Much was made this week of Mike Tomlin’s job security as Pittsburgh faded in the AFC North behind a tepid Steelers offense.
The Steelers appeared to have heard the noise and responded in kind Sunday.
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Sparked by a big game from Aaron Rodgers and a late defensive stop, the Steelers went into Baltimore Sunday and handed the Ravens a 27-22 loss. With the win, the Steelers are back in control of the AFC North with a 7-6 record and a one-game lead over the now 6-7 Ravens.
What does it mean?
“Means maybe you guys will shut the hell up for a week,” Rodgers said afterward.
Pittsburgh’s offense took control early and opened a 27-16 third-quarter lead. Its defense then fended off a late Ravens rally and came up with two stops late in the game to secure the win.
Would-be late Ravens TD overturned on replay
The Ravens thought they took a 28-27 lead with a touchdown with 2:43 remaining. But replay officials determined that tight end Isaiah Likely didn’t complete the act of a catch on a pass from Lamar Jackson in the end zone. The Ravens ultimately turned the ball over on downs after failing to convert on fourth-and-5 in the red zone.
The Steelers then held off another Ravens drive in the final two minutes after punting to secure the critical win.
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The two are scheduled for a regular-season finale rematch in Week 18 that could ultimately determine the division winner. For now, the Steelers have quelled a tide of noise and momentum against them while seizing control of their path to the playoffs.
Steelers silence noise, for now
Pittsburgh entered Sunday having lost five of its previous seven games to fall into a tie with a Ravens team that had started the season 1-5, prompting calls for Tomlin’s job.
The Steelers have a lot of work to do still to secure a playoff berth. And even that may not be enough to save Tomlin’s job if they go a ninth straight season without a playoff win. But for now, they’ve answered their chorus of critics.
Head coach Mike Tomlin said he agreed with some of the sentiment against him this season. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
(Patrick Smith via Getty Images)
Ravens continue to fade
The Ravens, meanwhile missed an opportunity to take control of the division. And after digging out of a hole from a 1-5 start with a five-game win streak they’ve now lost two consecutive AFC North games following an ugly 32-14 loss to the Bengals on Thanksgiving.
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And a season that started with Super Bowl hopes continues to languish in uncertainty amid a slew of injuries to Jackson that have either sidelined him or limited him for most of the season. And as Baltimore’s playoff hopes continue to hang in the balance, head coach John Harbaugh is likely to hear more noise about his own job security.
Lamar Jackson isn’t himself, and neither are Ravens
The Ravens looked better Sunday than in last week’s putrid performance against the Bengals in which they scored just 12 points and turned the ball over five times. Jackson completed 19 of 35 passes for 219 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. He added 43 yards and a score on the ground.
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He remains limited after sustaining multiple leg injuries and looks little like his two-time MVP self. And the Ravens continue to resemble nothing like a playoff contender around him.
Playing with a fractured left wrist, Aaron Rodgers racked up 148 first-half passing yards. The Ravens then allowed running back Jaylen Warren to run untouched down the right sideline after a screen pass from Rodgers for a 38-yard score to give the Steelers a 27-16 third-quarter lead.
That score forced the Ravens to scramble down the stretch.
And Rodgers finished with his highest yardage tally of the season while completing 23 of 34 passes for 284 yards with 1 touchdown and no turnovers. DK Metcalf has his best game in Pittsburgh with seven catches for 148 yards.
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Baltimore bottled up Pittsburgh’s ground attack to 34 yards on 17 carries. But it couldn’t limit a 42-year-old Rodgers who was playing with an injury. And with a chance to win the game against a reeling Steelers defense, the Ravens came up with zero points on their final two possessions.
Derrick Henry (94 yards on 25 carries) and Keaton Mitchell (76 yards on six carries) combined to lead a Baltimore ground attack that produced 217 yards. It wasn’t enough to overcome a Steelers offensive attack that ranked 27th heading into Sunday’s game.
Ravens face tough road to rally for playoffs
Before facing the Steelers again, the Ravens take on Joe Burrow and the Bengals next week, then tough tests against the Patriots and Packers. The Steelers have an easier schedule with one game against a playoff contender against the Lions and others against the Dolphins and Browns.
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The Ravens will need to make up ground to set up a chance to win the division against the Steelers in the season finale.
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