December 20, 2024 • 29 mins
Team insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing get you ready for the huge AFC North showdown at M&T Bank Stadium, talking about what Lamar Jackson and the offense need to do against Pittsburgh's stingy defense, and how Baltimore's defense can slow the Steelers.
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome into the Lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm I'm in
here with Garrett Downing and we're gonna take the deep
dive into this Ravens Steelers matchup Saturday at M and
T Banks Stadium. This is a huge, huge game. Some
people are saying it's the biggest Ravens regular season game
in quite some time, maybe in Lamar Jackson's career. Really,
(00:26):
that's what that's the that's the chatter.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
I don't know if I I don't know.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
If I quite agree with that, But I'm struggling to
find a bigger one.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
I mean, you think of a bigger regular season game.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
I don't know. I'd have to go back to like
game by game, Like there's been lots of big ones.
It felt like last year when the Ravens played the
forty nine Ers on Christmas Day, like that was a
pretty big game.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
That was.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
I think they had not locked up the number one
seed then because they played the Dolphins in Locker after that. Correct, Yeah,
so that that was. That was like a super Bowl preview.
But the Ravens very much had their playoff spot state.
You know, it's an NFC opponent, this is Steelers AFC North.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
We're just getting in the full debate right now. Let's yeah,
I don't.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Know twenty eighteen when the Ravens were trying to claw
back and make the playoffs, Lamar's rookie season after he
took over as the starter from Joe.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Yeah, there are some big games in there.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
That one out in LA where you hit Mark Andrews
for the long touchdown that was about big game was.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
It was that the Week eighteen game, the Week seventeen
game against the Browns in that twenty eighteen season where CG.
Mosey got the game ceiling pick against Baker Mayfield in
that game to clinch a playoffs spot. Like I would
say that was bigger.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
That was a very very big game. So like, look
it's a ceiling. It's kind of funny.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
I feel like there's been multiple games this year where
there's been like we've we've blown them up, and there's
there's been a lot of them, like the game against Commanders,
the game against the Eagles of Courses, game against the Steelers,
Like there's been there's there's these games this year where
it's like this is the game of the week, this
is the game of the century.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
I mean the Chiefs.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
The Chiefs game to open this season was a huge game.
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
I think the stakes in this are different, right, Like
I agree the Commanders, the Eagles those I mean, ay
their NFC opponents, right those.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
The Chiefs of the Bills games were huge games this year.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Till they were, but the stakes weren't nearly as high
they were Week one, in Week three or four whatever?
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Four?
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Sure you know so the stakes weren't nearly as high.
I mean, this is you lose. If the Ravens lose
this game to the Steelers, the Steelers celebrate winning the
AFC North in your stadium.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Yea.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
The Ravens have to win this game to stay alive
in that chase. If the Ravens do win it just
to go over the stakes here today are in this game,
then it's basically a fifty to fifty shot. They pull
to a fifty to fifty shot of winning the AFC North.
The Steelers would still need they'd be tied in the standings,
but the Steelers would still need to lose one of
their remaining two games, and the Ravens obviously would need
(02:49):
to leap for ag them or if the Steelers lost
the Bengals in Week eighteen, and the two teams finished tied,
then the Ravens would be the champion of the AFC Nors.
So you still need some help even if you beat
the Steelers. Yeah this Saturday, but yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
The Steelers have to lose that third game.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Right, Plus plus the history that goes into this the
Ravens have lost eight of their last nine games against
the Steelers. That certainly elevates the stakes around this game.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Yeah, this is a huge game. I'm not diminishing at
all at all the significance of this game, playoff implications,
history of the teams, the rivalry that goes back all
these years. There's a lot that is at stake here,
and so I think that there's it's going to be
It's massive, It's a massive game, and I think that
it's interesting because while all those things are at play here,
(03:41):
and both sides are certainly aware of that, I just
don't I don't get the sense. And maybe this is
part of the reason why I'm not overhyping the game
in my mind, is like, I don't get the sense.
And I'm curious if you feel the same way that
the Ravens are playing into at all like this is
the biggest game of Lamar Jackson's regular season career.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Like I don't.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
I don't get that sense in this building. I think that,
like people understand that it's important, but I don't think
that there's like this is the game, this is the one.
The need to win this game. I don't know what's
your take on that.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
I mean, I think that certainly after the win against
the Giants, the focus immediately turned to the Steelers in
that postgame locker room, and I think that there's a
lot of I agree, externally, they're not hyping it up
to be the game of the century, but I think
internally they are. They know how important this one is,
(04:36):
and they know how they feel about the Steelers winning
eight of the last nine, and maybe they're not vocalizing it.
And I agree, you don't want to put too much significance.
This isn't the super Bowl, yeah right, And even if
the Ravens were to lose this game, I don't even
want to think about that. But like it's it's most important.
I think to go into the playoffs on a roll
(04:57):
in hot and the playoffs are going to be what matters.
This game isn't the play a playoff game. Sure, you
want to win the division, but it's not a playoff game. Yeah,
and so that's what's most important. But it's it's right
up there.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
It is, I.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Think, and they know it. Very big game it is.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
And again I think part of it you know that
if you if you win it, there's still more work
to be done. I just think that overall, honestly, like
I agree with all what you said, that that makes sense.
I just think the Ravens are in this mode where
like they just really feel I've said this before. I
just think that they're looking at it as like it's
playoff mode activated and you need to win each of them.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
It's mean, Yeah, I agree. I agree, They're like they
want to win the last three here. Yeah, and it's
about themselves and playing good football, themselves, playing their best football.
They think they believe that if they play their best football,
they can they're not going to get beat.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Yeah, that's just what they believe.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
And opponents asides, you can talk about the Steelers in
the streak of eight to last nine and all that stuff,
they don't really care about that. They locked in on
we need to play our best football. If we play
our best football. We're beating Steelers and then we're gonna
win the last two games and then we're gonna go
in the playoffs hot like.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
And that's what Lamar Jackson made that point at a
postgame press conference when someone asked him about Steelers. We
don't need to worry about Steelers need to worry about us.
We need to warr about our focus. We need to
worry about us playing.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Well that was also before they got to raven Steelers week,
but yeah, I know it was.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
But I think I just don't. I think that they're
more folks. I really do think that they're more focused on,
like doing the things that they like it. They're focused
on like don't hurt ourselves, stop the self inflicted wounds,
protect the football, no penalties, and then the course, like
the football elements of it, but like those big picture
pieces of avoiding that self inflicted mistakes, and then they
(06:43):
feel like they can beat anybody. And that's really what
I think that they're dialed in on more than any
of like the exciting narratives around this game and the
rest of the season.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Right and speaking of Lamar Jackson, you know everybody knows
he hasn't played his best against.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
The Steelers over the years.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
You look at his quarterback rating, it's the lowest against
any team in his career versus the Steelers. And so
the question is why is that? Why have the Steelers
given Lamar trouble?
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Why?
Speaker 3 (07:12):
I don't I mean, I don't know that it's it.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
That was a question. I thought you were going there,
but that was a question to you.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
I think that, well, the Steelers historically, they've had a
really good defense, so you start there. I think that
they're just a team that has a good defense. I
think that they have a really good front. They can
get after the quarterback, which makes life hard. GJ. Watt
is like probably a Hall of Famer and he can recavoc.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Yeah, I don't think it's a problem. He will be
a Hall of.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Fame and so he's hard to go against. Cameron Hayward's
been there throughout Lamar's career, and so those two guys
have really been I think that they can get after you.
