Steelers (6-0) at Ravens (5-1)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
TV: CBS
Danny Sheridan’s line: Ravens by 4
Steelers’ keys to victory: Pittsburgh needs to apply pressure on Baltimore’s offense early, physically and mentally. That means sending quick pressure against QB Lamar Jackson to force him into quick throws, where he tends to regress as a passer. Dropping linebackers back into coverage seemed to throw him off in previous weeks, so having them look like they’re blitzing only to drop back could create turnovers. Offensively, the Steelers need to score quickly.
Ravens’ keys to victory: Baltimore was one of the most physical teams last year and the Ravens need to remind themselves of that by bullying the Steelers at the line. Defensively, the Ravens need to protect against the big play and put Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger on his back often.
Matchup to watch: Steelers T Chukwuma Okorafor vs. Ravens DE Yannick Ngakoue. Baltimore pulled off a trade for Ngakoue last week, shoring up arguably the only weak spot on an otherwise dominant defense. He’ll be looking to make a statement; he’s scheduled to hit free agency next offseason. Though he’ll likely play on both sides of the line, his easiest test should be against young and inexperienced Okorafor.
Who wins? Both teams’ defenses have been outstanding while the offenses have struggled to find consistency. This game seemingly comes down to which team either coughs up the lead at the end or which team has the grit necessary to claw back in the second half. Baltimore hasn’t shown the ability to mount a comeback, and that’s likely the difference. Steelers 20-17