This post was originally published on this site
The Steelers’ self-inflicted wounds cost them a win
Two forced fumbles that the Ravens recover. A fumble inside the five with chance to tie the game. A pick-six after a massive momentum-swinging interception. And a partridge in a pear tree. The Pittsburgh Steelers had a chance to put a bow on the AFC North for the first time since 2020, and instead shot themselves in the foot multiple times between massive Derrick Henry runs in a 34-17 loss.
This is the first time the Steelers lost to a Lamar Jackson-led Ravens team since 2019, but it wasn’t No. 8 who took center stage in Week 16. Pittsburgh couldn’t stop Derrick Henry, who had 162 yards on nearly seven yards per carry and was the thorn in the Steelers’ side all afternoon. But what was also an issue was the constant miscommunications defensively. Cory Trice jumped up on Isaiah Likely who ran a short route, which left Rashod Bateman open on a corner route that Damontae Kazee couldn’t get to in time for a touchdown. Kazee also failed to take away the middle of the field on a Mark Andrews touchdown that put the Ravens ahead 24-17, which was a lead they wouldn’t give back.
And while the defense had plenty of issues on the day, they were also missing several starters, including DeShon Elliott, which proved to be pivotal due to the aforementioned lapses. Donte Jackson was also out, and Joey Porter left with a calf injury. That said, Jackson isn’t who killed them. He threw for 203 yards and all three of his scores were after Henry marched them down the field.
The over-arching story of this game, though, will be the two costly turnovers by Russell Wilson. Instead of sliding inside the five after a big scramble, Wilson dove forward and lost the ball on a hit from Ar’Darius Washingon, which cost the Steelers a chance to take the lead and completely changed the complexion of the game. Even though the Steelers battled back with two Wilson touchdown passes to tie the game, but the Ravens then marched right down the field and the Andrews touchdown put them in front for good. Minkah Fitzpatrick ended his nearly two-year long drought by getting an interception, but Wilson threw a pick-six to Marlon Humphrey two plays later to all but end the game.
The Steelers were given multiple opportunities to win the game, and squandered potential scoring chances with turnovers and doubled down by not being able to slow down Derrick Henry. Now, they are in danger of losing three consecutive games when they face the Chiefs on Christmas, potentially going from 10-3 to 10-6 in less than two weeks.