And then you go through these games like the Ravens.
I go back to last year's game in Pittsburgh. The
Ravens lost that game, but there was like ten drop
passes in that game and if some of those are caught,
(07:55):
then the Ravens win that game and that quarterback rating
looks a lot better. Then There's also game situations like
this past game this year in Pittsburgh, it was really
the turnovers and that short circuited drives and that put
them the defense in bad position, and that kept the
offense from really getting anything going. So I guess what
I would to still it down to is that the
(08:16):
Steelers have a really good defense, particularly a really good
front that can win one on one matchups and get
pressure on the quarterback. That's like the number one thing.
And then off of that, the Ravens have done things
in those games that have hurt them with penalties and turnovers.
The other thing I would say too, is that Lamar,
(08:38):
this is a it's a crazy stat and this has
been brought up this week. Lamar has never played the
Steelers in Baltimore with a home crowd.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Yeah, with fans and states Like the only time you
played at whom it was COVID year.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
It was a COVID year. So I know we talked
about this the last time these two teams faced off,
and the Ravens have lost eight of nine. There's a
lot of weird games of the in those last nine,
there's a lot of weird one.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
For sure, it's kind of a juke stat.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
It is a juke stat like and so the sad
is what it is. Week seventeen, Ravens arrest and their starters.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
You got like the Covit game, whereas Terrace, McSorley and
r G three and you have games again the end
of the season. It is a juke stat to a
certain degree. So, but they've they've but they've also played with.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
The advantage in this matchup in recent years.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
That aside, they have they have so anyway, long long answer,
I think that those are all part of the reason
why the Steelers have had that success. And it just
to me is like the turnover thing is at the
top of my list.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Yeah, well I think that, and we'll get more into that.
But I think that Lamar Jackson doesn't feel like he's
played really that poorly against the Steelers or offensively. Yeah,
they've had the self inflicted wounds, but I don't think
that he looks at it like, oh, the Steelers have
shut me down and shut this offense down. I don't
think anybody looks at it that way, and some of
(09:55):
the numbers bear that out, Like, yeah, the quarterback rating
is one thing, and that's really hampered by a lot
of the turnovers and whatnot. And you know, they put
a lot of pressure on Lamar in this last game
and his completion rate went down because of it. But
I think that Lamar is like every time he talks
about the series, like, you know, we did some good
things too. Don't just paint the picture like everything was
(10:18):
bad against the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
We moved the ball too.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
We didn't score in the red zone, which they've been
the number one red scoring offense in the league. They
didn't do it against Pittsburgh last time. But like and
things went. They had the fumble on the first offensive
play of the game for the Ravens. Things weren't all rosy,
but like they did some good things, and Lamar's pointed
to that, I think a couple of times.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Yeah, and I agree.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
I agree with that.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
I agree with that. Yeah, And like you look at.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
That last game and they missed two field goals and
they had three turnovers.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Right, exactly, It's hard if you do that right. Certainly,
now it's also hard the Steelers are saying we didn't
score a single touchdown and we still won. So it's
hard to win if you only kick field goals too,
you know. I think the best characterization, and I actually
saw this from a Steelers speed reporter, is in describing
(11:08):
why the Steelers have kind of ruled this rivalry in
recent years. He says, the Steelers drag the Ravens into
the mud every single time, and then they make a
couple more plays, big plays and clutch situations, and that's it.
I think that's it. That's the right characterization. Like the
Steelers play ugly football. It's just what they that's just.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
What they do.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
They don't take many chances, they don't gamble. They get you,
they force you, and they make mistakes. They get a
lot of turnovers, they get takeaways. They don't give the
ball away. They have by far the best turnover ratio
in the league this year, by far, because they don't
put the ball at risk and they try to rip
it off you. And then they hit these moon balls
and these big plays, these outside receivers down the stretch
(11:50):
or get a sack strip. That's what they do. They
make it an ugly, nasty, hard hitting game. And like
I think, they throw teams kind of off kilter. That's
what they've done to the.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
Raven Yeah, And honestly, I don't think it's just Ravens.
That's just how they are. That's how they It's kind
of like the uh, it's kind of like a like
a Big ten college basketball team that also just plays
this slow half court offense and slows down the high
scoring team that runs up and down the field because
they're like using the entire shot clock and it's like, wait,
why is game forty eight to fifty here with two
minutes left? What's going on here?
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Exactly?
Speaker 1 (12:21):
They don't want to get they don't want to get
into a shootout with Lamar Jackson in this offense.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
They do not want any parts of that.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
Yeah. So and they like they have an identity, they
stick to it. They want to run the ball, they
want to be physical, and then they hit some of
those big.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Plays, get takeaways on defense, and so.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
I think that teams, Yeah, so how do you how
do you avoid that? Well, you don't turn the ball
over three times, you don't shoot yourself on the foot
with with penalties, you stay ahead of the chains, and
you don't really allow yourself to be in this situation
where it's a tie game in the.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Fourth quarter, you stay out of the mud.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
You do and like, that's that's easier said than done,
as you're just talking about it. But I think that
doing it kind of comes down to like the fundamental
simple things and you do those well and I think
that the Ravens will win the game. You have to
do those things well. Well.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
We talked to Todd Monkin this week and that was
priority number one, and he made it extremely clear. And
there was a moment out at practice during the portion
open to two reporters in which you know, every week
the Ravens wide receivers and their running backs go through
the same drill of all right, they have the ball
and it's put it high and tight, and they run
(13:28):
through the gaunt the line of their teammates and they
kind of punch at the ball and.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
Try to knock it out and you know that's it's
a ball protection drill. Well, this week Todd Monkin saw the.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Ravens wide receiver's doing it and he was like, Nah,
you're not punching hard enough, you're not ripping hard enough.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Let me come over there and do it myself.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
I will show you and He came running over to that,
to that drill and said, I want it done with
more aggression, like they are trying to rip that ball
off of you.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
They are not good. It ain't a gentle little punch
there throwing haymakers. TJ. Wadde has perfected that.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
Patrick Queen's really good at it too, and against I say,
likely in that last.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Game exactly, like, so we're not messing around this week.
We're we're not doing the drill. We're not just walking
through the drill. We're doing the drill. Yeah, right, And
I liked it. I thought that was I thought that
was awesome because you know, as he points it out,
he has been the offensive cordinator of the Ravens for
three games against the Steelers and they've turned the ball
over eight times.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
That is a killer.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
If the Ravens don't do that this Saturday, I think
they'll win the game.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
And the crazy thing about some of those turnovers, and
this is part of the whole conversation here, is they
seem fluky, like the Justice Hill play last game where
it looks like he has the ball and then it
gets ripped away as he's going to the ground, where
you think you have like a thirty yard game down
the sidelines and you're in position to go and take
the lead.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Actually, now the Steelers got the ball and they ripped
it away in the pile or Derreck Henry fumbles for
the first time in like five hundred and fifty carries
on the second play of the game. Like but those
types of things when they had.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
Hit that wasn't even that like crazy, Yeah, it was
just like that.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
This is this is how it's going to start here.
