Above Image Credit: Newsweek
When: Saturday, Jan. 11, 8:00 PM EST
Where: M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore, MD)
Channel: Prime Video
An all-time rivalry will be renewed as the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens meet in their first post-season clash in over a decade.
Playoff Memories
Some of the best games between the two have occurred during the post-season. They faced off in four playoff games in their series history. Their last playoff encounter was Jan. 3rd, 2015 where the Steelers defeated the Ravens, 30-17, in the 2014 AFC wild card game.
Of their four playoff encounters, though, the 2008 AFC championship game was the most notable playoff game. That year, the Steelers defense put so much pressure on QB Joe Flacco. He ended up recording three interceptions and was sacked three times.
In the second half, Baltimore was trailing 16-7 before Willis McGahee scored a 1-yard touchdown to trail 16-14 before getting carted off the field after a big hit. It seemed like things were falling into place for the Ravens until Troy Polamalu intercepted the ball and turned it into a 40-yard touchdown towards the end of the game. That play helped the Steelers win 23-14.
After that, Pittsburgh played the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, and the rest is history.
New Generations
Gone are the days of Flacco and Rothlisberger in their prime. Flacco is now backup of the Cleveland Browns while the legendary former Steelers QB is retired.
Now, we’re in the era of Russell Wilson and Lamar Jackson, two quarterbacks who are no strangers to each other. However, if you had to look at which one of them has the bigger advantage, that would go to Jackson. The MVP contender has completed 316 attempts out of 474 for 4,172 yards, 41 touchdowns, and four interceptions.
Wilson is in his first season with the Steelers. He’s recorded 214 completions out of 336 for 2,482 yards for 16 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Joining alongside these QBs are two classes of former Alabama wide receivers and national champions: Pittsburgh’s Najee Harris and Baltimore’s Derrick Henry.
Harris has continued to grow, recording 1,043 yards and six touchdowns, but Henry is playing like the star he was in Tennessee, recording almost 2,000 yards and 16 touchdowns. It seems easy to see which running back is the most powerful.
Steelers vs. Ravens: Final Prediction
Baltimore won their last four games of the regular season, including against Pittsburgh. The Steelers, however, did the opposite. An important detail about those last four losses by Pittsburgh is that they were against teams that made the playoffs.
In their last meeting, the Ravens won 34-17. This win was a sign of change for Baltimore because before that, Pittsburgh won eight out of their last nine meetings. So, try to imagine what a playoff loss will do to the loser.
Wilson has faced Jackson before, but he and Harris will have a hard time matching the dynamic that Jackson and Henry share on the field. Even if the Ravens won’t have Zay Flowers (knee injury) this Saturday, they can still hold up with Henry.
The Ravens are already the undisputed favorites to win this game. If Pittsburgh can’t learn from losing their last game against them, then they might as well prepare for a humiliating defeat.
