The Ravens overwhelmed a debuting quarterback to beat the Cleveland Browns, 28-3. The Pittsburgh Steelers performed dismal offense in falling, 30-6, to the Houston Texans. Which workforce could have the benefit Sunday?
Ravens passing sport vs. Steelers cross protection
Lamar Jackson performed masterfully towards a Cleveland Browns protection that had smothered its first three opponents, finishing 15 of 19 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns. He’s averaging a career-low 6.8 air yards per try however threw a pair of gorgeous downfield passes, together with a 43-yard, on-the-run strike to rookie extensive receiver Zay Flowers that arrange a landing. He’s finishing a career-high 74.3% of his passes. Jackson labored with out two of his high targets in Odell Beckham Jr. (ankle) and Rashod Bateman (hamstring) in Cleveland. Flowers (24 receptions on 29 targets, 224 yards) has been the workforce’s most prolific cross catcher. Tight finish Mark Andrews appeared absolutely recovered from the quadriceps damage that stored him out of the season opener, catching a pair of landing passes and rumbling for a 36-yard catch-and-run towards the Browns. Beckham and Bateman did follow Wednesday. Jackson’s cross safety is a priority, with beginning tackles Ronnie Stanley (knee) and Morgan Moses (shoulder) battling accidents. Stanley was a full participant in follow Wednesday. The Ravens will depend on supplementary blockers similar to fullback Patrick Ricard, Andrews and maybe freshly signed tight finish Eric Tomlinson to impede Pittsburgh’s elite edge rusher, T.J. Watt.
Watt has performed at his typical All-Pro degree, main the Steelers with six sacks, 13 quarterback hits and two compelled fumbles. Pittsburgh ranks thirteenth in cross DVOA after Texans rookie C.J. Stroud threw for 306 yards and two touchdowns on simply 30 makes an attempt in that 30-6 blowout. The Steelers blitz on a middling 27.9% of dropbacks. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick stays their star playmaker within the secondary however has graded as common slightly than glorious by way of 4 video games, per Pro Football Focus. Houston’s high extensive receiver, Nico Collins, torched the Steelers for 168 yards on seven catches, and Davante Adams caught 13 passes for 172 yards towards them of their Week 3 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, so this could be per week for Flowers or Beckham (if he returns) to feast. The Steelers have made life troublesome for Jackson, who has thrown six interceptions and brought 16 sacks in 5 profession video games towards them.
EDGE: Ravens
Steelers passing sport vs. Ravens cross protection
Quarterback Kenny Pickett exited the Texans sport due to a knee bruise, that means the Ravens might face backup Mitch Trubisky, whom they intercepted 3 times in a victory final December. Pickett, the Steelers’ 2022 first-round draft choose, has not performed nicely, throwing 4 interceptions in 4 video games for an offense that ranks twenty second in changing third downs and twenty eighth in scoring touchdowns from the crimson zone. Pittsburgh ranks thirtieth in cross DVOA, signaling an general lack of effectivity. Wide receiver George Pickens (16 catches on 30 targets, 263 yards) is a gifted, inconsistent high goal, however the Steelers shall be with out tight finish Pat Freiermuth (hamstring), considered one of their most dependable choices on third down and within the crimson zone. Their cross safety has finished Pickett no favors, with left guard Isaac Seumalo grading as the one above-average blocker, per Pro Football Focus.
The Ravens intercepted rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson 3 times and hit him eight instances of their win over Cleveland. Their secondary, with Brandon Stephens filling in for Marlon Humphrey at cornerback and Geno Stone filling in for Marcus Williams at security, has exceeded expectations. Williams (pectoral) practiced all of final week, so he might return towards the Steelers. Coordinator Mike Macdonald confirmed an curiosity in utilizing three-safety units, with Kyle Hamilton enjoying nearer to the road of scrimmage, earlier than Williams was damage. Macdonald has upped his blitz charge to 31.4% this yr, and the Ravens rank fourth within the league with 15 sacks regardless of not having a dominant edge rusher. Freshly signed exterior linebacker Kyle Van Noy stepped proper in with 4 pressures in 23 snaps towards Cleveland. Jadeveon Clowney has been the workforce’s most constant cross rusher, with 1 1/2 sacks, 5 quarterback hits and 13 hurries. Linebackers Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen have terrorized quarterbacks, who’ve averaged a league-worst 3.7 yards per try towards the Ravens, as blitzers.