And so yeah, I really do believe that taking care
of the football. You can say that every game, but
I think it's it's even more. It takes on a
much higher level of importance against this team and this.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
And like I said, this is this is it's not
fluky because the Steelers lead the league in takeaways. Yeah,
they're good at this is what they do. They are
good at getting the ball off of you. They have
their fifteen four or fumble recoveries is by far the
most in the league.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
It's not even close.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Yeah, they're plus eighteen on the turnover margin this year.
That's best in the league. As you mentioned, and they also.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Lead the league takeaways.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
They have thirty thirty of them thirty picks, thirty fumble
recoveries or I'm sorry, fifteen picks. I was like, yeah,
fifteen to fifteen. Here's the math popping up. So they're yeah,
they're just good at it. And like you know, you
can say, and there's been talk about this, you know, oh,
the Steelers they always seem to get that lucky break,
(16:03):
and the Chiefs this year they seem to get that
lucky break. Like it ain't lucky. If it just keeps happening,
then it doesn't qualify as lucky.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Yeah, no, I agree, I mean it's not. I don't
think it's I think we're past that. I think that,
like you just can't look at it. And I know
that when you look at some of these Steelers games,
not even when the Ravens play them. It's like the
Ravens play a game and they're all right, that's even
get some help. But the Ravens got help from the
Eagles last week, so they got the help last week.
But you look at when they play these other games,
and it's it's a similar situation. It's one of these
games that it ends up being a low scoring game,
that they win it late, and that's what they do,
(16:35):
but that's when you do it for as consistently as
they have. That's just part of their identity and it's
not luck, and so you have to know that going
into it and avoid the things that have cost you.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
From a little bit more of an x's nose standpoint
of I think what the Ravens offense needs to do
against the Steelers they have to handle their blitz better.
The Steelers blitz at a forty five percent rate in
their week eleven meeting, which they're not particularly a super
blitz heavy team. This year they ranked nineteenth in the league,
(17:05):
but they blitzed all the Ravens a lot in their
first meeting. They like to force the issue against Lamar Jackson,
and it's just run blitzing too. It's not necessarily just
all right passing situations. We're going to try to get
after him. They're run blitzing to try to get in
the backfield to slow down Derrick Henry, which for the
most part they did in that earlier matchup. He had
one long run, but outside of that did not find
(17:27):
much traction in that earlier meeting. So the Ravens have
to do a better job against the Steelers' blitz both
in running situations and in passing situations. Lamar Jackson just
had was under pressure on almost half his throws in
the first meeting, so that they need to do a
better job against that. And then I would say for
Lamar Jackson, one of the questions coming into this game
(17:49):
is will he run the ball more? So? He had
zero scrambles in that last meeting between these two teams,
which is.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Very rare for Lamar.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
We've seen that more, especially since his mom got on him,
you know, we've we've seen that more. We saw it
in New York at least, And so I think part
of the question mark for me. You know, the Steelers
played forty five percent man coverage in their first meeting.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
If they do.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
That, that's fewer eyes just on Lamar. You know, in
zone coverage they can have eyes on Lamar and rally
to him. Running more man coverage leaves them more susceptible
to Lamar taken off on scrambles. Do we see more
of that Saturday night?
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Well against the Giants has certainly seemed like right out
of the gate, he came into the game thinking like
I'm going to take some of these jars that they're there,
and I know the storyline is of course after what
his mom said after the Eagles game, and so that's
going to persist throughout the rest of the way. We're
all going to reference that all the rest of the season,
the rest of his career. But like like, I do
(18:49):
think that if the I think that if there's an
opportunity for him to take off and rodn He's going
to do it. So do I expect him to run
more than he did the last game. I do. I
also think that the Steelers, in terms of getting the
run game going for the Ravens, like, the Steelers have
a really good run defense, so the fourth best team
in the league when it comes to run defense. So
I think it could be challenging just to be able
(19:10):
to run between the tackles with Derrick Henry, like, that's
just a tough assignment. When you have Hayward in the
middle and a really good defensive front, I think it
could be tough to just get that ground game going
in traditional sense. But Lamar around the edge, he could
have some success there both from a design and a
scramble standpoint, and that could be a way that the
Ravens wik to get themselves in some favorable third and
short situations or second and short situations.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
Right, it's really important for them. I think multiple players
have said it this week, including Lamar. We have to
stay on schedule. That means not the penalties that back
you up, but it's also putting yourself in favorable down
in distant situations.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
Yeah, and then you can find then you extend drives,
then you wear a defense down. Then Henry gets rolling,
you have more opportunities. I think all those things build
off of each other.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
I could see Derrick Henry being the finisher in this game. Yeah, yeah,
but I don't know that it's going to be a
feed Derrick Henry from start to finish.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
He's getting twenty five carries. Kind of yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
I think that, Like you could look at the stats
at halftime and it's like, oh, Henry has you know,
eight for thirty okay, kind of a ho home first half,
and then the second half he finishes with twenty two.
If the Ravens win this game and it closed the
way that we're hoping it does, then he finishes with
twenty two for one fifty. He's like, oh, okay, this
guy had one hundred yards in the second half exactly.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Yep, I totally agree.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Yeah, all right, let's take a break and then when
we come back, we're going to talk about what the
Ravens defense needs to do against the Steelers offense as
well as look at the injury report.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
You're listening to the last podcast we're coming to you
from the Seakeek Studio. We also want to mention our
partners with DraftKings sports Book. They are an official sports
betting partner or the Baltimore Ravens DraftKings Sportsbook. The crown
is yours, all right. So as the Ravens defense gears
up for this game, one thing that could be a
pretty significant difference, and we'll see, is the absence of
George Pickens. He's been dealing with a hamstring injury and
(20:51):
certainly his status is in question. He's a big play
receiver for them. The Ravens know that firsthand, and if
he's not out there, that changes that element of their offense,
which is like I think, if you're distilling down what
they want to do, they want to run, run, run,
and then hit some deep shots. Like They're not a
team that marches down the field consistently throughout a game
On all these like a ton of drives, they're gonna
(21:14):
hit some big plays. They're gonna hit these big plays,
and Pickens is the recipient of those big plays.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
Oftentimes he is yes, and he's far and away. They're
number one wide receiver. I mean he has four hundred
more receiving yards than Calvin Austin.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
And so he is the number one threat.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
And when even when you look at the analytics and
all those things, what the Steelers do with and without
George Pickens on the field, it is a high, high disparity.
I mean in terms of EPA all those things. George
Pickens really in a lot of ways is the engine
that makes them run. So they're bottom five in nearly
(21:53):
every metric this season when he's not on the field,
bottom five and success rate EPA per play even most
traditional stats. So you know, I think that he is
a major player for them. So if he's not able
to play, that makes the Ravens job significantly easier.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
Yeah, I mean, he's a great player, and I think that, like,
if he's not out there, it changes their team. I
think you saw that last week. If you watch their
game against the Eagles, their offense struggled without him on
the field, and so that could be the case in
this game.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Yep. I think obviously another big part for the Ravens
defense is slowing down the Steelers rushing attack. They're going
to run the ball and they're physical. And the interesting
thing about this is you talk about Najie Harris and whatnot.
