Baltimore Beatdown
Baltimore Ravens fans vote on whether they believe the team will defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Baltimore Ravens fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Each week, Baltimore Beatdown polls Ravens fans on various topics, along with a repeated confidence poll on if fans believe the Ravens are headed in the right direction. This week, we’ve once more returned to polling about the Ravens and if fans believe they will defeat the Steelers.
First and foremost, as it’s been paraded for years, the Ravens have struggled against the Steelers. They’ve lost eight of their last nine contests against them. But, there’s far more nuance than the stats indicate.
The Ravens have lost to the Steelers four times due to quarterback Lamar Jackson not playing in their matchup against Pittsburgh. In 2019 and 2023, the Ravens faced the Steelers in Week 18. They already secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC and had no reason to play their starters.
Two other times (2021, 2022), Jackson was injured.
Most uniquely, this will be the first time in four years Jackson faces the Ravens when playing at home. It will be the first time in his starting career he faces them with fans in the stands, as he only faced them in 2020 at home when 2,000 fans were in the crowd due to COVID-19 restrictions.
So, with a full fanbase and the AFC North division on the line, can the Ravens handle business?
