Look, when the Steelers play the Ravens, you know it’s going to be a rock fight. Sure, it’s a well-worn stereotype — like the fact that Pittsburghers put fries in their sandwiches, or Baltimoreans put Old Bay on everything — but stereotypes are rooted in truth.
In the latest installment of “AFC North Hulks Walloping Each Other,” the Steelers (8-2) used six field goals to beat Baltimore (7-4), 18-16, to secure possession of first place in the division. But that came only after a grimy, grind-it-out slog under — of course — gray skies in Pittsburgh.
The game’s early highlight — or, more properly, lowlight — came in the first quarter, when the former Most Accurate Kicker in NFL History, Justin Tucker, suddenly couldn’t kick straight. Tucker missed field goals of 47 and 50 yards, increasing concerns about his viability going forward.
Almost as if in defiance of Tucker, Pittsburgh kicker Chris Boswell accounted for all of Pittsburgh’s 18 points by himself. Boswell struck from 32, 52, 32, 57, 27 and 50 yards, which is good news until you realize that those totals mean multiple Steeler drives petered out in the red zone.
The Ravens, naturally, rode Derrick Henry all afternoon long, including a one-yard boom that was the only touchdown by either team for the first three quarters. Heading into the fourth, the score was Pittsburgh 15, Baltimore 10, and absolutely no one had any idea how the game would end up.
The game devolved into a clinch-and-punch scrum … right up until Russell Wilson started showing signs of life. He drove the Steelers on a methodical 10-play, 63-yard drive to deep within Baltimore territory, looking for all the world like the Russell Wilson of old — evading the rush, finding the open man, seeing the field as a slow-motion chess board.
And then, right when it looked like Pittsburgh was about to salt away the game, Evil Russell Wilson arrived to sabotage the Steelers. Facing third-and-goal from the 5, Wilson eluded a swarming Ravens rush, pivoted, lofted a pass into the end zone … right into the arms of Baltimore’s Marlon Humphrey.
And then, right when it looked like Baltimore was going to drive down the field and take control of the game, Payton Wilson ripped a Lamar Jackson pass right out of the hands of Justice Hill. Gifted another chance to run up the score, the Steelers would go on to, yes, kick another field goal and take an 18-10 lead.
And then then, Baltimore finally roused itself from its bruised stupor. On the Ravens’ final drive, with under two minutes remaining, Jackson, under swarming pressure, found Hill on what turned into a 22-yard gain down to the Pittsburgh 24. Two plays later, Jackson hit Zay Flowers in stride for a touchdown. But the ensuing two-point attempt went awry, leaving Baltimore trailing 18-16.
With all three timeouts remaining, Baltimore kicked off, and Pittsburgh opted to sub in Justin Fields at quarterback to run out the clock. Fields, unfortunately, slid short of the first-down line despite having room to move. But Najee Harris bailed him out and the Steelers’ on the next play, just getting over the line to allow Pittsburgh to run out the clock.
Wilson finished the day 23-of-36 for 205 yards and an interception, while Jackson was 16-of-33 for 207 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Henry had 65 yards and Harris 63 to lead all rushers.