The Baltimore Ravens advanced to the divisional round of the NFL playoffs with a 28-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The score is closer than the game was. Our Steelers vs Ravens Wild Card recap analyzes how Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry carried Baltimore to victory with dominating, efficient performances. They are a viable Super Bowl threat.
Baltimore easily covered the 9-point spread.
Baltimore Got Off to a Running Start
From the outset, it was clear that Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Todd Monken wanted to establish their ground game. And what better way to do that than with Henry and Jackson?
Ironically, John Harbaugh, Jackson, and the Ravens did precisely what the head coach’s older brother — Chargers head coach, Jim Harbaugh — did not do with quarterback Justin Herbert in their blowout loss to the Texans: They adhered to the plan that got them to the playoffs in the first place.
The Steelers were sixth best in the league at stopping the run? Yeah. We don’t care.
Late Hall of Fame Raiders owner/GM/coach Al Davis railed at his coaches and players who espoused the theory, “Take what they give you” meaning tailoring the attack to what opponents allow, i.e. if they focus on stopping the deep pass, then take the shorter pass and stick to the run. Davis would utter an expletive and say, “We take what we want!”
Jackson ran wild early. On the Ravens’ first drive of the game, he ran the ball five consecutive times, setting the tone for the eventual 15-yard TD pass to Rashod Bateman.
They led 21-0 at the half.
Henry got in on the fun, rushing for 186 yards on 26 carries. He made sure the Steelers knew precisely what they were in for in the first quarter with a classic Henry stiff arm.
Henry doesn’t run over defensive backs who dare try to tackle him. The future Hall of Famer removes their soul from their body.
Once the score reached 21-0 and 28-7 with slightly over 20 minutes remaining in the game, Pittsburgh was done.
Back to the Drawing Board for Pittsburgh
Analyzing the Steelers’ 2024 season hinges on perspective. If they had made the playoffs with a 10-7 record in a season where most reputable prognosticators saw them as a .500 team at best and got blown off the field by a superior Ravens team, it might be easier to swallow.
Instead, they started the season a surprising 10-3. With their stout defense led by T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Alex Highsmith, and Minkah Fitzpatrick; a powerful running game of Najeh Harris and Jaylen Warren; and a veteran quarterback Russell Wilson, maybe they could make a Super Bowl run.
However, they ended the season with five straight losses. Admittedly, the schedule was akin to running the gauntlet, but in a results-oriented business, five consecutive defeats are what they are. Head coach Mike Tomlin would say the same thing.
Fans and media calling for Tomlin’s head because the Steelers have not won a playoff game since 2016 need to look at the Jets to understand what happens when front offices cave to outside pressure. If he was fired, he would have a head coaching job if he wanted one in two days. Or he could walk into a broadcasting booth and be an immediate star in that realm.
Still, they have a big problem at quarterback. Since Ben Roethlisberger retired, they have gone through Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, Justin Fields, and Wilson. None are/were the answer. Whether Tomlin is there or not, they’re not getting past Baltimore, Buffalo, or Kansas City without a long-term solution under center.
The Ravens Await Their Divisional Foe
As the number 3 seed, Baltimore has two possible opponents: Houston or Buffalo.
If Denver, the 7 seed, beats number 2 seed Buffalo, the Broncos will play top seed Kansas City. But if, as expected(?), Buffalo beats Denver, the Texans will go to Kansas City and the Ravens go to Buffalo. A Denver win, and the Ravens host number 4 seed Houston. The Broncos play the Chiefs.
The Ravens want the home game and they dominated the Texans on Christmas Day 31-2.
As the Steelers vs Ravens Wild Card recap shows, Baltimore fears no one. But when assessing the games, it’s important to remember past matchups while looking at the current landscape.
After the beating the Texans gave the Chargers, the Ravens might be better off playing the Bills.
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