Pittsburgh Steelers Set For AFC Wild Card Clash Against Baltimore Ravens
The Pittsburgh Steelers will travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens in an AFC Wild Card matchup on Sunday, January 15th. The Steelers finished the regular season with a 9-8 record, while the Ravens finished 10-7. This will be the third time these two teams have met in the playoffs, with the Steelers holding a 2-0 advantage.
Steelers’ Path to the Playoffs
The Steelers started the season 1-4, but rallied to win eight of their last 11 games to earn a Wild Card berth. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been playing well down the stretch, throwing for over 300 yards in each of his last four games. Running back Najee Harris has also been a key contributor for the Steelers, rushing for over 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.
Ravens’ Path to the Playoffs
The Ravens also started the season 1-4, but they have won six of their last eight games to earn a Wild Card berth. Quarterback Lamar Jackson has been playing at an MVP level this season, throwing for over 3,000 yards and 29 touchdowns. Running back J.K. Dobbins has also been a key contributor for the Ravens, rushing for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.
Head-to-Head Matchup
The Steelers and Ravens have met twice in the playoffs, with the Steelers winning both games. The most recent meeting came in the 2014 AFC Divisional Round, when the Steelers won 30-17. The Steelers are also 6-4 against the Ravens in the regular season since 2010.
Key Matchups
There are several key matchups to watch in this game. One matchup is the Steelers’ pass rush against the Ravens’ offensive line. The Steelers have one of the best pass rushes in the NFL, led by T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward. The Ravens have a solid offensive line, but they will need to be at their best to protect Jackson from the Steelers’ pass rush.
Another key matchup is the Steelers’ secondary against the Ravens’ passing game. The Steelers have a solid secondary, but they will be tested by the Ravens’ high-powered passing attack. Jackson is one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the NFL, and he has a lot of weapons to work with, including Mark Andrews, Marquise Brown, and Rashod Bateman.
Prediction
This is a tough game to predict, but I think the Steelers will win. The Steelers have a lot of experience in the playoffs, and they are playing with a lot of confidence right now. I think Roethlisberger will have a big game, and I think the Steelers’ defense will be able to slow down Jackson and the Ravens’ offense.
Conclusion
The Steelers and Ravens are two of the most storied franchises in the NFL, and this is sure to be a great playoff matchup. I can’t wait to see how it plays out.