It’s uncommon that among the finest rivalries within the NFL is so one sided for a sustained time period, however that’s precisely the place we’re at with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. Even whereas the Ravens have been the a lot better crew since 2020, they’re getting crushed by the Steelers. That continued of their first matchup of the 2024 season.
Profitable eight of the previous 9 towards the Ravens leaves little doubt that the Steelers completely have their quantity. Relationship again additional to 2016, the Ravens have gained 5 of the final 17 video games.
Most of that period coincides with Lamar Jackson’s tenure in Baltimore, however NFL Community’s Kyle Brandt says it additionally speaks to the teaching of Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh.
“Hear, Lamar’s nice, you gotta be capable of beat the Steelers,” Brandt stated by way of NFL Community’s Good Morning Soccer. “…In your division, you gotta be the person. I really like Lamar and I hope as they flip this factor round you’re keen on Lamar. But when we love Lamar, now we have to respect him sufficient to say, dude, you’re not taking part in nicely towards your greatest rival. And by the way in which, your coach is getting circles ran round you by his greatest rival. There’s issues in Baltimore.”
Whilst Jackson has progressed as a passer in an enormous manner, the Steelers determined to commit themselves to stopping the run. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin was very open about that in his Friday look on NFL Community. They managed to restrict Derrick Henry to simply 65 yards and a landing and Jackson to simply 46 yards on 4 carries. It was one of many Ravens’ worst speeding performances of the season.
Some coaches could have been scared away by the Ravens’ explosive passing sport, however Mike Tomlin and the Steelers nonetheless set issues as much as make Jackson beat them together with his arm and ensure he wasn’t snug within the pocket. The plan largely labored with simply 16 factors scored by the league’s No. 1 offense that was beforehand scoring 32 factors per sport.
Till this latest stretch of Pittsburgh dominance, the collection historical past between Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh relationship again to 2008 was fairly even. Now, Tomlin has an enormous 21-15 lead together with a 2-1 edge within the postseason.
No matter you credit score this distinction to, Tomlin deserves plenty of credit score for persistently having his crew prepared for one of many NFL’s finest franchises over the previous a number of years.
