Tag: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens

It’s too bad Steelers QB Mason Rudolph won’t face elite Ravens defense

It’s one thing to go in and pass for 567 yards and two scores versus subpar defenses and another to put up similar numbers versus an elite defense.

It’s one thing to go in and pass for 567 yards and two scores versus two subpar defenses and another to put up similar numbers versus an elite defense. But it appears Mason Rudolph won’t have that opportunity when the Pittsburgh Steelers head to Baltimore on Saturday to take on the Ravens.

It’s too early for Ravens head coach John Harbaugh to say definitively who will be playing in the 2023 season finale. But they’ve clinched the AFC’s No. 1 seed, and Harbaugh could easily rest his starters.

“I have not made any decisions on personnel yet,” Harbaugh said in his press conference on Monday. “We’ve got to kind of work through the injury part of it first. That’ll take us probaly 24 to 48 hours to get a real handle on that, and then we’ll make those decisions. We’re not going to keep it a secret. We’ll let you know what we’re going to do once we start practicing.”

Even if starters are rotated to stay fresh, Rudolph won’t be facing the typical lineup that’s earned the Ravens a ninth-ranked pass defense. Baltimore has surrendered the league’s fewest passing touchdowns (17) this season while boasting a pass rush with the most sacks with 57.

In a sport rife with injury, you’re only as good as your depth. And the Ravens are pretty darn good, so whether they play their reserves or not, Mason Rudolph will face his toughest test on Saturday.

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Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt’s injury leaves status vs. Ravens up in the air

Fans held their breath as T.J. Watt went down late in the Steelers 30-23 victory over the Seahawks.

Fans held their breath as T.J. Watt went down late in the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-23 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

In an attempt to sack Geno Smith, Watt was held by tackle Stone Forsythe and pancaked awkwardly to the turf. He was helped up but walked off the field under his own power. He re-entered the game after taking off a couple of snaps.

After the game, Mike Tomlin said about Watt: “T.J. got injured in-game, but I think he’s gonna be okay.”

The undisclosed injury could limit Watt’s practice this week but shouldn’t affect his availability for Pittsburgh’s season finale versus the Baltimore Ravens.

It was a quiet contest for Watt, who finished with just two tackles and a quarterback hit.

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Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt fined $25k for doing his job vs. Ravens

T.J. Watt did all it with a dislocated finger. Dude is an alien. 

As is customary every Saturday during the season, the NFL fined players for what they deem unnecessary infractions. Pittsburgh Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt was one of the lucky ones, fined $25,132 on two separate violations: Unsportsmanlike conduct ($13,659) for removing his helmet after a game-sealing sack celebration and unnecessary roughness ($11,473) for striking receiver Zay Flowers.

As a defender, Watt had to presume Flowers would make an easy catch, and his job was to knock it out. Only the rookie receiver heard footsteps and didn’t come down with it.

It’s an absurd reason to fine a player, but the helmet infraction dates back two decades-plus. It’s a clear rule that Watt was aware of (and didn’t care), especially after a flag was thrown for it.

Watt did all of the above with a dislocated finger. Dude is an alien.

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Steelers gave rookie Broderick Jones ‘no help’ in first career start vs. Ravens

Steelers rookie tackle Broderick Jones only needed one game as a starter to prove his time is now.

The Pittsburgh Steelers gave rookie offensive tackle Broderick Jones no help versus the Baltimore Ravens. But he didn’t appear to need it.

“He was terrific,” NFL analyst Brian Baldinger said in his film breakdown. “Really sound.”

Jones handled himself like a veteran versus former first-overall defensive end/linebacker Jadevon Clowney. According to Pro Football Focus Ultimate, he allowed no sacks and just a 2.6 percent pressure rate in 38 pass-blocking snaps.

“He’s on an island with Jadeveon Clowney, no problems. They gave him absolutely no help. He was out there on his own… He stops Jadeveon Clowney in two steps. It’s beautiful. You can’t get any better on the island.”

In 28 run-blocking snaps, Jones did his best work on outside zone and man, offering five plays with a positive grade on those run concepts.

Offensive line coach Pat Meyer said on Thursday that they’ll have to evaluate everything once Dan Moore Jr. (knee) is healthy enough to return. But the Steelers would be crazy to put Moore back in at starter.

 

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Pittsburgh’s inactives list for Steelers vs. Ravens

Pat Freiermuth among inactives for Steelers-Ravens.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have seven inactive players versus the Baltimore Ravens.

Steelers Inactives
No. 2 QB Mason Rudolph (3rd QB)
No. 6 P Pressley Harvin
No. 48 RB Godwin Igwebuike
No. 65 OL Dan Moore Jr.
No. 78 OL James Daniels
No. 88 TE Pat Freiermuth
No. 98 DE DeMarvin Leal

Ravens Inactives
No. 5 CB Jalyn Armour-Davis
No. 17 QB Josh Johnson (3rd QB)
No. 71 OL Sala Aumavae-Laulu
No. 78 T Morgan Moses
No. 88 TE Charlie Kolar
No. 99 LB Odafe Oweh

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What the Ravens’ laundry list of injuries means for Steelers

Key players will be sidelined for the big Cleveland Browns-Baltimore Ravens clash this afternoon.

Key players will be sidelined for the big Cleveland Browns-Baltimore Ravens clash this afternoon.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported a laundry list of injured players, which includes several Ravens starters. Receivers Rashod Bateman (hamstring) and Odell Beckham Jr. (ankle), All-Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey (foot) and linebacker Odafe Oweh (ankle) are all out, with several others listed as questionable. Outside linebacker David Ojabo (ankle/knee) was moved to injured reserve, with veteran Kyle Van Noy brought in to replace him. Offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley is doubtful with a knee and isn’t expected to play.

As for the Browns, it appears quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder) will be good to go from an injury standpoint, but he’s shown to struggle against defenses that are any good. And the Ravens’ defense is very good so far. The 7th-overall ranked unit has held opponents to an average of 18 points per game, 200 yards passing and 92 yards rushing per game.

Given how tight the division is, the outcome will be significant for the Pittsburgh Steelers once playoff seeding is determined later this year.

How does this affect Pittsburgh? They’re next on Baltimore’s hit list and resting this week could have most ready to roll on October 8. If that’s the case, barring any new injuries versus the Browns, the Steelers could be contending with a fairly healthy Ravens roster.

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