Baltimore Beatdown’s staff reacts to the first half of the Ravens’ win-or-go-home matchup with the Steelers.
The Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers are all tied up at 10 points entering halftime of their win-or-go-home matchup. Here are the first-half reactions from Baltimore Beatdown’s staff.
A seven-point lead doesn’t feel like enough given Derrick Henry’s production (15 carries, 112 yards), and the Ravens’ terrible two-minute defense almost allowed a game-tying touchdown before half. Lamar Jackson has not been comfortable dropping back behind the line of scrimmage, but Henry’s effectiveness should only go up in the second half. The defense has looked great outside of that last drive, but the Steelers are still getting too many easy yards. So there’s plenty of reason for cautious optimism. The Ravens are playing well enough to win; that’s for sure. – Nikhil Mehta
Big time stop! A predictably ugly game, but penalties have prevented the Ravens from going into halftime with a larger lead. Pittsburgh predictably has no threat in the pass game outside of the screens to Gainwell and Warren. As long as the defense continues to do its job and the offense can add another ten points, this game should be there for the taking. They absolutely have to eliminate the first-down penalties and let Derrick Henry continue to eat. These next 30 minutes will surely be excruciating. – Mark Myers
Despite the best efforts from the referees, the Ravens have looked like the far superior team. You knew going into this game it would be a close one, it was just a matter of how it would transpire. The Ravens ran the ball effectively but still looked out of sorts in obvious passing situations. In the second half, Monken needs to run the ball and get Jackson in a rhythm with the short passing game. Pittsburgh’s offense is not good without D.K. Metcalf. Zach Orr needs to focus the attention on the Steelers running backs and tight ends. I except a heavy dose of Henry in the second half, but for Baltimore to win, they will need to avoid the dreaded turnover.
– Stephen Bopst
The defense is doing exactly what they need to do, limiting a Steelers offense that’s lacking big play makers to only one field after a big fourth down stop on the goal line to end the half. They do need to improve their tackling. The only offense Pittsburgh’s had has been checkdowns to the running backs. Limit those underneath gains after the catch, and the defense will limit.
The offense meanwhile can’t get out of their own way. Multiple drives stalled and halted by penalties. But the Ravens continue to feed the Birthday King, who’s already over 100 yards. Lamar Jackson looks sharp, dotting multiple passes despite drops from the receivers. This game is a race to 20 points for Baltimore. If the offense can get there, they’ll take the division. – Zach Canter
Category: General Sports