Jalen Warren got more snaps last week against the Eagles,
and I think that he's healthier, He's starting to get
phase more into their offense. The Ravens have to beware
(22:48):
of him as a receiver and as a runner. He's
got some juice and I think at this point of
the season it would not surprise me to see the
Steelers lean on him a little more heavily than Naji Harrison.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
Personally.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
I think that he's more of a dynamic threat than
nause Is, who's more of your traditional hammer.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
That's interesting. I think that they're good. They're a good
one two punch. They are those two guys. It just
seems like Naji Harris is the guy that's like built
for the raven Steelers game Like. He seems like he's
he's the classic, like big bruising running back who's a
perfect fit for this game.
Speaker 1 (23:17):
Yeah, And I mean the Ravens have kind of countered
in that direction themselves to handle that kind of rushing attack.
You know, Trenton Trenton Simpson after the last Steelers game
is when he saw his snaps start to decline. And
I think it was because in part because of what
happened in that game, and the Ravens have kind of
balked up in the middle next to Rokwan Smith. They
(23:39):
have Malik Harrison and Chris Board both playing more snaps.
I think that that is in part to handle a
rushing attack. Like the Steelers it's gonna be. They know
what kind of game this is gonna be. It's gonna
be a physical, smash mouth game. And was it Roquan
Smith said about Malik Harrison That'll rip your face mask
off or something like that. He'll knock your face mask off.
He's good for a quotas like, yeah, Lee Harrison's built
(24:01):
for this. And so whether it is Naji or Jalen Warren,
I think that you know it's gonna be a physical matchup,
but you do have to watch it. I think what
the Steelers could try to do, all right, You're gonna
counter with Malik Harrison. He's not quite as nimble as
Trent and Simpson is all right, we're.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
Gonna get him.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
Try to get him matched up one on one Jail
and Warren in the passing game and get him out
on the edges and make him move.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
That's how they could counter that.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
Yeah, and Nage can make plays in the passing game too,
he has that.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
He's kind of more of a checkdown guy for them.
Speaker 3 (24:30):
Yeah, he has that ability that he came up actually
a few years ago. You talk about pass Ravens games.
He had that big play in the corner on that
wheel route that won them that game a few years ago.
But anyway, the other thing I think that it's really
big for this defense is the red zone performance. And
that's where they were good last game. And they were
putting some tough situations against the Steelers because of the turnovers,
(24:53):
and they were able to hold up well. If they
can hold up well and just force.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
If if it's six fiehaicles again, I think the Ravens
are gonna win it.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
Like if they keep the Steelers out of the end zone,
I think the Ravens win this game.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
Well, and that's what Zach Orr has been talking about
for the past two weeks. That was the focus during
the bye week was how do we get more takeaways
and red zone defense? Those are the two things, and
they were playing some pretty darn good red zone defense
before that. I think, you know, Zach deserves a ton
of credit. DMPs has been a red zone guy. That
(25:29):
is kind of his I think that's part of his
stamp on this defensive unit is all right, we need
to be a really good red zone defense. And that's
over his career. You know, we've often talked about the DMPs.
It's all right, you can't you can give up some yards,
but when you get the red zone, it's gonna be
really hard to score against the DEMPS, you know, led defense.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
And I think that he's probably had some influence in
that regard and.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
They need to continue to play at a good level
down there.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
Yeah, and like Marlin Huffer had to pick in that game.
And if you can get if you can keep out
of the end zone and get a pick and that's
part of the field, then I think again the Ravens
will win this game.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Nate Wiggins just another lockdown performance on the goal line.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
Mate. Is this the is this the Nate Wigans first
pick game.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
How many times that we talked about is this.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
Going to be the first pick of his career? Game rainfull?
Speaker 2 (26:14):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
I think he continues to elevate. He gave he had
those one on one matchups against some league neighbors down there.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
So Xta Winson gets his hands on a ball kind
of a little bit for Kyle.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
This is the Kyle Hamilton pick.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
I think it is.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
Okay, I think it is.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
I have a gut feeling, you know. The question is
we talked about pickings. Are there fewer moon balls? You know?
I could see Kyle coming over the top on one
of those Russell Wilson moon balls that he Russell throws those.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
Really, it's amazing how good he is at that. But
can the Ravens come over the top get one of those?
Speaker 1 (26:45):
Ardarius Washington has the best bunnies on team according to
the ro Quand Smith. I'd like to see him pick
off one of those moon balls.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
Well, oh, Darius, Friend of the Lounge of course had
him on last week. It's a pick, so he might
just stay hot.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Yeah with Sack Friend of the Lounge. Yeah, podcast Bump
is alive and well.
Speaker 3 (27:02):
Yes, this could be the big Tavis Robinson game talking
about guys who built for Steelers.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
And then on the injury front, so we already covered
pick ins. TJ. Watt's dealing with an ankle, but he's
back at practice, and knowing TJ. Watt and how these
things go, you expect him to be out there in
this game. An interesting one also for the Steelers is
Justin Fields being limited to practice.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
I don't think yeah, abdominal for him, I don't think
that's as important as two members of their secondary one
and former Raven Deshaun Elliott. Yeah, did not practice on
on Tuesday and Wednesday due to a hamstring injury. Does
that potentially limited him or keep him out? And then
the one that sounds even more doubtful is a starting
cornerback Dante Jackson. He's been dealing with a back kind
(27:47):
of pinch nerve. There's a possibility if those two players,
because Deshaun had a really good season and Dante Jackson
also has played really well, if they cannot play, that
would be really two big members of their secondary that
are missing and help out Lamar Jackson this passing game.
Speaker 3 (28:01):
The thing I bring up about Justin Fields obviously it's
like a backup quarterback who cares. But if you if
you remember that game a few weeks ago, they turned
to Justin Fields some key situations, including the last two
players of the game.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
To pay that game, I don't want them in an
ice the game situation. So I'm not I'm not even
worried about Justin Fields saking.
Speaker 3 (28:18):
I think I think that they they they deployed him
in some key spots where they needed kiss and so
I think that that's a that's a wrinkle of their
offense that is a challenge and the Ravens didn't do
a great job of stopping at last time. So if
he's out, that eliminates that possibility. Yep, yep, and then
the Ravens on their front. From an injury standpoint.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
Nelson Agilor is dealing has been dealing with a concussion
this week and so you know he missed the first
two days of practice.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
That remains I think up in the air.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
You know, if he plays, if he doesn't play, that
that could mean more time on Wallace, It could mean
more of devontees Walker. Heah just scored his first touchdowns,
so more opportunities or it's more Isaiah likely in the slot,
you know, more two tight end kind of things. I'd
probably lean more in that direction and Thiland more than
(29:10):
I would say. Oh, this is a real bumping snaps
for Devontes.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
Yeah, so it should be an awesome game. Kickoff is
four thirty Saturday at M and T Bank Stadium. It's
going to be great. Eric Weddle is the legend of
the game, so he's going to be in the house.
It's going to be really fun to see him. We've
also got some really fun stuff.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
You could come get a pick. I feel like he
could just I met.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
Eric's in great shape. He could probably step in and
play and probably get a pick.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
He might get one.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
Yeah, I wouldn't rule I would not rule that out.
We've got the We've got the wristbands with the lights,
so when you're coming into the stadium, make sure you
get a wristband and uh. And then we got some
cool stuff plan for intros and also a holiday light
show with a marching band performance at halftime. So lots
of cool stuff plan for this game. We can't wait
to see you there M and T Bank Stadium again
four point thirty on Saturday. Thank you for listening. We'll
(29:52):
be back with you after that game.
