ExtremeRavens Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 The Ravens mounted a proud defensive effort in the driving rain but fell to the Steelers, 17-10, with many of their key stars resting for the playoffs. Now, it’s on to the work that will define them. Here are five things we learned from the regular-season finale. The Ravens rightly chose the long view over pursuit of victory The NFL’s best team was in M&T Bank Stadium but not on the field Saturday as the Ravens waved goodbye to a magnificent regular season with a less-than-magnificent performance against their archrival. And that was just fine. They were not about to risk injury to the NFL’s likely Most Valuable Player, quarterback Lamar Jackson. That caution extended to banged-up starters Kyle Hamilton, Zay Flowers, Marlon Humphrey, Kevin Zeitler and Odell Beckham Jr., none of whom the Ravens wish to be without when they host a playoff game in two weeks. Pro Bowl linebacker Roquan Smith dressed but did not play. If the Ravens needed a reminder of why such prudence was called for, they saw Pittsburgh’s best player, T.J. Watt, crumple to the ground after an awkward collision with a teammate in the third quarter. That was six days after the Miami Dolphins lost their best pass rusher, Bradley Chubb, on a meaningless play late in a 56-19 blowout loss in Baltimore. The Ravens did not escape unscathed. Safety Geno Stone, who leads the team with seven interceptions, limped off with a knee injury in the second half. Outside linebacker Odafe Oweh left early with an ankle injury and did not return. As coach John Harbaugh pointed out during the week, they could not rest everybody, and football is football. “It looks like we would have all those guys back for the playoff week,” Harbaugh said afterward, the update every fan wanted to hear. In that sense, mission accomplished, even if it will always feel strange to say a loss to the Steelers was irrelevant. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley passes against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter of an NFL showdown as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore. Pittsburgh won, 17-10...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Ravensxe2x80x99 Patrick Queen, center, tackles Steelersxe2x80x99 Connor Heyward in the first quarter. The Steelers beats the Ravens 17-10 at M&T Bank Stadium.. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)Ravens back up quarterback Tyler Huntley, left, runs away from Steelers\xe2\x80\x99 T.J. Watt, right, in the second quarter. The Steelers beats the Ravens 17-10 at M&T Bank Stadium.. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker watches play during the fourth quarter of an NFL showdown as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore. Pittsburgh won, 17-10...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley makes his way on to the field to warm up before Steelers game at M&T Bank Stadium.. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)Ravensxe2x80x99 Justin Hill, left, is not able to make the catch against Steelersxe2x80x99 Joey Porter Jr., in the first quarter. The Steelers beats the Ravens 17-10 at M&T Bank Stadium.. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)Baltimore Ravens tackle Daniel Faalele provides pass protection for quarterback Tyler Huntley against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter of an NFL showdown as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore. Pittsburgh won, 17-10...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Trenton Simpson stops Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren for a loss of yardage during the fourth quarter of an NFL showdown as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore. Pittsburgh won, 17-10...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Ravens Tackle Ronnie Stanley, right, plays against the Steelers in the first quarter. The Steelers beats the Ravens 17-10 at M&T Bank Stadium.. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Patrick Queen and defensive end/outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney congratulate each other on a defensive stop against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter of an NFL showdown as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Ravens\xe2\x80\x99 Justin Madubuike, right, pressures Steelers. quarterback Mason Rudolph, left, in the first quarter. The Steelers beats the Ravens 17-10 at M&T Bank Stadium.. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen wraps up Steelers running back Najee Harris as defensive end Jadeveon Clowney moves in during the first quarter Saturday. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker kicks off to the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter of an NFL showdown as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Baltimore Ravens defensive end/outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney shouts beside tackle Morgan Moses during the first quarter of an NFL showdown as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Matt Sallee sings the Star Spangled Banner during an NFL showdown between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Roquan Smith participates during pregame of an NFL showdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore. Pittsburgh won, 17-10...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)NFL referee Brad Allen announces a call between Baltimore Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar and fullback/tight end Ben Mason during the second quarter of an NFL showdown as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Ravens\xe2\x80\x99 Justin Hill, center, catches and runs for 19 yards against Steelers\xe2\x80\x99 Miles Killebrew, left, and Alex Highsmith, right, in the fourth quarter. The Steelers beats the Ravens 17-10 at M&T Bank Stadium.. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)Baltimore Ravens running back Melvin Gordon III looks at his hands in front of tackle Morgan Moses after fumbling to the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter of an NFL showdown as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, center, watches from the sideline his back up plays against the Steelers in the fourth quarter. The Steelers beats the Ravens 17-10 at M&T Bank Stadium.. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, center, blocks between Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris and offensive lineman James Daniels during the second quarter of an NFL showdown as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Ravens safety Geno Stone us slow to get up after a play against the Steelers in the third quarter. The Steelers beats the Ravens 17-10 at M&T Bank Stadium.. