The Acrisure pigeons never showed up for this aviary arch-rivalry and the Steelers came up short this afternoon, 16-14.
QB Kenny Pickett moved the chains with a couple scrambles but didn’t attempt a pass on the Steelers’ opening drive. He was evaluated for concussion after being slammed head-first to the turf on third down but by the time Justin Tucker knocked through his first FG of the day he was back on the field. 3-0 BAL
Pittsburgh bottled up JK Dobbins and the Ravens offense for two drives. Following a 17-yard punt from Presley Harvin III Dobbins broke through the first layer and didn’t meet resistance until FS Minkah Fitzpatrick rode him out of bounds inside the five. He punched it in one snap later. 10-0 BAL
After leading another three-and-out, Pickett was reportedly “re-evaluated” and medically removed from the game. In his four drop-backs he had a sack, an incompletion and two scrambles for 16 yards. If you can’t do that math, he finished 0/1 passing.
For the second time in a home game this season, the veteran QB Mitch Trubisky relieved his rookie teammate (Buccaneers). After a dropped first down (TE Zach Gentry) and a failed run from HB Najee Harris, on consecutive plays:
- First down to TE Pat Freiermuth crossing the field
- 42-yard explosion to WR George Pickens working on Marlon Humphreys down the left sideline
- DPI on a fade to Pickens in the end zone, again picking on Humphreys
- Went back to the slider, with Najee going over the top. 10-7 BAL
Baltimore converted a 4th&1 in their own territory on their opening drive. This time they tried it from the Steelers’ 34: I thought I was flashing back to last year’s game in Baltimore when Huntley fumbled the snap and was swallowed up for a loss on the aborted play.
Mitch had the Ravens off-balance and the Steelers clicking again, with the help of 5 touches for 25 yards from Najee. He even instigated two neutral zone infraction penalties with a hard count but it all came to a screeching halt when Roquan Smith turned a pass over the middle back the other way.
Pittsburgh’s defense was able to keep Tyler Huntley out of the end zone but they couldn’t keep Baltimore out of Justin Tucker range. 13-7 BAL
Once again, Trubisky had the Steelers marching, thanks to George Pickens. But again he was staring down his receivers over the middle of the field and Patrick Queen read his eyes and pulled in the Ravens’ second INT of the day. The Steelers retreated to the locker room to a smattering of boos.
Tyler Huntley left the game after a heavy, legal hit from FS Minkah Fitzpatrick that left the Ravens with three yards on a 3rd&4. Baltimore once again called on Penn State product Jordan Stout to punt it away.
Mitch appeared to find a groove on the Steelers’ next drive. Wedged in among two unsuccessful runs were passes of 10+ yards to WR Steven Sims (2), Diontae and Najee. But instantly after crossing into Baltimore territory Mitch over-threw a double-covered Diontae in the end zone which turned into his third interception of the afternoon.
The Ravens took possession at their own one yard-line but JK Dobbins quickly afforded them some breathing room. LB TJ Watt forced a fumble and established mutual possession with an offensive player, but in football (as in baseball) a tie goes to the runner. Baltimore maintained possession.
…at least long enough for the reigning defensive player of the year to slam the door shut on 3rd down. He recorded his first sack since the Steelers’ loss against Cincinnati and his first full sack since the season opener at Cincinnati. You knew they couldn’t keep him quiet for long.
Trubisky again marched his boys down into Baltimore territory and stalled out taking a safe, aggressive shot to Diontae, putting the ball where only his guy could get it. Unfortunately the 6’8″ Calais Campbell got into the path of the FG attempt in K Chris Boswell’s return from IR and Pittsburgh again came up empty.
Building on that momentum, the Ravens offense broke off a 13-play, nearly eight-minute drive. They made it to the red zone before the Steelers dug in their heels. It started with a 1st down TFL from MLB Devin Bush and ended with a 3rd down stuff from MLB Robert Spillane. After a scoreless 3rd quarter, another Tucker FG gave the Ravens a two-score lead.
In response Trubisky led a five-play, 75 yard drive in just under a minute that included fantastic catches from Diontae (37 yards), TE Connor Heyward (13 yards) and this 10-yard score to Freiermuth:
I was dubious of Coach Tomlin’s decision to kick it deep with two-and-a-half minutes to play, considering how his defense was getting gashed by the run. DT Cam Heyward got involved in tackles on 1st and 2nd downs (assisting S Terrell Edmunds and DT Montravius Adams Sr) to set up a 3rd&3 but Gus Edwards slipped through for the last first down that mattered.
I should mention that DE Chris Wormley left this game with a knee injury. He walked off under his own power and the team tweeted he was OUT for the game awfully quickly…unfortunately that smells like ACL to me. He’s had at least half a sack in each of the last three games he’s played against his former employer.
FINAL SCORE: 16-14 BAL
Steely Cam 