In a high-stakes AFC wild-card matchup between AFC North rivals, the NFL playoffs begin on Saturday night (8 p.m.) with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens.
In Week 17, the Ravens defeated the Cleveland Browns 35-10 to guarantee the No. 3 seed in the AFC. The AFC North champions, who will not have standout wide receiver Zay Flowers, have been led by quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry.
The goal of the Steelers is to end their five-game postseason losing run. The division race was changed on December 21 when Pittsburgh lost 34–17 to the Ravens, the latest in a four-game losing run.
Cornerback Cory Trice and offensive lineman Mason McCormick are on the Steelers’ list of inactives.
For updates during the Steelers vs. Ravens game, follow this post:
QUARTER FOUR
Steelers 14, Ravens 28
2:00 4QFrom from point on, everything is academic. Adam Schefter of ESPN has called this one in the interim:
Steelers’ top off-season free agents include quarterback Russell Wilson, quarterback Justin Fields, and running back CB Donte Jackson, WR Mike Williams, WR Van Jefferson, LB Najee Harris, OT Dan Moore Jr. Roberts, Elandon, G. TE, S. Damontae Kazee, and James Daniels CB Cameron Sutton, CB C.J. Henderson, G. MyCole Pruitt,
The Steelers defense has given up 268 yards of rushing after first contact, the most any team has given up this season, according to 5:33 4QStat.
6:06 4Q On the fourth down, Russell Wilson’s fervent prayer to Calvin Austin in the end zone was unsuccessful. The Ravens gain control at their own 43 after the Steelers turn it over on downs.
Wilson tosses a prayer up to Austin, causing the Steelers to turn over on downs.
11:20 4Q As a tight end, the Ravens earn a crucial first down on the fourth and inches. With a snap, Mark Andrews smashes over the line. Joey Porter Jr.’s powerful tackle led to the fourth down.
Early in the fourth quarter, Derrick Henry breaks into the top 10 all-time playoff rushing yardage list. On 21 rushes, he may gain up to 168 yards. Ray Rice’s 159 yards in a wild-card game against New England on January 10, 2010, was surpassed by that Ravens single-game playoff record.
FINAL THIRD QUARTER: Steelers 14, Ravens 28
3:24 3Q TOUCHDOWN STEELERS: Between defenders on the right sideline, Russell Wilson finds George Picks for a 36-yard touchdown pass. The first two drives of the second half are profitable for the Steelers.Steelers 14, Ravens 28
For the tuddie, visit @DangeRussWilsonGP: #[email protected]/C6VZll6mC8
3Q at 5:49 TOUCHDOWN RAVENS: After the Steelers’ first score, Derrick Henry instantly turned the tide back in the Ravens’ favor with a spectacular 44-yard touchdown run up the middle. Henry can run up to 155 yards and score two touchdowns.
On the run, Henry’s peak speed was 20.60 mph, per @NextGenStats.
It is kept by Derrick Henry. After a zone read, he scored a 44-yard touchdown. How many times in a single night can the same play defeat the Steelers?This link: https://t.co/kwlny14XUp
3Q at 8:05 Russell Wilson passes the ball over the top to Van Jefferson for a 30-yard touchdown pass for the Touchdown Steelers. After a terrible first half, Pittsburgh showed flashes of life with a 98-yard, nine-play drive. It’s a boswell kick.Steelers 7, Ravens 21
#NFLPlayoffspic.twitter.com/1xK2HS3RYC The Steelers are back.
3Q at 8:17 On third and nine from the three, Calvin Austin III makes a great catch over the middle for twenty-five yards. The Steelers are working their first significant possession of the game when Mike Williams receives a 37-yard pass. at BAL 30.
HALF-TIME
Steelers 0, Ravens 21
Yards total: Steelers 59, Ravens 308.
Ravens 19, Steelers 12 are the first downs.
With an even 100 on 13 carries (7.7 avg) and a touchdown, Derrick Henry has already surpassed 100 yards. Lamar Jackson, who has run for 64 and is 13-for-15 for 144 and two touchdowns passing, is tearing up Pittsburgh.
Russell Wilson has gone 7-for-9 for 44 yards for the Steelers, who have unable to muster any significant drives.