EDGE: Ravens
Ravens working sport vs. Steelers run protection
The Ravens turned to their working sport to interrupt the dam towards Cleveland’s aggressive protection. Gus Edwards led the workforce with 48 yards on 15 carries, and Jackson scored two touchdowns, however it was Justice Hill’s return from a turf toe damage that gave the Ravens a unique, exterior dimension. He and Melvin Gordon III mixed for 54 yards on six carries. Coordinator Todd Monken’s offense ranks fourth in dashing, averaging a stable 4.4 yards per carry. When the Ravens, with out Jackson, beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh final season, energy working was their weapon of alternative.
The Steelers are off to a subpar begin on this space, rating twenty ninth in run protection and permitting 4.7 yards per carry. The San Francisco 49ers ran for 188 yards towards them within the season opener, and the Browns added 198 in Week 2. Pittsburgh misses defensive finish Cameron Heyward, who’s on injured reserve. It doesn’t have a dominant inside run defender, and linebackers Kwon Alexander and Cole Holcomb have graded as merely respectable, based on Pro Football Focus.
EDGE: Ravens
Steelers working sport vs. Ravens run protection
The Steelers haven’t run nicely both, averaging simply 3.6 yards per carry and rating thirty first in rush DVOA. Najee Harris (210 yards on 49 carries) stays their high choice, whereas Jaylen Warren is a better risk to catch passes out of the backfield. Pickett and Trubisky transfer nicely, although neither is a high-volume working risk, Pickett’s bruised knee might restrict him even when he performs.
The Ravens have allowed too many double-digit positive aspects exterior the sort out, partially as a result of they’re counting on inexperienced gamers similar to Tavius Robinson and Jeremiah Moon to set the perimeters. They’ve been stable general, limiting opponents to three.8 yards per carry and rating sixth in rush DVOA. Michael Pierce and Travis Jones have clogged inside working lanes, whereas Smith and Queen shut on opposing ball carriers as shortly as any linebackers within the league.
EDGE: Ravens
Ravens particular groups vs. Steelers particular groups
The Ravens rank twenty sixth in particular groups DVOA, largely due to their poor punt protection over the primary three video games. Punter Jordan Stout was glorious in Cleveland, dropping three contained in the Browns’ 20-yard line. Thanks to the Ravens’ effectivity within the crimson zone, kicker Justin Tucker has made simply 4 of six discipline purpose makes an attempt, together with his misses coming from 59 and 61 yards.
The Steelers rank sixteenth in particular groups DVOA. Kicker Chris Boswell had made all seven of his discipline purpose makes an attempt, three from past 50 yards. Punt returner Calvin Austin has been the weak hyperlink with simply 30 yards on six returns.
EDGE: Even
Ravens intangibles vs. Steelers intangibles
The Ravens, already 2-0 within the division, know they’re in place to construct a significant lead within the AFC North regardless of all their accidents within the first quarter of the season. They additionally know the Steelers are hardly ever pushovers, even after they appear to be struggling. John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin are one another’s most enduring teaching rivals, with Harbaugh’s document at 15-18 in his profession towards Pittsburgh.
Tomlin promised adjustments after the Steelers’ decisive loss in Houston. They had been additionally blown out by the 49ers, although they overcame their offensive woes to win shut video games towards the Browns and Raiders. The Steelers are going through uncertainty at quarterback and can’t fall again on a dominant protection, however historical past says Tomlin will squeeze as a lot as he can from his roster by the top of the season.
EDGE: Ravens
Prediction
These groups performed a 16-14 sport and a 16-13 sport final season, reminding us that it’s folly to select a blowout both means on this rivalry. That mentioned, the Ravens have the higher quarterback, the higher protection, higher outcomes towards widespread opponents and an opportunity to construct on their AFC North lead. They gained’t permit Pittsburgh’s offense to get going and can flip to their working sport to safe a rugged victory. Ravens 23, Steelers 16
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Source: www.bostonherald.com