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Special Preview- NFL, Week 14

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens

Steelers (6-6):

It’s hard to believe that at one point this was a 4–1 football team. Since then, they’ve gone 2–4 over their last six games and are barely hanging on. It’s been difficult to watch at times because I’m so used to them having an identity, and now they’re simply a soft football team—and Sunday against the Buffalo Bills in Week 13 further proved that. I’ve said all year that this group doesn’t have an identity whatsoever. In past years, they were a nasty, physical team that controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football and could run the ball. The Steelers got off to a quick start last week against the Bills, but after that it was all Buffalo. Honestly, I saw a team that quit, which is unacceptable. I’m used to them at least fighting. Years ago, they could run the football and stop the run. This year, they can do neither! Back in November, I told someone that this offense looks exactly the same as last year’s, with the only difference being Aaron Rodgers starting at quarterback over Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Yes, he may be better than both of them, but this offense doesn’t scare anyone. If you bottle up Metcalf, who else is a threat? This is why I wish they had tried to acquire another receiver at the trade deadline. I can guarantee they’d be in much better shape now. This afternoon, they’ll attempt to stop the bleeding in a rivalry game.

Ravens (6-6):

Who are they? Because I can certainly tell you they aren’t the team that was a game away from the Super Bowl a few seasons ago or the one that won the division in back-to-back years. Have they regrouped since the 1–5 start? Absolutely. At one point, they had won five straight games. Then came Thanksgiving night, and they set themselves back. Their offense was too inconsistent for my liking, and they turned the ball over five times—never a recipe for winning. Surprisingly, the Ravens are still one of the best running teams in the league, and that continues to be their bread and butter: lean on the ground attack, and good things happen. I want to talk about the quarterback for a moment. Something is up with Lamar Jackson. I know he’s missed a few games due to injury, and I admire him for coming back and trying to play. But I believe he’s more hurt than he’s letting on and wouldn’t be surprised if he had some kind of procedure when the season ends. When healthy, Lamar is one of the most explosive players in the league with his legs. This year, I don’t see that same element—I see more of a pocket-passing approach. I also respect that he publicly said injuries aren’t the reason for the struggles and that it’s more about a lack of offensive execution. That’s leadership. I was asked last week who I thought would win the AFC North, and I still said Baltimore because they have the best defense in the division. It’s Week 14, and it’s Steelers week.

Steelers X-Factor: Calvin Austin III

This offense needs something to spark it, and I think Calvin can be that guy. He’s a speedster, which makes him difficult to limit. Austin has the vertical speed the Ravens must respect at all times, and this Baltimore defense can be a bit too aggressive. They also struggle with pure speed, and Calvin provides that surprise element in a rivalry where games are always tight.

Ravens X-Factor: Kyle Hamilton

He’s the best safety in the league right now. Whenever Baltimore and Pittsburgh play, the games are close, physical, and usually decided by an explosive play, turnover, or blown assignment. Kyle is extremely versatile—he can play deep safety, the slot, linebacker, or rush off the edge. The Ravens love using him to confuse offenses, and that will be his role today. The Steelers love attacking the middle of the field with crossers, and Hamilton can erase that with his range and instincts.

Final Thoughts:

Does anyone want to win this division? Both teams enter this game 6–6 and tied atop the AFC North. This rivalry goes back decades, and I still remember the days of Jerome Bettis, Hines Ward, Ray Lewis, and Ed Reed. This is the first of two meetings, and the stakes are high for both the division and the AFC playoff picture. Can the Steelers neutralize Kyle Hamilton? To do so, they need pre-snap motion to make him declare, and double moves to punish his aggressive jumps. Defensively, Pittsburgh must make Derrick Henry run horizontally, not vertically. Force stretch runs outside instead of allowing him to get downhill, and win the field-position battle. Will the Ravens feed Derrick Henry? Good things tend to happen when they do. They must let him control the pace, disrupt the Steelers’ timing with varied pressures and looks, and attack Pittsburgh’s secondary, which has struggled in coverage. Expect a close, hard-hitting, physical game that comes down to the wire.

Prediction:

Ravens 20, Steelers 17