The Ravens and Steelers will square off for the third time this season and for the fifth time in the playoffs this Saturday night. The 2024 season series is split as both the Ravens and Steelers won their respective home games against each other. The Ravens enter Saturday winners of the AFC north while the Steelers enter runner ups in the AFC north and on a four game losing streak. The Ravens and Steelers last met in the playoffs in 2014with the Ravens securing a 30-17 victory. The Ravens will look to win their second straight game against the Steelers this year and second straight against the Steelers in the playoffs as the Ravens look to move on to the divisional round.
The Ravens enter Saturday about as healthy as a team could ask for after a 17-game regular season. Wide receiver Deonte Harty (knee/personal) who opened his 21-day practice window this week practiced in full on Tuesday and Thursday, but did miss practice on Wednesday. Harty, who is listed as questionable, has not played since October and it would be a stretch for him to be activated for Saturday after just two practices. The biggest injury news however is Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (knee) has been ruled out after not practicing at all this week. Flowers injured his knee last Saturday against the Browns and was a longshot to play this week. Should the Ravens advance, however, Flowers has a chance to play in the divisional round.
For the Steelers offensive lineman Calvin Anderson (groin) and guard Mason McCormick (hand) are both listed as questionable. Defensive tackle Logan Lee (calf) and wide receiver Roman Wilson (hamstring) who are in their 21-day window off the PUP list have both been ruled out. Linebacker Cole Holcomb (knee) is also in his 21-day practice window from injured reserve, but has also been ruled out. Kicker Chris Boswell (illness) missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but does not have an injury designation for Saturday.
Players to Watch:
Roger Rosengarten
Rookie right tackle Roger Rosengarten has been just about everything the Ravens could ask for out of their second round pick. Rosengarten has played in every game this season playing a total of 924 snaps, 16th most of any right tackle. In the regular season Rosengarten has allowed four sacks and committed just five penalties.
Rosengarten will have his work cut out for him on Saturday as he goes up against star Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt. Rosengarten has has held his ground for the most part against Watt in the teams two meetings this season. Watt has just seven total tackles and one sack in the Ravens and Steelers two meetings this season in large part to the play of Rosnegarten. The Ravens will need Rosengarten to match his week 15 performance as the Ravens offensive line looks to keep quarterback Lamar Jackson clean.
Patrick Queen
It seems almost too good to be true as former Ravens first-round pick linebacker Patrick Queen will be facing off with his former team this time in a win or go home game. Queen spent his first four seasons here in Baltimore before signing with the Steelers this past offseason. Queen has expressed the Ravens unwillingness to extend an offer to him this offseason, which has deficiently led to some hard feeling from Queen towards the Ravens. Although Queen and the Ravens have already faced off twice this season, neither matchup compares to the one set to take place Saturday night.
In Queens first matchup against his former team, Queen forced a crucial first half fumble that led to a field goal that would help increase the Steelers lead into the half and ultimately help them win the game. In week 15 while Queen led the Steelers in tackles with eight it was a much more quite day, and one the Ravens hope to replicate on Saturday.
Prediction
The Ravens and Steelers appear to be going on two separate paths as enter the playoffs with the Ravens playing some of the best football in the NFL. While the Steelers are limping into the playoffs losers of four straight. Its always hard to see the direction these games will go between the Ravens and Steelers because of how well the two teams know each other and the most recent history between the two teams shows that the Steelers have had the Ravens number.
The key for the Ravens on Saturday will be not turning the ball over. During the losing streak to the Steelers the Ravens lost the turnover battle in each of those games. The difference in the Ravens 34-17 victory in week 15 was they won the turnover battle despite fumbling three times, all three Ravens fumbles were recovered by the Ravens. The Steelers offense is struggling to score and if the Ravens can stick to what they do best offensively and protect the football, it will be a tough task to ask Russell Wilson and the Steelers offense to get in a shootout with Ravens. Even without Zay Flowers I expect the Ravens to take control of this game much like they did in week 15, and put away the Steelers early. Ravens win 31-10 and advance to the divisional round of the AFC playoffs.
Line: Baltimore -8.5
Over/Under: 43.5
All-Time Record: Pittsburgh leads series 33-25 (Playoffs Pittsburgh leads series 3-1)
Last Meeting: 12/21/24 Baltimore 34-17
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