Last Sunday, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin expressed his respect for Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson by referring to him as “Mr. Jackson.” This gesture came ahead of an intense matchup that saw the Steelers edge out the Ravens with a narrow 18-16 victory, further solidifying their lead at the top of the AFC North. Jackson now finds himself with a 1-4 record against the Steelers, his team’s fiercest rival.
In a post-game reflection, Jackson admitted his struggles against the Steelers, saying, “I can’t call it. I can’t call it,” highlighting the frustration he feels in matches against them. He finished the game with 207 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception. With just over a minute left on the clock and a chance to even the score, Jackson faced a wall of Steelers defenders; his desperation pass failed to find its target, sealing the win for Pittsburgh.
The Steelers’ strategy of relying on field goals, six overall, proved effective, compensating for their lower average yards per play compared to the Ravens. Jackson acknowledged that ball possession and minimizing turnovers are crucial in this heated rivalry, stating, “It’s the team who has more possession of the ball and keeping it safe.” However, the Ravens struggled with penalties, leading the league with 92 and committing 12 of them for 80 yards against the Steelers—a factor that coach John Harbaugh identified as significantly hindering their efforts.
Kicker Chris Boswell was instrumental for Pittsburgh, making six field goals for the second time this season, while the reliability of Baltimore’s Justin Tucker was called into question after he missed two attempts early in the game. Harbaugh defended Tucker, saying, “He knows that… He’s very capable. Just kick them straight and we’ll be good.”
Despite the loss, Ravens fans can look forward to upcoming games as opportunities for growth and improvement in both performance and discipline. The team has shown in the past that they can bounce back from setbacks, and with the talent on the roster, there is every reason to stay hopeful.
Overall, the matchup underscored the importance of discipline and execution in high-stakes rivalry games, and both teams will be keenly focused on these aspects as the season progresses.