Welcome into the Lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm I'm in
here with Garrett Downing and we're gonna take the deep
dive into this Ravens Steelers matchup Saturday at M and
T Banks Stadium. This is a huge, huge game. Some
people are saying it's the biggest Ravens regular season game
in quite some time, maybe in Lamar Jackson's career. Really,
(00:26):
that's what that's the that's the chatter.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
I don't know if I I don't know.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
If I quite agree with that, But I'm struggling to
find a bigger one.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
I mean, you think of a bigger regular season game.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
I don't know. I'd have to go back to like
game by game, Like there's been lots of big ones.
It felt like last year when the Ravens played the
forty nine Ers on Christmas Day, like that was a
pretty big game.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
That was.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
I think they had not locked up the number one
seed then because they played the Dolphins in Locker after that. Correct, Yeah,
so that that was. That was like a super Bowl preview.
But the Ravens very much had their playoff spot state.
You know, it's an NFC opponent, this is Steelers AFC North.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
We're just getting in the full debate right now. Let's yeah,
I don't.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Know twenty eighteen when the Ravens were trying to claw
back and make the playoffs, Lamar's rookie season after he
took over as the starter from Joe.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Yeah, there are some big games in there.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
That one out in LA where you hit Mark Andrews
for the long touchdown that was about big game was.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
It was that the Week eighteen game, the Week seventeen
game against the Browns in that twenty eighteen season where CG.
Mosey got the game ceiling pick against Baker Mayfield in
that game to clinch a playoffs spot. Like I would
say that was bigger.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
That was a very very big game. So like, look
it's a ceiling. It's kind of funny.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
I feel like there's been multiple games this year where
there's been like we've we've blown them up, and there's
there's been a lot of them, like the game against Commanders,
the game against the Eagles of Courses, game against the Steelers,
Like there's been there's there's these games this year where
it's like this is the game of the week, this
is the game of the century.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
I mean the Chiefs.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
The Chiefs game to open this season was a huge game.
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
I think the stakes in this are different, right, Like
I agree the Commanders, the Eagles those I mean, ay
their NFC opponents, right those.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
The Chiefs of the Bills games were huge games this year.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Till they were, but the stakes weren't nearly as high
they were Week one, in Week three or four whatever?
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Four?
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Sure you know so the stakes weren't nearly as high.
I mean, this is you lose. If the Ravens lose
this game to the Steelers, the Steelers celebrate winning the
AFC North in your stadium.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Yea.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
The Ravens have to win this game to stay alive
in that chase. If the Ravens do win it just
to go over the stakes here today are in this game,
then it's basically a fifty to fifty shot. They pull
to a fifty to fifty shot of winning the AFC North.
The Steelers would still need they'd be tied in the standings,
but the Steelers would still need to lose one of
their remaining two games, and the Ravens obviously would need
(02:49):
to leap for ag them or if the Steelers lost
the Bengals in Week eighteen, and the two teams finished tied,
then the Ravens would be the champion of the AFC Nors.
So you still need some help even if you beat
the Steelers. Yeah this Saturday, but yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
The Steelers have to lose that third game.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Right, Plus plus the history that goes into this the
Ravens have lost eight of their last nine games against
the Steelers. That certainly elevates the stakes around this game.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Yeah, this is a huge game. I'm not diminishing at
all at all the significance of this game, playoff implications,
history of the teams, the rivalry that goes back all
these years. There's a lot that is at stake here,
and so I think that there's it's going to be
It's massive, It's a massive game, and I think that
it's interesting because while all those things are at play here,
(03:41):
and both sides are certainly aware of that, I just
don't I don't get the sense. And maybe this is
part of the reason why I'm not overhyping the game
in my mind, is like, I don't get the sense.
And I'm curious if you feel the same way that
the Ravens are playing into at all like this is
the biggest game of Lamar Jackson's regular season career.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Like I don't.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
I don't get that sense in this building. I think that,
like people understand that it's important, but I don't think
that there's like this is the game, this is the one.
The need to win this game. I don't know what's
your take on that.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
I mean, I think that certainly after the win against
the Giants, the focus immediately turned to the Steelers in
that postgame locker room, and I think that there's a
lot of I agree, externally, they're not hyping it up
to be the game of the century, but I think
internally they are. They know how important this one is,
(04:36):
and they know how they feel about the Steelers winning
eight of the last nine, and maybe they're not vocalizing it.
And I agree, you don't want to put too much significance.
This isn't the super Bowl, yeah right, And even if
the Ravens were to lose this game, I don't even
want to think about that. But like it's it's most important.
I think to go into the playoffs on a roll
(04:57):
in hot and the playoffs are going to be what matters.
This game isn't the play a playoff game. Sure, you
want to win the division, but it's not a playoff game. Yeah,
and so that's what's most important. But it's it's right
up there.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
It is, I.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Think, and they know it. Very big game it is.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
And again I think part of it you know that
if you if you win it, there's still more work
to be done. I just think that overall, honestly, like
I agree with all what you said, that that makes sense.
I just think the Ravens are in this mode where
like they just really feel I've said this before. I
just think that they're looking at it as like it's
playoff mode activated and you need to win each of them.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
It's mean, Yeah, I agree. I agree, They're like they
want to win the last three here. Yeah, and it's
about themselves and playing good football, themselves, playing their best football.
They think they believe that if they play their best football,
they can they're not going to get beat.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Yeah, that's just what they believe.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
And opponents asides, you can talk about the Steelers in
the streak of eight to last nine and all that stuff,
they don't really care about that. They locked in on
we need to play our best football. If we play
our best football. We're beating Steelers and then we're gonna
win the last two games and then we're gonna go
in the playoffs hot like.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
And that's what Lamar Jackson made that point at a
postgame press conference when someone asked him about Steelers. We
don't need to worry about Steelers need to worry about us.
We need to warr about our focus. We need to
worry about us playing.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Well that was also before they got to raven Steelers week,
but yeah, I know it was.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
But I think I just don't. I think that they're
more folks. I really do think that they're more focused on,
like doing the things that they like it. They're focused
on like don't hurt ourselves, stop the self inflicted wounds,
protect the football, no penalties, and then the course, like
the football elements of it, but like those big picture
pieces of avoiding that self inflicted mistakes, and then they
(06:43):
feel like they can beat anybody. And that's really what
I think that they're dialed in on more than any
of like the exciting narratives around this game and the
rest of the season.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Right and speaking of Lamar Jackson, you know everybody knows
he hasn't played his best against.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
The Steelers over the years.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
You look at his quarterback rating, it's the lowest against
any team in his career versus the Steelers. And so
the question is why is that? Why have the Steelers
given Lamar trouble?
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Why?
Speaker 3 (07:12):
I don't I mean, I don't know that it's it.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
That was a question. I thought you were going there,
but that was a question to you.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
I think that, well, the Steelers historically, they've had a
really good defense, so you start there. I think that
they're just a team that has a good defense. I
think that they have a really good front. They can
get after the quarterback, which makes life hard. GJ. Watt
is like probably a Hall of Famer and he can recavoc.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Yeah, I don't think it's a problem. He will be
a Hall of.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Fame and so he's hard to go against. Cameron Hayward's
been there throughout Lamar's career, and so those two guys
have really been I think that they can get after you.