“I’m compiling them throughout the game, but it’s unbelievable the obvious coaching malpractice we’ve seen from both sides of the ball so far today,” writes Nick Farabaugh, a reporter for PennLive about the Steelers, in his halftime analysis. Poor coaching.That goes to Mike Tomlin when this keeps coming up year after year. It’s as easy as that.
According to @ESPNStatsInfo, the Steelers have lost 81-37 and outgained 1,032-565 in the first half of their last five games, including tonight.
Since Week 1, there have been unfinished tasks in the run game. Each and every week. How on earth hasn’t that been resolved by now?It’s a coaching problem. Completely absurd.https://pic.twitter.com/gS7KGGInlor
END OF SECOND QUARTER: Steelers 0, Ravens 21
0:02 2Q Touchdown Ravens: Lamar Jackson scurries up and down the pocket, then steps up and finds Justice Hill for a 5-yard touchdown ball after a checkdown. Another Ravens touchdown, 90 yards, and nine plays. The Ravens completely destroyed the Steelers in the first half.
Just before halftime, Lamar Jackson scores a touchdown pass to an open Justice Hill. They increase their advantage to 21-0.In Baltimore, the rout is on.
Cam Heyward sustains an injury following that touchdown. cautiously making their way to the dressing room.
Agholor to Lamar for the significant profit!To score before halftime, @Ravens.Streaming on #NFLPluspic.twitter.com/8w880IxvX1 and #PITvsBALon Prime Video
2:33 2QBefore making a 49-yard catch, WR George Pickens pushes off DB Marlon Humphrey, giving Pittsburgh their biggest gain of the day. PIT returns to third and eighteen because to the penalty.
2:41 2QFor 18:36, the Ravens have been in possession. The ball has been with the Steelers since 7:50.
2Q at 4:09 TOUCHDOWN RAVENS: Derrick Henry ran over Steelers defenders on an 8-yard touchdown run after going straight up the gut. The Ravens are humiliating the Steelers with thirteen plays and thirteen runs, nearly all of which are positive. Baltimore won 218-36 in total yards. Jackson is 7-for-8 for 62 passing and has 64 rushing yards, while Henry has already gained 92 yards on 11 carries.Steelers 0, Ravens 14.
Down the field, the Ravens drive. Henry for a touchdown in the end zone. Baltimore, 14-0.He has already gained 92 yards on 11 rushes. Lamar adds 64 yards from 11 carries.Total: 156 yards from 22 rushes, with an average of more than 7 yards per carry.
Lamar Jackson: 32 yards, 8 carriesSteelers: 36 yards, 12 plays
And the Steelers had another three-and-out. An agonizing sight to behold.Throwing the ball short of the sticks on third and two is also entertaining.
Ravens 7, Steelers 0 at the end of the first quarter
1Q at 2:50 Three out for the Steelers. They tried a flea flicker on the first down. Russell Wilson was fired instead for a 3-yard loss. Nothing is being done to force a second Pittsburgh punt on third down when Pat Freiermuth’s completion is short of the sticks.
For the Steelers, it’s 3-and-out.Examine the offensive and defensive statistics. The Steelers have had a terrible start to the season on both fronts.It’s not a one-sided problem. From the beginning, both sides struggle. Furthermore, this team isn’t designed to play from a distance.
4:45 1Q TOUCHDOWN RAVENS: Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry overwhelm the Steelers defense with a 95-yard, 13-play drive that is broken up by Jackson’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Rashod Bateman in the back of the end zone. Justin Tucker PAT, and the Ravens are 7-0 after a strong start from Baltimore.Steelers 0; Ravens 7
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On the give-all drive, the Steelers have been brutal.Henry connives for twelve on that one, and they crash on Lamar. On the ground, Baltimore is totally controlling this one.So far, death by a thousand cuts.
Early in this drive, the Ravens are putting pressure on Lamar’s legs. Four rushes for eighteen yards already.
The Steelers must punt. On third down, Russell Wilson scampered for two yards but was stopped short.Deep within their own domain, ravens take control.
Inpic.twitter.com/bjZoIBNK6c is locked.
tweet.com/c8S8fFCIkU
According to @steelersfanspic.twitter.com/KzS1LFu4hh, Russell Wilson always finds time for
DnE5yQlWm0 Baltimorepic.twitter.com
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