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards reaches out to stiff-arm Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Levi Wallace as defensive tackle Isaiahh Loudermilk chases during the second quarter of an NFL showdown as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker watches his point after try along with punter Jordan Stout during the second quarter of an NFL showdown as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, chats with backup Tyler Huntley during a timeout in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game against the Steelers. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens defensive end/outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney hammers Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph, who coughs up the football that gets recovered by the offense for a loss of yardage during the second quarter of an NFL showdown as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Ravens defensive end/outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney reacts after the defense force a turnover against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter of an NFL showdown as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Don Felder, who played for the rock group the Eagles performs during halftime of an NFL showdown between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill loses the handle on a pass while Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr., behind, during the first quarter of an NFL showdown as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Baltimore Ravens head football coach John Harbaugh watches the game clock during the fourth quarter of an NFL showdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore. Pittsburgh won, 17-10...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Ravens fans cheer as defensive lineman Broderick Washington holds the ball after recovering a Steelers fumble in the second quarter Saturday. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens defensive end/defensive tackle Broderick Washington turns with a fumble recovery as Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth watches during the second quarter of an NFL showdown as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley scrambles past Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi for seven yards during the second quarter of an NFL showdown as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Baltimore Ravens cornerback Arthur Maulet, left gets congratulated by defensive back Brandon Stephens after recovering a fumble against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter of an NFL showdown as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris, left dives past Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy for the game's first touchdown during the first quarter of an NFL showdown as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill loses the handle on a pass while Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr., behind, during the first quarter of an NFL showdown as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Baltimore Ravens fans cheer while watching the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter of an NFL showdown as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely dives into the end zone, tying the Pittsburgh Steelers with a touchdown during the second quarter of an NFL showdown as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely, 80, powers past Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Patrick Peterson, tying the game during the second quarter of an NFL showdown as the Steelers battle for an AFC North division playoff spot in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)Ravensxe2x80x99 Gus Edwards, right, cuts away from Steelersxe2x80x99 Patrick Peterson to run for 29 yards in the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium.. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)Ravens\xe2\x80\x99 Arthur Maulet celebrates after recovering a Steelers fumble in the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium.. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely dives into the end zone for a touchdown in the second quarter of Saturday's game against the Steelers. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens QB autographs Baltimore graphic artist Brian Bomster-Jabs\xe2\x80\x99 jersey. The artist gives an original digital painting depicting career highlights of Lamar Jackson to the Ravens quarterback before Steelers game at M&T Bank Stadium.. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)Baltimore graphic artist Brian Bomster-Jabs, left, gives an original digital painting depicting career highlights of Lamar Jackson to the Ravens quarterback before Steelers game at M&T Bank Stadium..(Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)Baltimore graphic artist Brian Bomster-Jabs, second left, gives an original digital painting depicting career highlights of Lamar Jackson to the Ravens quarterback before Steelers game at M&T Bank Stadium. On right is Mike White, father of Bomster-Jabs\xe2\x80\x99 girl friend. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)Show Caption of Expand The Ravens certainly remember 2019, when they also rested key players with a No. 1 seed wrapped up going into their regular-season finale against the Steelers. Thirteen days later, they trailed the Tennessee Titans by two touchdowns before they knew what hit them and never recovered — months of promise gone because of a few bad hours. But the Ravens can’t let four-year-old ghosts dictate their actions going into this postseason. They took the most reasonable approach to Week 18, and now it’s on them to make the most of the next two weeks as they prepare for the tests that will determine how they’re remembered. “It’s time for us to lock in through this week coming up,” outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney said. “We know it ain’t going to be easy, but we’ve got the men in this locker room to do it. We know that.” Left tackle Ronnie Stanley has never let go of the disappointment he felt at the end of the Titans loss four years ago, but he’s convinced wisdom gained from that experience will shape the weeks ahead. “I feel really good about this team,” he said. The Ravens’ defense will never let up The Steelers set the terms early, running nine times on a 12-play, 76-yard touchdown drive in the first quarter. Ravens defenders seemed less than eager to throw their bodies in front of twin bulldozers Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris, and really, who could blame them? But this is a proud group, no matter what is or isn’t at stake in the standings. We saw it when the team’s defensive starters played most of last year’s