And then you go through these games like the Ravens.
I go back to last year's game in Pittsburgh. The
Ravens lost that game, but there was like ten drop
passes in that game and if some of those are caught,
(07:55):
then the Ravens win that game and that quarterback rating
looks a lot better. Then There's also game situations like
this past game this year in Pittsburgh, it was really
the turnovers and that short circuited drives and that put
them the defense in bad position, and that kept the
offense from really getting anything going. So I guess what
I would to still it down to is that the
(08:16):
Steelers have a really good defense, particularly a really good
front that can win one on one matchups and get
pressure on the quarterback. That's like the number one thing.
And then off of that, the Ravens have done things
in those games that have hurt them with penalties and turnovers.
The other thing I would say too, is that Lamar,
(08:38):
this is a it's a crazy stat and this has
been brought up this week. Lamar has never played the
Steelers in Baltimore with a home crowd.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Yeah, with fans and states Like the only time you
played at whom it was COVID year.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
It was a COVID year. So I know we talked
about this the last time these two teams faced off,
and the Ravens have lost eight of nine. There's a
lot of weird games of the in those last nine,
there's a lot of weird one.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
For sure, it's kind of a juke stat.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
It is a juke stat like and so the sad
is what it is. Week seventeen, Ravens arrest and their starters.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
You got like the Covit game, whereas Terrace, McSorley and
r G three and you have games again the end
of the season. It is a juke stat to a
certain degree. So, but they've they've but they've also played with.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
The advantage in this matchup in recent years.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
That aside, they have they have so anyway, long long answer,
I think that those are all part of the reason
why the Steelers have had that success. And it just
to me is like the turnover thing is at the
top of my list.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Yeah, well I think that, and we'll get more into that.
But I think that Lamar Jackson doesn't feel like he's
played really that poorly against the Steelers or offensively. Yeah,
they've had the self inflicted wounds, but I don't think
that he looks at it like, oh, the Steelers have
shut me down and shut this offense down. I don't
think anybody looks at it that way, and some of
(09:55):
the numbers bear that out, Like, yeah, the quarterback rating
is one thing, and that's really hampered by a lot
of the turnovers and whatnot. And you know, they put
a lot of pressure on Lamar in this last game
and his completion rate went down because of it. But
I think that Lamar is like every time he talks
about the series, like, you know, we did some good
things too. Don't just paint the picture like everything was
(10:18):
bad against the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
We moved the ball too.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
We didn't score in the red zone, which they've been
the number one red scoring offense in the league. They
didn't do it against Pittsburgh last time. But like and
things went. They had the fumble on the first offensive
play of the game for the Ravens. Things weren't all rosy,
but like they did some good things, and Lamar's pointed
to that, I think a couple of times.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Yeah, and I agree.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
I agree with that.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
I agree with that. Yeah, And like you look at.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
That last game and they missed two field goals and
they had three turnovers.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Right, exactly, It's hard if you do that right. Certainly,
now it's also hard the Steelers are saying we didn't
score a single touchdown and we still won. So it's
hard to win if you only kick field goals too,
you know. I think the best characterization, and I actually
saw this from a Steelers speed reporter, is in describing
(11:08):
why the Steelers have kind of ruled this rivalry in
recent years. He says, the Steelers drag the Ravens into
the mud every single time, and then they make a
couple more plays, big plays and clutch situations, and that's it.
I think that's it. That's the right characterization. Like the
Steelers play ugly football. It's just what they that's just.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
What they do.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
They don't take many chances, they don't gamble. They get you,
they force you, and they make mistakes. They get a
lot of turnovers, they get takeaways. They don't give the
ball away. They have by far the best turnover ratio
in the league this year, by far, because they don't
put the ball at risk and they try to rip
it off you. And then they hit these moon balls
and these big plays, these outside receivers down the stretch
(11:50):
or get a sack strip. That's what they do. They
make it an ugly, nasty, hard hitting game. And like
I think, they throw teams kind of off kilter. That's
what they've done to the.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
Raven Yeah, And honestly, I don't think it's just Ravens.
That's just how they are. That's how they It's kind
of like the uh, it's kind of like a like
a Big ten college basketball team that also just plays
this slow half court offense and slows down the high
scoring team that runs up and down the field because
they're like using the entire shot clock and it's like, wait,
why is game forty eight to fifty here with two
minutes left? What's going on here?
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Exactly?
Speaker 1 (12:21):
They don't want to get they don't want to get
into a shootout with Lamar Jackson in this offense.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
They do not want any parts of that.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
Yeah. So and they like they have an identity, they
stick to it. They want to run the ball, they
want to be physical, and then they hit some of
those big.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Plays, get takeaways on defense, and so.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
I think that teams, Yeah, so how do you how
do you avoid that? Well, you don't turn the ball
over three times, you don't shoot yourself on the foot
with with penalties, you stay ahead of the chains, and
you don't really allow yourself to be in this situation
where it's a tie game in the.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Fourth quarter, you stay out of the mud.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
You do and like, that's that's easier said than done,
as you're just talking about it. But I think that
doing it kind of comes down to like the fundamental
simple things and you do those well and I think
that the Ravens will win the game. You have to
do those things well. Well.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
We talked to Todd Monkin this week and that was
priority number one, and he made it extremely clear. And
there was a moment out at practice during the portion
open to two reporters in which you know, every week
the Ravens wide receivers and their running backs go through
the same drill of all right, they have the ball
and it's put it high and tight, and they run
(13:28):
through the gaunt the line of their teammates and they
kind of punch at the ball and.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
Try to knock it out and you know that's it's
a ball protection drill. Well, this week Todd Monkin saw the.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Ravens wide receiver's doing it and he was like, Nah,
you're not punching hard enough, you're not ripping hard enough.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Let me come over there and do it myself.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
I will show you and He came running over to that,
to that drill and said, I want it done with
more aggression, like they are trying to rip that ball
off of you.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
They are not good. It ain't a gentle little punch
there throwing haymakers. TJ. Wadde has perfected that.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
Patrick Queen's really good at it too, and against I say,
likely in that last.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Game exactly, like, so we're not messing around this week.
We're we're not doing the drill. We're not just walking
through the drill. We're doing the drill. Yeah, right, And
I liked it. I thought that was I thought that
was awesome because you know, as he points it out,
he has been the offensive cordinator of the Ravens for
three games against the Steelers and they've turned the ball
over eight times.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
That is a killer.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
If the Ravens don't do that this Saturday, I think
they'll win the game.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
And the crazy thing about some of those turnovers, and
this is part of the whole conversation here, is they
seem fluky, like the Justice Hill play last game where
it looks like he has the ball and then it
gets ripped away as he's going to the ground, where
you think you have like a thirty yard game down
the sidelines and you're in position to go and take
the lead.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Actually, now the Steelers got the ball and they ripped
it away in the pile or Derreck Henry fumbles for
the first time in like five hundred and fifty carries
on the second play of the game. Like but those
types of things when they had.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
Hit that wasn't even that like crazy, Yeah, it was
just like that.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
This is this is how it's going to start here.
