Ravens vs Steelers

[vmax]

1pm in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are 5-5-1 and the Ravens are 8-3 in 1st place of the AFC North.  Ravens win percentage 56.9. The Ravens are 3.5 favorites.

The Ravens are looking for revenge on the Steelers after being swept last season due to a Covid decimated roster. They are in the same situation this year, only this roster is decimated by injuries.....however it won't be RG3 starting either.  Both teams are struggling, with the difference being that the Ravens are finding ways to win while the Steelers look like a weak shadow of their former selves. The Ravens offense has taken a nosedive in scoring managing only 16, 16, and 10 points over their last three games. Lamer threw four interceptions and yet the Ravens still found a way to win with defense. The Ravens defense made a statement holding what was the #1 rushing attack in the NFL with Chubb and Hunt to 40 yards and holding the best roster on paper in the NFL to 10 points, seven of which, were a gift from the referees. That is quite an accomplishment considering Campbell was out for the game and 20 other guys.

The Bengals are only one game behind the Ravens for the AFC North title so strange as this may seem, at 8-3, it's a must win game for the Ravens for four reasons:
1. The race for the AFC North title is still within reach of all four teams, with the Bengals holding the inside track only one game behind the Ravens.
2. It's a packed playoff crowd and tight race in the AFC. 8 teams are basically within 1-2 games of each other for playoff spots. A slew of others are right behind, waiting for somebody to falter.
3. This is a must win game for the Steelers who are at 5-5-1. It would be sweet revenge for the Ravens to bury them at 5-6-1 before their home crowd. 

4. Including Sunday the Ravens have a very difficult schedule for the rest of the season with four games against division rivals and one game against the Rams and one game against the Packers. If the Ravens were healthy, then they would be fine. But that's not the case and anything can happen, so a win Sunday is very important.

Stats? Here they are, but I'm throwing them out after watching the game against Cleveland Sunday night. This should be another classic, Ravens Steelers, last man standing, snot knocker.

Team Stats
Points Per Game	23.9	20.4
Points Allowed Per Game	21.8	24.3
Total Yards	411.6	338.4
Yards Passing	260.9	251.3
Yards Rushing	150.7	87.1
Yards Allowed	376.4	385.0
Pass Yards Allowed	292.2	251.9
Rush Yards Allowed	84.2	133.1

 

[vmax]

Here's how tight the AFC playoff contenders are packed. 12 teams are in the Hunt with a lot of football left to play.

AFC NORTH	CUR	PROJ
Baltimore	8-3	8-3
Cincinnati	7-4	7-4
Pittsburgh	5-5-1	5-5-1
Cleveland	6-6	6-6

AFC SOUTH	CUR	PROJ
Tennessee	8-4	8-4
Indianapolis	6-6	6-6
Houston	2-9	2-9
Jacksonville	2-9	2-

AFC EAST	CUR	PROJ
New England	8-4	8-4
Buffalo	7-4	7-4
Miami	5-7	5-7
NY Jets	3-8	3-8

AFC WEST	CUR	PROJ
Kansas City	7-4	7-4
Los Angeles	6-5	6-5
Las Vegas	6-5	6-5
Denver	6-5	6-5

[tsylvester]

The first game of a 4 game losing streak, look out for a wounded animal especially when you are feeling ill....

[cravnravn]

Oh stop T. Ravens will kick their ass Sunday night. Pittsville has no passing attack, it is so obvious Ben has lost it. They get half a chance if Ben is replaced. Our rush D is yelling very nicely. The move of Queen was golden. Oweh is pressuring the QB. Just look what we did to Cleveland's vaunted rush attack. Thats all we heard all dam week Chubb this Hunt that. And they did nothing. Heck they didn't get 100 combined.

On the other side of the ball if Pitt doesn't have Watt I don't see them pressuring Lamar, he should have ample time to hit his receivers or give the RBs the ball. 

I see Us handing over the game to Huntley in a mop up role in the early 4th quarter.

This is no where near the Stealers team we have faced in the past.

[vmax]

No way the Ravens take this game lightly. They know the rivalry and what's at stake. They want this game bad.

Now...if Lamar plays like he did Sunday night, then they have no shot at winning in Pittsburgh.

Steelers rushing attack is #28 in the NFL averaging 3.7 ypc. Should be Williams and Campbel on the field together Sunday. Oweh and Houston holding the edges and pressuring. I was looking at Oweh's stats on Sunday night. 6 pressures, 2 solo tackles, 1 QB hit, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles and 1 recovery in clutch time. Monster game. Rthssllxxxbrrgrrr will have to get it done. I see him on his ass. 

Steelers run D is #25. Ravens rushing attack #4. Edge Ravens.

Steelers passing attck is #15. Ravens is 13th.

In points scored the Ravens are #12 with the skid in the last 3 weeks. Steelers are #22.

Gro can call whatever he wants. 

I'm seeing a game time temperature of 42 degrees and 8 mph winds. Cloudy...gloomy day for Steeler fans. 

