PITTSBURGH — The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Buffalo Payments confronted off on Sunday, however the AFC’s finest group might have performed earlier within the day in Pittsburgh.
OK, it’s untimely to name the Pittsburgh Steelers the AFC’s prime group. However Sunday’s 18-16 win over the Baltimore Ravens did reinforce Pittsburgh’s standing as one of many NFL’s finest groups and a authentic Tremendous Bowl contender. Whereas the remainder of the NFL world could also be simply now realizing it, the Steelers have lengthy felt like they belong among the many league’s higher echelon.
“It is one thing that we speak about,” Steelers cornerback and reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month Beanie Bishop Jr. stated throughout a one-on-on interview with CBS Sports activities. “This group has six Tremendous Bowls. They know what it takes. Simply attempting to convey the Lombardi again to Pittsburgh. All people is right here for a purpose. … We’re making a push to win the AFC North and win a Tremendous Bowl this 12 months.”
So far as profitable the North, the Steelers (8-2) strengthened their possibilities of profitable that on Sunday, their first recreation of the 12 months towards a divisional foe. The Steelers protection was dominant towards the Ravens, holding reigning league MVP Lamar Jackson to 16 of 33 passing and Derrick Henry to 65 yards on the bottom. The Steelers protection additionally pressured three turnovers (that led to half of their level tally) along with stopping Baltimore’s 2-point conversion try that may have tied the rating with simply over a minute left.
Fittingly, Sunday’s most spectacular play was turned in by a Steelers defender, when rookie linebacker Payton Wilson picked off Jackson on a deep cross halfway by way of the fourth quarter that arrange the final of Chris Boswell’s six subject objectives.
WHAT A PLAY @payton_wilson21
Stream on NFL+: https://t.co/COxKRnr6Mc pic.twitter.com/HrLSYaBOrB
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 17, 2024
The Steelers protection began and ended the half with pressured turnovers that led to Boswell subject objectives. The latter of these turnovers was former Raven Patrick Queen’s pressured and recovered fumble deep in Baltimore territory. The turnover and Boswell’s subsequent subject purpose gave the Steelers a 9-7 halftime lead after the Ravens had simply taken their first lead moments earlier.
Baltimore (7-4) wasn’t at its finest on Sunday. Much like its Week 8 loss in Cleveland, the Ravens beat themselves with inexcusable penalties, dropped passes and breakdowns within the secondary. Jackson additionally struggled along with his accuracy all day. However the Steelers protection had quite a bit to do with the Ravens’ lack of offensive success, too.
Jackson was sacked twice, however he was continually hounded by T.J. Watt (who had the primary of Pittsburgh’s two sacks) and the remainder of Pittsburgh’s cross rushers. When he did get the ball off, Jackson had a number of of his passes batted down by ageless defensive deal with Cameron Heyward, who’s again to his Professional Bowl kind this 12 months after accidents hindered him all of final season.
“For the again finish, simply plaster your man,” Bishop stated when requested in regards to the Steelers’ success towards Jackson. “It is sort of like enjoying avenue ball. Guys are shifting round attempting to get open, not likely having too many routes, clearly, as a result of he is scrambling. For the push guys, hold him in entrance of you, and inside you are going to have assist and different guys coming.”
Henry broke free for a 31-yard scamper that arrange his brief landing run late within the first half. However take that run away, King Henry was held to 34 yards on 12 carries.
“Being hole sound,” Bishop stated when assessing Pittsburgh’s success towards the NFL’s main rusher. “Guys of their hole, profitable their one-on-one matchups. Getting off their blocks and issues like that, and most significantly, not being scared to deal with him. So much his huge runs on tape are guys being scared to deal with. … We’re not scared to deal with, and that confirmed in that we have been in a position to restrict huge performs.”
Offensively, the Steelers as soon as once more began gradual. Wilson threw for simply 76 yards and was sacked 4 instances within the first half. And the Steelers offense by no means solved the puzzle that was the Ravens protection within the pink zone, as Pittsburgh was 0-4 in that division Sunday. On their closing pink zone journey, Wilson threw an ill-advised cross that was picked off by Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey in the long run zone.
As tough because it was at instances, the Steelers offense did outperform the NFL’s top-ranked scoring offense. Pittsburgh had extra first downs than Baltimore and outgained them within the second half (after being outgained 199-93 within the first half). Maybe probably the most spectacular stat was the Steelers dashing for practically as many yards as a Baltimore (124 to 122 yards) regardless of the Ravens boasting the league’s top-ranked run protection. Pittsburgh’s success on the bottom allowed them to manage the ball for over 36 minutes whereas retaining Jackson and Co. off the sector.
Wilson continued to strengthen his rapport with George Pickens, who’s lastly residing as much as his hype as one of many NFL’s premier playmakers. Pickens caught eight passes for 89 yards on Sunday that included his clutch 37-yard seize late within the third quarter that helped lengthen Pittsburgh’s result in 15-10.
.@DangeRussWilson hits GP for 37 yards
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 17, 2024
Wilson made up for his decide by hitting tight finish Darnell Washington (who was the meant goal on his intercepted cross) for a 17-yard pickup on a third-and-7 play following Wilson’s decide of Jackson. The conversion arrange the ultimate subject purpose by Boswell, who on Sunday grew to become the primary participant in NFL historical past with a number of six subject purpose video games in the identical season (conversely, Ravens kicker Justin Tucker missed two subject objectives within the first half that proved expensive).
Talking of Wilson, the nine-time Professional Bowler is now 4-0 as Steelers beginning quarterback. In Wilson, the Steelers have a quarterback who has been there earlier than and is aware of what championship-caliber soccer seems like. Wilson helped lead Seattle to its first Tremendous Bowl title in 2013 and practically led a profitable protection of stated title.
Following Sunday’s recreation, Wilson was requested to check this Steelers group with these Seahawks squads. Wilson did not go there, however he did allude to Pittsburgh having the components that championship groups possess.
“On these championship groups, Tremendous Bowl groups, we had a lot nice expertise,” Wilson stated. “However the factor about expertise is that you just all the time should have the work ethic, the drive, the desire to win, the flexibility to win shut video games. The flexibility to win on offense in a giant key second to take the lead. … The protection making an enormous, large cease towards a very, actually good offense on a 2-point conversion to maintain the lead. To have a big-time kicker in Boz. These are the kind of championship moments you need to have.
“We’ve not carried out something but, although. We have much more soccer to play, and that is the half that we embrace and that we get pleasure from. We’re simply going to remain the course.”
Up to now, the Steelers have stayed the course, by way of a 3-0 begin, a two-game dropping streak, a quarterback swap and their present five-game profitable streak that features nail-biting wins over the Commanders and Ravens in consecutive weeks. The Steelers might not be the AFC’s prime group, but when they proceed to remain the course, they might put themselves in place to battle the Chiefs for AFC supremacy when it is all stated and carried out.
