Wilson-sized mistake

George Pickens’ absence in Week 16 argues that the Steelers must reconsider giving rookie Roman Wilson a chance in the WR room.

The worries of Steelers fans have been confirmed: George Pickens has been ruled OUT for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 16 AFC North showdown with the Baltimore Ravens.

However, his absence from last week’s and this week’s games provides ammunition to the season-long argument regarding the Steelers’ wide receiver room: HC Mike Tomlin and OC Arthur Smith need to give rookie WR Roman Wilson a chance.

It was recently argued by Steelers insider Gerry Dulac that Wilson’s inability to stay healthy during training camp and practices early on in 2024 forced the team to move on from his contributions this year. However, Pickens’ absence should force the team to reconsider.

In the past two games Pickens has missed, QB Russell Wilson struggled to find production out of his receivers and threw for a combined 286 yards in Weeks 14 and 15.

Regardless of Tomlin claiming to have “moved on,” or any insiders believing the rookie receiver will get his chance in 2025, one thing remains certain—the Wilson-to-Wilson connection could be the much-needed medicine for this dying Pittsburgh Steelers offense.

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Cam Heyward tears into controversial Week 15 officiating vs Eagles

Cam Heyward calls out poor officiating in the Week 15 Steelers-Eagles game that saw several questionable penalty decisions made.

As viewers of the Week 15 contest between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles are well aware, the officiating was—to say the least—terrible.

Veteran Steelers DT Cam Heyward took exception with two poor calls in particular, one that saw his little brother TE/FB Connor Heyward being punched, and the other was TE Darnell Washington being slugged by Eagles CB Darius Slay.

On the most recent episode of Not Just Football with Cam Heyward, the Steelers defensive tackle discussed both of the atrocious officiating decisions: “The reasoning behind those two plays just felt idiotic.”

Heyward would continue to rip into the officials’ decisions and vision on these penalties, arguing that it “did not feel like they even looked at the plays.”

Heyward concluded his analysis and criticism of the officials from Week 15’s contest, describing that, at the very least, the penalties should have offset between Washington and Slay.

Heyward will need to recompose himself, as the team has little time to focus on the poor officiating from Week 15. The Pittsburgh Steelers have the potential to take the AFC North title by defeating the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16, and to do so, every bit of energy and effort will need to be spent on stopping the Lamar Jackson-led offense.

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Najee Harris shocked to learn NFL blamed wrong player for his fumble

Najee Harris defends Russell Wilson after NFL credits him with costly fumble, taking full responsibility for the turnover.

Many would assume RB Najee Harris is a massive fan of NFL statistics—after all—it credited a different player with his costly fumble from Week 15’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

However, Harris isn’t looking to shift the blame, and he certainly isn’t happy that the NFL credited the Pittsburgh Steelers’ signal caller for the turnover.

While speaking to reporters on Wednesday—in the build-up to Week 16’s AFC North showdown—Harris was asked his opinion on the NFL crediting QB Russell Wilson with the fumble.

Surprised but smiling, Harris questioned the decision itself: “I wasn’t? That’s crazy.” His attitude quickly took a more serious tone as the running back told reporters, “The stat sheet may say that—but nobody believes that. That was all on me. I don’t know why they put that on Russ.”

While admirable in defense of his teammate and his ability to fault himself for the game-changing turnover, it doesn’t change the narrative—Harris may have lost his team the game in Week 15.

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‘Hard Knocks’ shows what officials said to anger Mike Tomlin vs Eagles

Officials’ unseen exchange with Mike Tomlin highlights one of the worst excuses after a controversial Week 15 Steelers penalty.

Viewers of this week’s new episode of Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North, were treated to what led to Steelers HC Mike Tomlin profanely telling officials to get away from him.

Before Tomlin’s choice words to the officials, he questioned why they decided to call such a heinous penalty on both Steelers players: “Y’all didn’t see that guy throwing punches for Philadelphia?”

The official speaking to Tomlin then provided the most embarrassing excuse one could imagine, claiming the Eagles player was “knocking his hands off him.”

Fans who saw up-close footage of the altercation could clearly see that while Steelers TE Darnell Washington blocked CB Darius Slay Jr. for an extended period, the Eagles cornerback was the first to throw punches.

No wonder Tomlin was so bewildered with the officiating crew during Week 16’s contest between the Steelers and Eagles. Not only was Pittsburgh wrongly penalized for the skirmish, but he was also given one of the worst officiating excuses imaginable.

As the Steelers prepare for the Ravens in Week 16, hopefully the team can put these wrongful penalties behind them, with the stakes higher than ever in the upcoming AFC North showdown—a chance at the divisional title.

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