Each week, our football staff at DK Pittsburgh Sports predicts the Steelers' result, along with sharing a few related thoughts.
For a full preview of this matchup with the Ravens, check my Kickoff.
Chris Halicke (8-7): The Ravens typically don't do as well without Lamar Jackson. Prior to the first matchup between these two teams in Week 14, the Ravens were only 1-5 without him since 2020. Now, they've won two of three since he injured his PCL. However, I'm not confident a Ravens team without their best player can beat the Steelers twice in one season. It would be really, really awful if they lost to Tyler Huntley twice in one season. If Kenny Pickett can play the whole game, I trust his newfound ability to move the ball and not turn the ball over. That's ultimately what beat them last time. 215 yards surrendered on the ground didn't help either, but I expect the run defense to rectify that too -- at least, enough to win. Steelers, 15-13
Matt Williamson (7-8): This is going to be a street fight -- as always. The more physical team will win -- as always. That honor went to Baltimore last time, but I expect the Steelers to repay that favor. It won't be pretty and moving the football should prove very difficult, but I think the Steelers squeak out another win. Steelers, 17-16
Ramon Foster (7-8): It's all dependent on one player to me, and that's J.K. Dobbins. If this defense can get a stop on him and control him with all their might. He didn't have a great game against Atlanta. He put up 120 yards on us, 125 on Cleveland and 59 last week. That's kind of the way I see this game shaping up. They're going to rely on him again. This defense has a bigger task than what the offense does with Roquan Smith. You can move away from him a little bit. Dobbins, you can't. They opened up gaps. Guys lost their gap integrity this past game when it came down to what was expected from this group moving forward. That can't happen again. I don't care if it is on the road. Cam Heyward, we've gotta see that again. Two sacks, all the TFLs, the PDs that you had -- it's gotta happen again, especially without Jackson. Steelers, 13-12
Dejan Kovacevic (6-9): Has anyone concocted an antidote for everything that Smith did to the Steelers earlier this month? Because avoiding him doesn’t appear to be much of an option, based on that footage. I’m not sure they can, just as I’m not sure they’ll stop Baltimore’s run, either. Yet another three-point margin. Ravens, 5-2
Let's have your picks in the comments!
