The final six occasions the Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers met earlier than Sunday, the end result was determined by 5 factors or fewer.
Why would this be any completely different, even when it had each probability to be?
With the Ravens trailing 14-10 and simply over a minute to play, Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith stripped quarterback Lamar Jackson from behind as he dropped again to cross and TJ Watt recovered and returned it to Baltimore’s 19-yard line. Chris Boswell added a 42-yard subject aim to seal an inconceivable 17-10 comeback victory in entrance of an introduced 67,272 at Acrisure Stadium.
The Steelers (3-2) have now gained six of their previous seven in opposition to the Ravens (3-2).
But this was one which Baltimore let get away.
With the Ravens clinging to a two-point lead late within the fourth quarter, they caught an enormous break when the Steelers’ Gunner Olszewski fumbled a punt return and cornerback Kevon Seymour recovered it and returned the ball to Pittsburgh’s 7 with 5:48 to go. But dealing with a third-and-goal on the Steelers’ 5-yard line with simply over 4 minutes left, Jackson was intercepted in the long run zone by rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr. on an tried fade to Odell Beckham Jr.
The Steelers then drove 80 yards in eight performs, with quarterback Kenny Pickett connecting with large receiver George Pickens down the appropriate sideline for a 42-yard landing previous cornerback Marlon Humphrey — making his season debut after mid-August foot surgical procedure — to present the Steelers their first lead of the day at 14-10.
Before it even acquired to that, although, a particular groups error value the Ravens once more.
With Baltimore clinging to a 10-3 lead early within the fourth, the ball on its 14-yard line and the gang abruptly woke up, Miles Killebrew broke by the road and blocked Jordan Stout’s punt, sending the ball out of the again of the tip zone for a security to chop the deficit to 5.
After Olszewski returned Stout’s 60-yard free kick 24 yards to present the offense the ball on its 44, Pittsburgh drove 49 yards on 9 performs with Boswell connecting on a 25-yard subject aim halfway by the fourth to trim the deficit to 2.
The Ravens had a number of alternatives to keep away from being in that place within the first place.
They outgained the Steelers 244-88 within the first half. They had the ball for 18:24, in comparison with simply 11:36 for the Steelers. They ran 43 performs to Pittsburgh’s 26 and drove into Pittsburgh territory on every of their first three possessions.
Yet, on the half, it was only a one-score sport, 10-3.
Most puzzling was the Ravens’ choice to go for it on a fourth-and-3 from the Steelers’ 23-yard line with 19 seconds remaining within the first half. Instead of a 40-yard subject aim attempt by probably the most correct kicker in NFL historical past, Jackson was pressured to scramble away from Watt and his desperation toss to Zay Flowers up the appropriate sideline was lengthy and fell harmlessly to the turf.
That was hardly the one missed alternative.
Tight finish Mark Andrews dropped what would have been a 4-yard landing cross from Jackson within the second quarter. One play later, large receiver Rashod Bateman adopted go well with. Baltimore settled for a 23-yard subject aim from Justin Tucker.
There have been different miscues, too, together with a Justice Hill fumble simply as he crossed midfield with the Ravens on the transfer once more.
In the primary half, the Ravens’ protection held Pickett to only 7 of 15 passing for 60 yards. Pittsburgh didn’t fare any higher on the bottom, with Najee Harris managing solely 12 yards on 5 carries.
In the tip, Jackson completed 22-for-38 with 236 yards and an interception, whereas Pickett went 18-for-32 with 224 yards and landing. It was sufficient for one more Steelers win.
This story will likely be up to date.
Week 6
Ravens vs. Titans
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Sunday, 9:30 a.m.
TV: NFL Network
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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Source: www.bostonherald.com