PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – You can imagine the reaction from the Ravens. It’s now eight Steelers wins in the last nine matchups and in a majority of those seasons, Baltimore finished with a better record. Yet, Steelers win again, and do it limiting an MVP quarterback.
NFL-leading passer Lamar Jackson threw for just 207 yards and only his third interception of the season. Jackson was only able to run four times as the Steelers kept him in the pocket and avoided most chunk plays.
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“We did what we always do to be quite honest with you,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “You better play hard, fast and together when you play this group and you play Mr. Jackson. His talents are unique. Their schematics are unique. Forget the minutia of what it is you do. You better play hard, fast and together or you got no shot. We always start there.”
“It started up front,” said Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. “I think we smashed the run really well. We limited the big plays, they only had two or three, which usually they average eight per game. I think it was a combination of smashing that run and stopping the big plays.”
Jackson is now 1-4 as a starter in his career against the Steelers with five touchdowns, eight interceptions and 22 sacks. Rarely could Baltimore get anything going but a couple of drives Sunday. A chunk play to Isaiah Likely that ended in a missed field goal, three straight to set up the Derrick Henry touchdown and the 16-yard TD pass to Zay Flowers.
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Baltimore hurt themselves with penalties, 12 for 80 yards. Jackson called it annoying that they’ve been putting up all of these points all year, but little on Sunday.
Jackson’s last 4 games against the Steelers
· 16-33, 207 yards, TD, INT in 18-16 loss Sunday
· 22-38, 236 yards, no TD, INT in 17-10 loss in October 2023
· 23-37, 253 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT in 20-19 loss in 2021
· 13-28 for 208 yards with 2 TD, 2 INT in 28-24 loss in 2020
“I think just because we play sound football, sound defense,” said Steelers Joey Porter, Junior of limiting Lamar. “We give our offense opportunity to score. We just are flying around making plays and make it difficult for them.”
“The defense came out and did our job and played team defense,” said linebacker Patrick Queen. “Everybody understood their assignments and just played great team defense. Nobody wanted to be Superman. Nobody wanted to do too much. We just went out there and trusted each other and balled.”
“Lamar is a great talent,” said defensive captain Cam Heyward. “We’ll never take anything away from that, but we got great players over here too. There are a bunch of guys ready for the moment.”
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“I thought they played well,” said Ravens head coach John Harbaugh simply.
Once again, the Steelers played well against the two-time MVP. In a game Baltimore was favored, even though it was in Pittsburgh.
Lamar Jackson has done great things in the NFL, just not against the Steelers.