Behind the Steel Curtain
Despite losing five of their last seven entering Week 14, this felt like the most obvious Pittsburgh Steelers win possible. Backs against the wall with the AFC North on the line against a Baltimore Ravens team they’ve beaten in seven of the last 10 matchups made for the perfect get-right game for the Steelers, and that’s exactly what it was.
The Steelers’ offense came out aggressive. After struggling to connect on any downfield throw for over a month, Aaron Rodgers hit DK Metcalf on a 52-yard pass on the first play from scrimmage for the Steelers, and that set the tone for the entire afternoon. Pittsburgh capped off the drive with an Aaron Rodgers touchdown – his first since 2021 – fitted with the signature championship belt celebration to go up 7-3. The Metcalf completion and a successful fourth-down conversion inside the red zone set up the score, and the Steelers never gave the lead back.
After a Chris Boswell field goal made it 10-3, James Pierre continued his terrific season by picking off Jackson and setting the Steelers up in plus territory. What happened on the ensuing drive would go on to have a massive effect on the outcome. Chris Boswell made another field goal to make it 13-3. However, Travis Jones was called for unnecessary roughness on the long snapper, which extended the Steelers’ drive. On the next play, Kenneth Gainwell ran the ball in for a touchdown to make it 17-3. And while the Ravens made things interesting, a Rodgers touchdown pass to Jaylen Warren gave the Steelers a 27-16 lead, and that proved to be the dagger.
This was the best Rodgers has played since Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals when he threw four touchdowns. He threw for 284 yards, his most as a Steeler, and was efficient when pushing the ball downfield. Additionally, this was the best game DK Metcalf has had in a Steelers uniform. He had seven receptions for 148 yards, three of which were for north of 20 yards. This is what the Steelers have needed from the Pro Bowl receiver – downfield receptions that make the offense less predictable and more dynamic.
Pittsburgh’s defense wasn’t perfect – the Ravens had over 200 yards on the ground – but it showed up in the fourth quarter. Baltimore’s offense outsnapped the Steelers’ offense 40-9 in the final 15 minutes of the game, but didn’t reach the end zone, and were stopped on downs in the red zone in the game’s waning minutes. An Alex Highsmith sack on the final play of the game sealed the win for Pittsburgh.
Cornerback Brandin Echols had a terrific game in coverage, forcing multiple incompletions on passes intended for Zay Flowers. Additionally, Highsmith had three tackles for loss, and the Steelers held Jackson in check through the vast majority of the game.
On top of getting the win, the Steelers also get a little bit of help from the Buffalo Bills, who defeated the Bengals, sending them...
