Steelers hoping to beat Ravens without Big Ben for first time
MEMORABLE SERIES MOMENT
Ravens 23, Steelers 20 OT
Oct. 1, 2015 at Heinz Field
Since 2004, the Steelers have hosted the Ravens three times without Ben Roethlisberger — and lost every time. The most recent was four years ago when Michael Vick quarterbacked the 2-1 Steelers against the 0-3 Ravens. The Steelers blew a 20-7 lead as kicker Josh Scobee missed fourth-quarter field goals of 49 and 41 yards, and Justin Tucker tied the game for the Ravens with a 42-yard field goal with three seconds left. The Steelers eschewed field goal attempts of 56 and 50 yards in overtime and were stopped both times on fourth-and-short. Tucker then kicked a 52-yarder in overtime for the Ravens win. The Steelers released Scobee and signed Chris Boswell two days later.
TALE OF THE TAPE
“With Terrell Suggs gone, the last vestige of that once-great era of Ravens defense appears to be gone as well. Looking at the tape, there’s nobody there who makes me say, ‘Wow, that’s scary.’ Brandon Williams is a space-eater. He’s a strong guy, a hunker-down dog, but that inside combination with Michael Pierce is no longer potent. And that pass rush is not as hot nor as heavy. They’ve been susceptible to being gashed by the run, which is something you never could say about the Ravens. And big plays over the top have also hurt them. Defensively speaking, this isn’t a team that you sit back and say ‘These guys are scaring me,’ because they’re not that scary on defense.” — Steelers Radio analyst Craig Wolfley.
TOP QUESTION
Can the Steelers stop the Ravens’ inside-outside running threats?
Last year, the Steelers held Ravens reserve QB Lamar Jackson to 27 yards on 9 carries and 12 yards passing in 22 snaps. The Steelers also held then-Saints RB Mark Ingram to 35 yards on 11 carries. But Jackson moved into the Ravens lineup following the second Balt-Pit game and this season is currently averaging an NFL-best 6.6 yards per carry. No. 3 in that category is Ravens RB Ingram at 6.0 yards per carry. They are the heart-and-soul, the inside and outside threats, of the NFL’s No. 1 rushing attack. The young Steelers defense is 22nd against the run but coming off its best game, in which it allowed the Cincinnati Bengals only 73 rushing yards at 3.8 per carry.
GAME BREAKDOWN
What to look for from the Steelers at 1 p.m. at Heinz Field
ON OFFENSE:
Why change anything you did last week with the wildcat and short-passing game? The Steelers ran the slow Bengals inside linebackers and behemoth defensive tackles ragged with jet-action and an assortment of plays that threatened the perimeter. The Ravens defense is similar, so expect the Steeler to attack them outside. “Usually we have,” said guard David DeCastro. James Conner will play, but pass-game playmakers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Vance McDonald are questionable. Ravens CB Jimmy Smith has been ruled out.
ON DEFENSE:
The Steelers are healthy and coming off their best game as rookie Devin Bush and newcomers Mark Barron, Steven Nelson and Minkah Fitzpatrick continue to develop into a cohesive unit. The Steelers also welcome back Vince Williams, who was a starter at ILB before losing his job to a hamstring injury. The run-stuffer with pass-rush ability could find himself right in the middle of an eight-man front to help defend the Ravens’ running game. The Ravens could be without center Matt Skura, who’s questionable with a knee injury.
PREDICTION
No, Roethlisberger’s not playing, and that’s not been a good sign for the Steelers in this rivalry. But the Steelers not only need this game more than the Ravens, they’re playing at home in October, a spot in which they’re 19-5 under Mike Tomlin. They’re also 17-4 in the second of back-to-back home games under Tomlin. The intersection of those two spots is 6-0 (avg. score 33-17), so I’m thinking this will be lucky No. 7, even without No. 7. … Steelers, 23-20.