Baltimore Ravens

5 Things The Ravens Must Do To Beat The Steelers

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:43 p.m. ET

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Dec 27, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith (22) intercepts Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) (not pictured) pass intended for wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) during the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Baltimore Ravens defeated Pittsburgh Steelers 20-17. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Ravens have beaten the Pittsburgh Steelers three straight times. For the streak to continue, the Ravens need to accomplish five things on Sunday.

When you look at the Steelers, you see a team that hasn’t quite figured it out. They have a surplus of talent on their offense. While the defense isn’t great, it’s serviceable. The Steelers have lost three games this season in which they have been walloped by their opponent. The Eagles beat them 34-3. The Dolphins had their way and injured Ben Roethlisberger on their way to a 30-15 win. Without their quarterback, Pittsburgh fell to New England 27-16. Three of the Steelers wins were blowouts. Which Steelers team is the real one?

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The Ravens have had about as frustrating of a 3-4 start as you can have in the NFL. They have lost four straight games, including a loss to the hapless Jets. After a suspect 3-0 start, John Harbaugh’s Ravens have seen their faults catch up with them. The Ravens still haven’t played a complete game. They either have a slow start and a crazy second half, or a good start that crumbles away. There has been no in between this year.

Both teams have gone through a bye week. Both teams needed to collect themselves. Now, we will see if the Ravens have what it takes to salvage the season. This game is so pivotal. With that in mind, let’s look at the five things that has to happen for the Ravens to win.

Sep 27, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith (22) intercepts the ball in front of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) during the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

1. Jimmy Smith Has To Slow Down Antonio Brown

The Ravens secondary is capable when Jimmy Smith is on the field. When number twenty-two leaves, that’s when things get shaky. Just ask the New York Giants. When Smith was in the game, Odell Beckham did nothing. When Smith left the game with a concussion big plays to Beckham killed the Ravens. Smith is as valuable as any Ravens player and it showed in that game.

Antonio Brown is the best receiver in the NFL. He is making the wide receiver position look easy right now. He has 48 receptions. The next leading receiver for the Steelers is Le’Veon Bell with 30 receptions. That’s right, it’s Brown and everyone else with the Steelers offense. If Baltimore can take Brown away, they can limit the offense of the Steelers.

The Ravens have only one way to stop Antonio Brown without opening things up for other players. Smith has to step up and take it to Brown. The Steelers have other players that can do damage. The Ravens have to tell Pittsburgh to beat them with one of their complementary receivers. Smith must shut down Brown.

Sep 25, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) slides to avoid the tackle of Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (91) and free safety Jalen Mills (31) during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

2. Get After Big Ben

Ben Roethlisberger is coming back from a meniscus injury. The Steelers quarterback cannot be allowed to get comfortable in this game. The Ravens need to hit him early and often in this game. We all know that Roethlisberger is coming back. Nobody soaks up the drama quite like Roethlisberger. The Ravens need to make the injury a factor. If Roethlisberger gets on a roll, he will be hard to stop. If he never gets rolling, the Ravens will be in good shape.

The Ravens want to make this an ugly football game. If the Ravens offense is going to continue to struggle, a slug-fest is the only way they can win. The Ravens have to be aggressive. They have to blitz Roethlisberger. Every hurry and every hit counts against Roethlisberger. If he is healthy, getting him down on the ground is the only way to truly stop him. Nothing changes strategy wise when he’s banged up.

The Ravens know how to beat the Steelers. They have to be aggressive against the Steelers. It’s the only way that has ever worked.

Oct 16, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Terrance West (28) runs the ball against New York Giants linebacker Devon Kennard (59) during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

3. Commit To the Run Game:

The Ravens are best when they commit to the run game. We know this because this offense has been as bad as we’ve ever seen in the Harbaugh era; a diligent run game has been the most obvious thing missing. Flacco drops back to pass on almost every play. Defenses don’t have to stay honest. Right now the offense is about as predictable as the sun coming up in the morning. If the Ravens don’t commit to the running game, the passing game isn’t going to take off.

Here’s the deal, out of every 80 plays Terrance West and Kenneth Dixon need to see the ball 30-45 times. That is the sweet spot for the purple and black. The Ravens have two star running backs waiting to show the world what they’ve got. The Ravens are acting like they can’t run the football.

The running game isn’t going to break out 20 plus yard runs left and right. If you get stuffed, you have to keep on pounding the rock. The Steelers are going to give a struggling Joe Flacco every blitz imaginable. He can’t deal with pass rush this season. The run game could be Flacco’s best friend.

Sep 25, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta (88) signals a first down during the second quarter of a football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

4. Use What You Actually Have

The Ravens don’t have three good wide receivers. Steve Smith Sr. is hurt. Mike Wallace is the only receiver that scares anybody. Because of this irrefutable fact, the purple and black must use the players that actually can help them. The Ravens must re-brand into a running football team.

The Ravens should run a majority of their plays with Kyle Juszczyk in the backfield or with two tight ends. Since Crockett Gillmore is dealing with an injury, Darren Waller and Dennis Pitta seem to be the perfect pair against the Steelers.

The Ravens love their 11 personnel sets. This is baffling because they have gotten nothing out of this personnel group. The Ravens play-makers are in the backfield and at the tight end spot. They need to utilize their best players. They need to do what works, rather than banging their heads against the wall.

Sep 21, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh talks with line judge Mark Perlman during the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Ravens won 23-21. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

5. Have A Sense Of Urgency:

The Ravens have to get off to a fast start in this game. They have to play well from start to finish in this game. This is not a game that they can wait to turn the jets on in desperation time. They need to get going from the opening kickoff. They need to do this for two reasons.

First, the Steelers will bury the Ravens if they dig their own grave. Secondly it’s their job. The Ravens job is to try to win. The season is on the line and it’s time to wake up from whatever haze they’re in. It’s what they are paid to do, and at the end of the day, their fans deserve a great effort.

This is Ravens vs. Steelers. This is a battle for more than just a win. This is a battle for pride. When the Ravens play the Steelers it means too much to squander the opportunity. This is the kind of game that should get you out of bed singing the Ravens fight song and jumping up and down before you even get your morning shower. This game is the epitome of a must win. The games against the Steelers are a must win no matter what, but the season is on the line.

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