And so yeah, I really do believe that taking care
of the football. You can say that every game, but
I think it's it's even more. It takes on a
much higher level of importance against this team and this.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
And like I said, this is this is it's not
fluky because the Steelers lead the league in takeaways. Yeah,
they're good at this is what they do. They are
good at getting the ball off of you. They have
their fifteen four or fumble recoveries is by far the
most in the league.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
It's not even close.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Yeah, they're plus eighteen on the turnover margin this year.
That's best in the league. As you mentioned, and they also.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Lead the league takeaways.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
They have thirty thirty of them thirty picks, thirty fumble
recoveries or I'm sorry, fifteen picks. I was like, yeah,
fifteen to fifteen. Here's the math popping up. So they're yeah,
they're just good at it. And like you know, you
can say, and there's been talk about this, you know, oh,
the Steelers they always seem to get that lucky break,
(16:03):
and the Chiefs this year they seem to get that
lucky break. Like it ain't lucky. If it just keeps happening,
then it doesn't qualify as lucky.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Yeah, no, I agree, I mean it's not. I don't
think it's I think we're past that. I think that,
like you just can't look at it. And I know
that when you look at some of these Steelers games,
not even when the Ravens play them. It's like the
Ravens play a game and they're all right, that's even
get some help. But the Ravens got help from the
Eagles last week, so they got the help last week.
But you look at when they play these other games,
and it's it's a similar situation. It's one of these
games that it ends up being a low scoring game,
that they win it late, and that's what they do,
(16:35):
but that's when you do it for as consistently as
they have. That's just part of their identity and it's
not luck, and so you have to know that going
into it and avoid the things that have cost you.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
From a little bit more of an x's nose standpoint
of I think what the Ravens offense needs to do
against the Steelers they have to handle their blitz better.
The Steelers blitz at a forty five percent rate in
their week eleven meeting, which they're not particularly a super
blitz heavy team. This year they ranked nineteenth in the league,
(17:05):
but they blitzed all the Ravens a lot in their
first meeting. They like to force the issue against Lamar Jackson,
and it's just run blitzing too. It's not necessarily just
all right passing situations. We're going to try to get
after him. They're run blitzing to try to get in
the backfield to slow down Derrick Henry, which for the
most part they did in that earlier matchup. He had
one long run, but outside of that did not find
(17:27):
much traction in that earlier meeting. So the Ravens have
to do a better job against the Steelers' blitz both
in running situations and in passing situations. Lamar Jackson just
had was under pressure on almost half his throws in
the first meeting, so that they need to do a
better job against that. And then I would say for
Lamar Jackson, one of the questions coming into this game
(17:49):
is will he run the ball more? So? He had
zero scrambles in that last meeting between these two teams,
which is.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Very rare for Lamar.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
We've seen that more, especially since his mom got on him,
you know, we've we've seen that more. We saw it
in New York at least, And so I think part
of the question mark for me. You know, the Steelers
played forty five percent man coverage in their first meeting.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
If they do.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
That, that's fewer eyes just on Lamar. You know, in
zone coverage they can have eyes on Lamar and rally
to him. Running more man coverage leaves them more susceptible
to Lamar taken off on scrambles. Do we see more
of that Saturday night?
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Well against the Giants has certainly seemed like right out
of the gate, he came into the game thinking like
I'm going to take some of these jars that they're there,
and I know the storyline is of course after what
his mom said after the Eagles game, and so that's
going to persist throughout the rest of the way. We're
all going to reference that all the rest of the season,
the rest of his career. But like like, I do
(18:49):
think that if the I think that if there's an
opportunity for him to take off and rodn He's going
to do it. So do I expect him to run
more than he did the last game. I do. I
also think that the Steelers, in terms of getting the
run game going for the Ravens, like, the Steelers have
a really good run defense, so the fourth best team
in the league when it comes to run defense. So
I think it could be challenging just to be able
(19:10):
to run between the tackles with Derrick Henry, like, that's
just a tough assignment. When you have Hayward in the
middle and a really good defensive front, I think it
could be tough to just get that ground game going
in traditional sense. But Lamar around the edge, he could
have some success there both from a design and a
scramble standpoint, and that could be a way that the
Ravens wik to get themselves in some favorable third and
short situations or second and short situations.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
Right, it's really important for them. I think multiple players
have said it this week, including Lamar. We have to
stay on schedule. That means not the penalties that back
you up, but it's also putting yourself in favorable down
in distant situations.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
Yeah, and then you can find then you extend drives,
then you wear a defense down. Then Henry gets rolling,
you have more opportunities. I think all those things build
off of each other.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
I could see Derrick Henry being the finisher in this game. Yeah, yeah,
but I don't know that it's going to be a
feed Derrick Henry from start to finish.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
He's getting twenty five carries. Kind of yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
I think that, Like you could look at the stats
at halftime and it's like, oh, Henry has you know,
eight for thirty okay, kind of a ho home first half,
and then the second half he finishes with twenty two.
If the Ravens win this game and it closed the
way that we're hoping it does, then he finishes with
twenty two for one fifty. He's like, oh, okay, this
guy had one hundred yards in the second half exactly.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Yep, I totally agree.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Yeah, all right, let's take a break and then when
we come back, we're going to talk about what the
Ravens defense needs to do against the Steelers offense as
well as look at the injury report.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
You're listening to the last podcast we're coming to you
from the Seakeek Studio. We also want to mention our
partners with DraftKings sports Book. They are an official sports
betting partner or the Baltimore Ravens DraftKings Sportsbook. The crown
is yours, all right. So as the Ravens defense gears
up for this game, one thing that could be a
pretty significant difference, and we'll see, is the absence of
George Pickens. He's been dealing with a hamstring injury and
(20:51):
certainly his status is in question. He's a big play
receiver for them. The Ravens know that firsthand, and if
he's not out there, that changes that element of their offense,
which is like I think, if you're distilling down what
they want to do, they want to run, run, run,
and then hit some deep shots. Like They're not a
team that marches down the field consistently throughout a game
On all these like a ton of drives, they're gonna
(21:14):
hit some big plays. They're gonna hit these big plays,
and Pickens is the recipient of those big plays.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
Oftentimes he is yes, and he's far and away. They're
number one wide receiver. I mean he has four hundred
more receiving yards than Calvin Austin.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
And so he is the number one threat.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
And when even when you look at the analytics and
all those things, what the Steelers do with and without
George Pickens on the field, it is a high, high disparity.
I mean in terms of EPA all those things. George
Pickens really in a lot of ways is the engine
that makes them run. So they're bottom five in nearly
(21:53):
every metric this season when he's not on the field,
bottom five and success rate EPA per play even most
traditional stats. So you know, I think that he is
a major player for them. So if he's not able
to play, that makes the Ravens job significantly easier.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
Yeah, I mean, he's a great player, and I think that, like,
if he's not out there, it changes their team. I
think you saw that last week. If you watch their
game against the Eagles, their offense struggled without him on
the field, and so that could be the case in
this game.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Yep. I think obviously another big part for the Ravens
defense is slowing down the Steelers rushing attack. They're going
to run the ball and they're physical. And the interesting
thing about this is you talk about Najie Harris and whatnot.
