Here’s what the Baltimore Sun sports activities workers needed to say instantly after the Ravens’ 16-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Sunday night time’s Week 17 recreation at M&T Bank Stadium.
Jonas Shaffer, reporter: Tyler Huntley mentioned he was making an attempt to make a play on the Steelers’ game-sealing interception, which could as properly be the theme of this late-season Ravens offense: Just making an attempt to make a play. The protection was robust sufficient to get a win. The particular groups play was robust sufficient to get a win. But this offense? Not with Lamar Jackson sidelined. Not with the state of the Ravens’ extensive receivers. Not with a floor recreation that wanted to be nice however was merely good. Time’s working out.
Childs Walker, reporter: The Ravens’ two-minute protection allow them to down once more because the Steelers drove 80 yards in 3:20 to come back from behind in a typical Baltimore-Pittsburgh slugfest. The Steelers went proper on the Ravens’ energy and succeeded, dashing for 108 yards within the first half and nearly 200 for the sport. Clutch performs in protection by Brandon Stephens and Chuck Clark saved Pittsburgh from reaching the tip zone within the first half. J.Okay. Dobbins ran the Ravens into place to attain simply earlier than halftime, and Tyler Huntley confirmed appreciable poise in ending the drive with a landing cross to Isaiah Likely. Such red-zone conversions have been too scarce for the Ravens. Huntley made one other terrific throw to Mark Andrews within the third quarter to dig the Ravens out of a gap and put Justin Tucker in place to hit from 51 yards. Now, they’ll wait to see what the Cincinnati Bengals do Monday night time in opposition to the Buffalo Bills and extra importantly, to see if Lamar Jackson returns to follow this week.
Mike Preston, columnist: Championship-caliber groups shouldn’t get beat by a division rival at dwelling late within the common season with a rookie quarterback. Pittsburgh beat the Ravens at their very own recreation with a powerful working assault and Kenny Pickett made some huge performs on the proper time. The Ravens’ “bend but don’t break” protection bent on the unsuitable time within the closing minutes. The excellent news is that the Ravens have already earned a playoff bid. The dangerous information is that they misplaced to a Steelers staff that struggled earlier within the season however has made strides of late.
Ryan McFadden, reporter: The Steelers had the Ravens’ protection on edge with their working recreation, totaling 198 yards on the bottom as working again Najee Harris performed onerous all through the night time. Although the Ravens obtained a stable outing from working again J.Okay. Dobbins and tight finish Mark Andrews, the offense as an entire continues to disappoint and present its incapacity to deal with pressure-packed moments, just like the one it confronted throughout the last seconds Sunday.
C.J. Doon, editor: In as we speak’s NFL, solely the Ravens and Steelers can play a basic recreation scoring lower than 30 mixed factors. Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett launched himself to the rivalry with a shocking last drive, capping an 11-play, 80-yard march with a memorable 10-yard landing cross to working again Najee Harris. Everything that occurred — even a scrum and ensuing pointless roughness on Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward that helped the Ravens rating their solely landing — felt massively essential. We’ve come to anticipate nothing much less from this rivalry, which delivers drama even with a backup quarterback taking over an unproven rookie. There’s nonetheless lots for the Ravens to enhance on after they gave up their most dashing yards all season, couldn’t rating after getting a 56-yard kickoff return and allowed two lengthy drives within the fourth quarter. Every week, it seems like we’re left with extra questions than solutions about this staff’s postseason aspirations.
Tim Schwartz, editor: The Ravens couldn’t cease Steelers working again Najee Harris, who ran throughout them earlier than catching the game-winning landing within the last minute. Rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett was additionally glorious on the ultimate drive, finishing 5 of 6 passes for 64 yards. Baltimore’s protection was stable total, however this offense can not get the job accomplished when it issues with Tyler Huntley underneath heart. They gained’t go anyplace until Lamar Jackson comes again, and he’ll must shake off the rust quick. At least tight finish Mark Andrews returned to kind with 100 receiving yards and working again J.Okay. Dobbins carried the ball 17 instances and appears wholesome. On to Cincinnati, the place the Ravens hope to nonetheless have an opportunity to win the AFC North.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com