As the Baltimore Ravens continue to jockey for playoff position, a meeting with the Pittsburgh Steelers might not be a welcome sight.
Baltimore has dropped four straight games against the Steelers but will look to reverse its fortunes against its AFC North rival when the teams clash on Sunday in Pittsburgh.
The Ravens (8-4) are well on their way to clinching a playoff berth for the fourth time in the last five seasons, but they still have an opportunity to drastically improve their chances of making a deep run.
With five games left, Baltimore sits just one game behind both Buffalo and Kansas City in the AFC. If the playoffs started now, the Ravens would face Miami in the wild-card round, but they haven’t lost sight of potentially rising to the top of the conference to secure a first-round bye.
Crossing off those goals might be more difficult without quarterback Lamar Jackson. He exited Sunday’s 10-9 victory over the Denver Broncos with a knee injury at the end of the first quarter, and chances are he won’t be suiting up against the Steelers (5-7).
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Friday it “looks like it’s going to be Tyler Huntley on Sunday” with Jackson unable to practice.
Harbaugh said after initial tests came back on Monday that Jackson would be week-to-week, meaning both sides prepared for Huntley.
Huntley, who completed 27 of 32 passes for 187 yards and an interception against Denver, ran the first-team offense for the final four games of the 2021 season while Jackson dealt with an ankle injury. Huntley rushed for 72 yards in a start against the Steelers in January, but went 0-2 against Pittsburgh last season, including a 16-13 overtime loss in which he threw two interceptions.
“Both quarterbacks play a similar game,” Harbaugh said. “(Huntley) can throw, he can run, he operates really well. … He’ll be excited to play and our guys will be fired up.”
The Steelers will allow the similarities between Baltimore’s two quarterbacks exist, but there is definitely a preference on the player Pittsburgh doesn’t want to see this week.
“It’s really hard to replace a guy like Lamar,” Steelers defensive lineman Chris Wormley said. “(Huntley has) been in the system for a couple of years now. He can do some similar things, but I think Lamar is in a class of his own with what he can do with his legs, throwing the ball, just his command of the offense.”
Regardless of who will be directing the offense, Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin knows his team has to try and keep them in the pocket.
“Quarterback mobility is going to be an issue in this game, no matter who is playing. We had better be sharp in that area,” Tomlin said. “We had better minimize that component of play.”
Although the Steelers’ playoff hopes are dwindling, they are determined to finish the season on a high note.
Pittsburgh had a strong showing last Sunday, beating Atlanta 19-16 for its third win in four games. But the Steelers are 1-10 in the past 11 games in the Baltimore rivalry when Ben Roethlisberger doesn’t start at quarterback.
Rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett continued to make strides in the right direction, playing turnover-free football for the fourth straight game while completing 16 of 28 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown against the Falcons.
“That’s what you have to do in December. That’s what you have to do as the road gets narrower,” Tomlin said. “Anybody that’s committed to winning here in December better develop an appetite for that.
“Hopefully we use those lessons learned as we move forward and continue to get better and grow, better define our division of labor, better understand our roles within this thing and more consistently engineer a formula that produces victory.”
Linebacker T.J. Watt (ribs) and receiver Diontae Johnson (hip) were limited on Friday, but running back Najee Harris and offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor were full participants.
Ravens guard Kevin Zeitler (knee) was back on the field Friday after missing practice Wednesday and Thursday. But left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle) could miss his third consecutive game. Like Jackson, he did not practice this week.
–Field Level Media
