Behind the Steel Curtain
Picks for Wild Card weekend
The Steelers are looking to end a four-game losing streak and simultaneously advance in the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Will they do it? Here is what our staff sees taking place.
It’s been a brutal few weeks for the Steelers. Dropping 4 straight is not an ideal place for a team to be heading into the playoffs. After the first Bengals drive of the regular season finale, the defense appeared to solve most of the communication issues that have been plaguing them, but the offense remains a mess. After 11 starts, it feels like the Steelers have squeezed out the last bit magic Russell Wilson can muster. If Steelers can win the turnover battle and Russ can avoid the confounding mistakes he’s put all over his last month of tape, the Steelers might have a shot. They’ve beaten the Ravens once, so they should, theoretically, be able to again. It’s just hard to believe after the December they just had. Ravens advance 27-18. - Ryan Parish
When it comes to AFC North football you can throw the records out the window, so I do think we see a competitive game. Yes, the Steelers have defeated the Ravens eight of the last 10 matchups, however, Baltimore didn’t have arguably the best running back in the league, Derrick Henry, in any of those games. Henry paved the way for the Steelers to make the playoffs last season, as his Titans beat the Jaguars, knocking them out of the playoffs which gave the Steelers the 7-seed.This year he’s going to knock them out of the playoffs, in devastating fashion. Pittsburgh has generally contained Henry, but he erupted for 162 yards on 19 rushes in the last meeting. Baltimore was able to shed the Steelers’ “monkey off their backs” in that game, and the Steelers struggling offense won’t be able to keep up with the two MVP candidates, in Jackson and Henry. Ravens win by scoring a TD on the game’s final drive 24-17. Mike Nicastro
Zay Flowers is a big loss for the Ravens and it opens the door to Pittsburgh coming away with a surprising victory. While anything can happen in Steelers-Ravens, last week’s home matchup with the Bengals was the black and gold’s best shot at getting back on the right track. Nothing about this team says they can go on the road and get a win against a quality playoff opponent at the moment. 28-20, Ravens. - Ryland Bickley
Throw style points out the window. It’s time for the 60-minute men. This game will come down to the final drive. Can the defense make one more stop in the fourth? Can the offense command a fourth quarter comeback? It’s the playoffs and I’ve never seen Steelers Nation this nonplus about it. We’ve been speculating about this team for the past ten months. Now it all comes down to this. Get fired up! Steelers 20-Ravens 17....
