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Staff picks for Week 11
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens will square off in Week 11 with first place in the AFC North on the line. In the biggest matchup of these two teams in recent memory, here is how are staff sees things playing out.
Welcome to the rivalry Russell Wilson. The Steelers defense will stick to their blueprint of running an outside linebacker straight at Lamar Jackson. But this time, the reigning MVP will be the passer he’s never been against Pittsburgh. It’s going to take some fourth quarter heroics, but Russ will rise to the occasion with a final drive comeback. Steelers 30, Ravens 29.- Kyle Chrise
It’s Steelers-Ravens. When we think it’ll be a shootout, its low scoring. When we think it’ll be a ball control game, the offenses go off. I think the Steelers take this one 24-23.- Ryan Parish
My most confident prediction is that it’ll come down to the wire. The Ravens are a tough opponent with an elite offense and a defense that’s better than the numbers show. Ultimately, I think Pittsburgh wins here thanks to home advantage and a better defense — but it’s going to be stressful. 27-26, Pittsburgh.- Ryland Bickley
I would like to keep the positive vibes flowing, but this is a different matchup than the ones that have seen the Steelers win seven of the last eight in the series. As the Read and React guys pointed out in their preview, Rashod Bateman is putting up the first legit WR2 production that Lamar Jackson has ever had and the pass defense weakness of the Ravens is a no-go zone for the Steelers offense. It’s a bad week to have Donte Jackson limited to one full practice with a hamstring injury and to not have Alex Highsmith available. Against the Colts and Cowboys, the defense without Highsmith was a toothless unit. For the Steelers to win they will need some combination of Najee Harris having a huge game, Preston Smith playing flawlessly in Highsmith’s absence, and winning the turnover battle. If full strength on defense I would be a believer, but I don’t have faith this week. Ravens 28 Steelers 20.- Tom Fox
This feels like the ultimate trap game; the Steelers have historically played quite well against Lamar Jackson, but with Derrick Henry alongside him, is this a whole new beast Mike Tomlin is yet to conquer? Can the defense contain Zay Flowers over the middle of the field, where he found immense success against the Denver Broncos’ stingy secondary? Those questions are what’s keeping me up at night. The good news is that though this is a shut-down rushing defense, they let up a bit through the air (though star safety Kyle Hamilton is returning from injury, another land mine to avoid). I think Russell Wilson and George Pickens will connect on enough big plays to keep this a close one, but the Steelers are ultimately outmatched, 27-24, for the highest scoring Ravens-Steelers matchup we’ve seen since 2020.- Kate Magdziuk
The Steelers have owned this matchup over the last half decade, but their last two losses in the series have come at home. The result of this game won’t surprise me either way. The Steelers have always played Lamar Jackson very well. And while Derrick Henry will be an added threat, the Steelers do have the ability to slow down Baltimore’s run game without having to stack the box. My gut says the Ravens win, my heart says never pick Baltimore. Steelers 24-Ravens 19.- Jarrett Bailey