Jalen Warren got more snaps last week against the Eagles,
and I think that he's healthier, He's starting to get
phase more into their offense. The Ravens have to beware
(22:48):
of him as a receiver and as a runner. He's
got some juice and I think at this point of
the season it would not surprise me to see the
Steelers lean on him a little more heavily than Naji Harrison.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
Personally.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
I think that he's more of a dynamic threat than
nause Is, who's more of your traditional hammer.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
That's interesting. I think that they're good. They're a good
one two punch. They are those two guys. It just
seems like Naji Harris is the guy that's like built
for the raven Steelers game Like. He seems like he's
he's the classic, like big bruising running back who's a
perfect fit for this game.
Speaker 1 (23:17):
Yeah, And I mean the Ravens have kind of countered
in that direction themselves to handle that kind of rushing attack.
You know, Trenton Trenton Simpson after the last Steelers game
is when he saw his snaps start to decline. And
I think it was because in part because of what
happened in that game, and the Ravens have kind of
balked up in the middle next to Rokwan Smith. They
(23:39):
have Malik Harrison and Chris Board both playing more snaps.
I think that that is in part to handle a
rushing attack. Like the Steelers it's gonna be. They know
what kind of game this is gonna be. It's gonna
be a physical, smash mouth game. And was it Roquan
Smith said about Malik Harrison That'll rip your face mask
off or something like that. He'll knock your face mask off.
He's good for a quotas like, yeah, Lee Harrison's built
(24:01):
for this. And so whether it is Naji or Jalen Warren,
I think that you know it's gonna be a physical matchup,
but you do have to watch it. I think what
the Steelers could try to do, all right, You're gonna
counter with Malik Harrison. He's not quite as nimble as
Trent and Simpson is all right, we're.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
Gonna get him.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
Try to get him matched up one on one Jail
and Warren in the passing game and get him out
on the edges and make him move.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
That's how they could counter that.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
Yeah, and Nage can make plays in the passing game too,
he has that.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
He's kind of more of a checkdown guy for them.
Speaker 3 (24:30):
Yeah, he has that ability that he came up actually
a few years ago. You talk about pass Ravens games.
He had that big play in the corner on that
wheel route that won them that game a few years ago.
But anyway, the other thing I think that it's really
big for this defense is the red zone performance. And
that's where they were good last game. And they were
putting some tough situations against the Steelers because of the turnovers,
(24:53):
and they were able to hold up well. If they
can hold up well and just force.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
If if it's six fiehaicles again, I think the Ravens
are gonna win it.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
Like if they keep the Steelers out of the end zone,
I think the Ravens win this game.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
Well, and that's what Zach Orr has been talking about
for the past two weeks. That was the focus during
the bye week was how do we get more takeaways
and red zone defense? Those are the two things, and
they were playing some pretty darn good red zone defense
before that. I think, you know, Zach deserves a ton
of credit. DMPs has been a red zone guy. That
(25:29):
is kind of his I think that's part of his
stamp on this defensive unit is all right, we need
to be a really good red zone defense. And that's
over his career. You know, we've often talked about the DMPs.
It's all right, you can't you can give up some yards,
but when you get the red zone, it's gonna be
really hard to score against the DEMPS, you know, led defense.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
And I think that he's probably had some influence in
that regard and.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
They need to continue to play at a good level
down there.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
Yeah, and like Marlin Huffer had to pick in that game.
And if you can get if you can keep out
of the end zone and get a pick and that's
part of the field, then I think again the Ravens
will win this game.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Nate Wiggins just another lockdown performance on the goal line.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
Mate. Is this the is this the Nate Wigans first
pick game.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
How many times that we talked about is this.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
Going to be the first pick of his career? Game rainfull?
Speaker 2 (26:14):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
I think he continues to elevate. He gave he had
those one on one matchups against some league neighbors down there.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
So Xta Winson gets his hands on a ball kind
of a little bit for Kyle.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
This is the Kyle Hamilton pick.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
I think it is.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
Okay, I think it is.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
I have a gut feeling, you know. The question is
we talked about pickings. Are there fewer moon balls? You know?
I could see Kyle coming over the top on one
of those Russell Wilson moon balls that he Russell throws those.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
Really, it's amazing how good he is at that. But
can the Ravens come over the top get one of those?
Speaker 1 (26:45):
Ardarius Washington has the best bunnies on team according to
the ro Quand Smith. I'd like to see him pick
off one of those moon balls.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
Well, oh, Darius, Friend of the Lounge of course had
him on last week. It's a pick, so he might
just stay hot.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Yeah with Sack Friend of the Lounge. Yeah, podcast Bump
is alive and well.
Speaker 3 (27:02):
Yes, this could be the big Tavis Robinson game talking
about guys who built for Steelers.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
And then on the injury front, so we already covered
pick ins. TJ. Watt's dealing with an ankle, but he's
back at practice, and knowing TJ. Watt and how these
things go, you expect him to be out there in
this game. An interesting one also for the Steelers is
Justin Fields being limited to practice.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
I don't think yeah, abdominal for him, I don't think
that's as important as two members of their secondary one
and former Raven Deshaun Elliott. Yeah, did not practice on
on Tuesday and Wednesday due to a hamstring injury. Does
that potentially limited him or keep him out? And then
the one that sounds even more doubtful is a starting
cornerback Dante Jackson. He's been dealing with a back kind
(27:47):
of pinch nerve. There's a possibility if those two players,
because Deshaun had a really good season and Dante Jackson
also has played really well, if they cannot play, that
would be really two big members of their secondary that
are missing and help out Lamar Jackson this passing game.
Speaker 3 (28:01):
The thing I bring up about Justin Fields obviously it's
like a backup quarterback who cares. But if you if
you remember that game a few weeks ago, they turned
to Justin Fields some key situations, including the last two
players of the game.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
To pay that game, I don't want them in an
ice the game situation. So I'm not I'm not even
worried about Justin Fields saking.
Speaker 3 (28:18):
I think I think that they they they deployed him
in some key spots where they needed kiss and so
I think that that's a that's a wrinkle of their
offense that is a challenge and the Ravens didn't do
a great job of stopping at last time. So if
he's out, that eliminates that possibility. Yep, yep, and then
the Ravens on their front. From an injury standpoint.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
Nelson Agilor is dealing has been dealing with a concussion
this week and so you know he missed the first
two days of practice.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
That remains I think up in the air.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
You know, if he plays, if he doesn't play, that
that could mean more time on Wallace, It could mean
more of devontees Walker. Heah just scored his first touchdowns,
so more opportunities or it's more Isaiah likely in the slot,
you know, more two tight end kind of things. I'd
probably lean more in that direction and Thiland more than
(29:10):
I would say. Oh, this is a real bumping snaps
for Devontes.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
Yeah, so it should be an awesome game. Kickoff is
four thirty Saturday at M and T Bank Stadium. It's
going to be great. Eric Weddle is the legend of
the game, so he's going to be in the house.
It's going to be really fun to see him. We've
also got some really fun stuff.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
You could come get a pick. I feel like he
could just I met.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
Eric's in great shape. He could probably step in and
play and probably get a pick.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
He might get one.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
Yeah, I wouldn't rule I would not rule that out.
We've got the We've got the wristbands with the lights,
so when you're coming into the stadium, make sure you
get a wristband and uh. And then we got some
cool stuff plan for intros and also a holiday light
show with a marching band performance at halftime. So lots
of cool stuff plan for this game. We can't wait
to see you there M and T Bank Stadium again
four point thirty on Saturday. Thank you for listening. We'll
(29:52):
be back with you after that game.
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