The Ravens would relish clinching a playoff spot in opposition to a rival that has been giving them suits.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been a latest nemesis for the Ravens, a actuality Baltimore is raring to vary heading into Saturday’s AFC North showdown at M&T Bank Stadium.
Players do not reside in the previous, however they have been reminded of it usually this week. Lamar Jackson’s profession document in opposition to Pittsburgh is 1-4 as a starter. Baltimore has misplaced eight of its final 9 video games in opposition to Pittsburgh, together with an 18-16 loss in Week 11 when the Steelers prevailed regardless of not scoring a landing.
The stakes alone make this an essential recreation, however the Ravens additionally wish to cease listening to questions on why the Steelers have been such an issue.
“Losing, typically, bothers me – not the crew we play, actually,” Jackson stated. “[We’ve] simply bought to discover a option to get a ‘dub.'”
The Week 11 loss in Pittsburgh was a microcosm Ravens-Steelers video games over the final 5 years. Every recreation has been determined by seven factors or much less, the situations have been totally different and generally weird, however nearly all the defeats have belonged to Baltimore.
On Saturday, the end result could have main ramifications. A Ravens (9-5) victory would hold their hopes for a division title alive, shifting them right into a tie with Pittsburgh (10-4), whereas the Steelers would clinch the division with a win.
The Ravens enter the recreation with momentum, coming off Jackson’s newest five-touchdown efficiency in opposition to the New York Giants. But in 5 profession begins in opposition to Pittsburgh, Jackson has thrown for 5 touchdowns and eight interceptions, and in his final three begins in opposition to the Steelers, the Ravens have failed to achieve 20 factors.
Strangely, this will probably be the first time Jackson has confronted the Steelers at house as a starter in entrance of followers. His solely different house recreation in opposition to Pittsburgh got here in 2020 throughout the COVID-19 season.
In the midst of maybe his greatest season, surrounded by productive playmakers, Jackson was requested if he thought Baltimore’s offense ought to have sufficient solutions to interrupt lose in opposition to Pittsburgh.
“I consider so,” Jackson stated, then he smiled. “I consider we must always have solutions, however when the recreation comes … I wager I’ll have a solution for you after the recreation.”