regular-season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals. We saw it again Saturday, when Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Queen dragged his battered shoulder into combat against the Steelers. We saw Queen limping and wincing in the chilly downpour, but there he was, back in the game in the fourth quarter, hoping to lead a stand as Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” boomed over the stadium loudspeakers. Queen’s understudy and potential replacement, Trenton Simpson, showed off his playmaking verve with a sack and a pair of tackles for loss. “He might be faster than me,” Queen said approvingly. Reserve linebacker Dal’Shawn Phillips led the team with 13 tackles. Nose tackle Michael Pierce celebrated his new contract extension with six tackles. A Pittsburgh offense that had exploded for 64 points over its previous two games did not break the dam until the fourth quarter, when wide receiver Diontae Johnson slipped behind Rock Ya-Sin and Marcus Williams for a 71-yard touchdown grab. That did not sit well with the Ravens, despite the low stakes and the resting starters. “Even with all that good stuff, there were plays out there to be made, and we didn’t make them,” Queen said. His disappointment gives us a glimpse into why this is the best Ravens defense of the past decade. Ravens fans cheer as defensive lineman Broderick Washington holds the ball after recovering a Steelers fumble in the second quarter Saturday. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) If we needed another MVP argument for Lamar Jackson, look how the offense performed without him We saw how this story ended the previous two seasons, when the Ravens had to finish without their defining player. Tyler Huntley is a fine backup, quick of foot and usually accurate underneath, but this offense loses its dynamism when he fills Jackson’s shoes. He does not conjure touchdowns out of broken plays, push the ball downfield consistently or create free running lanes with his gravitational pull. The Ravens came in averaging 6 yards per play, third most in the league. They averaged 3.9 against the Steelers. To be fair to Huntley, this was no day for crisp offense given the swirling wind, drenching rain and absences of Flowers and Beckham. It wasn’t as if the Steelers filled the air with beautiful bombs. No one told Isaiah Likely the game didn’t matter. He caught a rain-slicked ball from Huntley in traffic and bulled through two defenders for his fifth touchdown in the past five games. Likely promised he’d step up in Mark Andrews’ absence, and boy has he paid off those confident words. But such plays were few and far between for an offense that punted seven times and fumbled away two other drives. The good news this time around is that Jackson will be back, terrifying as ever, when the Ravens next line up. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, chats with backup Tyler Huntley during a timeout in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game against the Steelers. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Jadeveon Clowney’s sack bonus was just reward for the remarkable value he has delivered Clowney introduced some levity into a dreary evening when he raised his arms to the sky, seemingly inviting the $750,000 in extra cash he’d just earned by crossing the nine-sack threshold. “That was a very long celebration,” a grinning Pierce said. “That might’ve been a record.” It was a moment for fans and teammates to celebrate just what a remarkable bargain Clowney has been in his 10th NFL season. He took his time deciding where to play after his two-year run with the Cleveland Browns ended unpleasantly. He’d always had a hunch Harbaugh might be the coach for him. As the regular season drew near, the Ravens needed a plug-and-play pass rusher. The marriage made sense for both sides, especially when Clowney agreed to play for a modest $2.5 million guaranteed. “I love this group of guys,” Clowney said. “It’s just like I’ve been here for a while. That’s how it’s felt since I got here. I’m having fun here.” He said his goal was to play in every game, something he had not done since 2017. He achieved that against the Steelers, but Clowney, the first overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft, has done a lot more than just suit up consistently for the NFL’s stingiest scoring defense. He leads the Ravens in pressures, tied his career-high in sacks and earned his highest PFF grade since 2019. He had a case to make the Pro Bowl, even though he shares a division with two of the finest edge rushers in recent NFL history, Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt. “All the time, every play, he’s a different beast,” Queen said. “Every play is a train wreck. I love having him on our team.” Though players are focused only on the moment, the Ravens’ front office is working on 2024 The Ravens have spoken of their determination not to look ahead. They can’t spook themselves with thoughts of past playoff failures if they’re intent on the play, the practice, the meeting right in front of them. But the business of football never stops, and general manager Eric DeCosta has made several low-cost moves over the past few weeks to get ahead of the crush he’ll face after the season, when more than 20 Ravens, including vital starters Justin Madubuike, Clowney, Queen, Beckham and Zeitler, are set to become unrestricted free agents. Even if they use the franchise tag to keep Madubuike off the open market and get creative with restructures, they won’t be able to keep this terrific team together completely. So any chance to lock up a starter at a reasonable price is one worth taking, and that’s what DeCosta did when he signed Pierce to a two-year, $7.5 million deal. Pierce is not a star, and he’s finishing up his first fully healthy season since 2017, but he set new career highs in snaps and pressures. Pro Football Focus graded him the league’s 18th-best interior defender, ninth as a run defender, coming into this weekend. That’s a very good player who will help anchor the defense without materially decreasing the Ravens’ offseason spending power. The move came less than a month after DeCosta signed Malik Cunningham off the New England Patriots’ practice squad with an eye on next summer, when Cunningham might save the Ravens money by claiming a reserve quarterback job. These aren’t transactions that will propel the team to another No. 1 seed in 2024, but they represent the work around the edges that keeps a winning franchise chugging forward. AFC divisional round TBD at Ravens Jan. 20-21, TBA TV: TBA Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM View the full article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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