 

They are so brave...

 

Edited December 1, 2021 by vmax

[vmax]

Jamison Hensley on Twitter
“For Ravens' Wednesday practice, FB Patrick Ricard (hip/foot), C Bradley Bozeman, OT Patrick Mekari (ankle), TE Nick Boyle (knee) and CB Anthony Averett (thigh) were among those not practicing.

Returning: CB Jimmy Smith (neck) and WR Miles Boykin (finger). Both were out 2 games.”

Campbell participated in warm ups and then went inside. Good sign.

Jeff Zrebiec on Twitter
“Jackson said he played like a rookie Sunday. Said he watched film and there were bad throws, bad reads, bad decisions. Said him recovering from an illness isn’t an excuse for his performance.”

[cravnravn]

Ravens top 5 in rushing and top 5 in rushing D. Great stat heading into December.

[papasmurfbell]

2 hours ago, vmax said:

 

Jeff Zrebiec on Twitter
“Jackson said he played like a rookie Sunday. Said he watched film and there were bad throws, bad reads, bad decisions. Said him recovering from an illness isn’t an excuse for his performance.”

So do we trust zrebiec reporting that Lamar says he makes.bad decisions? 

[vmax]

“9 Ravens miss Wednesday's practice because of injury

 

C Bradley Bozeman (shin laceration)

FB Patrick Ricard (foot/thigh)

CB Anthony Averett (shoulder/ankle)

TE Nick Boyle (knee)

WR D.Duvernay (thigh)

OL P.Mekari (ankle)

CB C.Westry (thigh)

CB T.Young (ill)

OT C.Ogbuehi (thigh)”

[vmax]

As usual. It reads like War and Peace...

[vmax]

Side Note:

   According to ESPN’s Football Power Index, the Ravens have a 91.3% chance of making the playoffs and a 64.1% chance of winning the division.

[tsylvester]

20 hours ago, cravnravn said:

Ravens top 5 in rushing and top 5 in rushing D. Great stat heading into December.

Quite misleading since teams pass first and have big plays in the passing game.

Also, Lamar's running plays a big roll in the rushing stats. They can't or haven't willing to stick with the running game.

[papasmurfbell]

The way defenses have closed the pocket has also inhibited the run game.  With the 0 blitz everyone is up on the line ready to make that tackle. There is a method to slowing the offense and with the production for the last several weeks.it shows t9 be working.  

[tsylvester]

1 hour ago, papasmurfbell said:

The way defenses have closed the pocket has also inhibited the run game.  With the 0 blitz everyone is up on the line ready to make that tackle. There is a method to slowing the offense and with the production for the last several weeks.it shows t9 be working.  

Yep, linebackers are closer to the los, everyone is looking for those short over the middle passes. It will only get better if & when the blocking gets better & when Lamar gets more accurate with the passes down the sidelines...

[papasmurfbell]

Just throw some slants.  With 0 coverage there is yac to be gained.  It will start pulling safeties back.

[vmax]

I don't know if it's getting better but it looks to be trending better...

Jamison Hensley
Jamison Hensley on Twitter
“CB Marlon Humphrey and OLB Odafe Oweh added to injury report after not practicing

DE Calais Campbell, LB Patrick Queen, C Bradley Bozeman, CB Jimmy Smith have full practices 

WR Devin Duvernay, CB Anthony Averett and OL Patrick Mekari returned to practice and were limited” 

[papasmurfbell]

If Humphry and Oweh are out they are screwed.

[GrubberRaven]

As long as its not Covid, Humphrey will play.  Not worried about Oweh either.

[vmax]

[cravnravn]

And Stealers week too boot!!!!

[vmax]

 

[vmax]

Jamison Hensley on Twitter
“FB Patrick Ricard on Lamar Jackson's demeanor during the week following a 4-interception game:

"He's more focused this week, more than ever. In his eyes, he didn't have the best performance and we're going to play the Steelers. I think he's so locked in."” 

[papasmurfbell]

I dont care about circling the wagons platitudes.

[cravnravn]

[vmax]

OMG NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (WJZ) — All five cornerbacks on the Baltimore Ravens depth chart are questionable for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to the injury report released Friday.

The team’s top cover man, Marlon Humphrey, and veteran slot corner Tavon Young both did not practice Wednesday, Thursday or Friday with an illness.

No. 2, Anthony Averett did not practice on Wednesday and was a limited participant on Thursday and Friday with shoulder and ankle injuries.

Veteran Jimmy Smith seemed to be progressing from a neck injury, going from limited participation Wednesday to full participation on Thursday. But he didn’t practice at all on Friday, and the team said he’s dealing with an ankle injury. Second-year corner Chris Westry only had a limited practice on Friday as he battles a thigh injury.

The Ravens have three cornerbacks on their practice squad, Robert Jackson, Kevin Toliver and Mazzi Wilkins. Under NFL rules, teams can elevate up to two practice squad players without removing anyone from the active roster. The deadline to make those two moves is 4 p.m. on Saturday.