The Pittsburgh Steelers ended a four-game losing streak against the Baltimore Ravens with a victory last December. They then won the first game between the two this season, earlier in October. The squads pair up again with clear playoff implications on the line at Heinz Field.
On the road, the Ravens are 3-3 straight up and 3-2-1 against the spread while the Steelers are currently 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS when playing at home.
At the beginning of the season the Baltimore Ravens really struggled and they looked like a team that would need to make some changes in the off season. But now they have turned it around, and come into this game having won three in a row, including a huge win in their last game over the Lions by a final score of 44-20.
Joe Flacco has struggled at times this year, but in the last game against the Lions he played really well having thrown up for 269 yards and two touchdowns. As good as the offense was, the most impressive part of that game might have been on the defensive side of the ball. They only gave up 20 points against Matthew Stafford, and the Lions, a team that is really good on the offensive side of the ball.
In this game the defensive side of the ball is again going to need to be a strength. They are going to need to find way to slow down a Steelers offense that torched them the first time they played for 26 points. Joe Flacco also needs to play well and not turn the ball over. He has been really inconsistent this year, and at times he has looked like a quarterback that shouldn’t be in the league anymore, but then at times looks like a pro bowler. They need the player that looks like a pro bowler in this game.
On the other side of this match up is the Pittsburgh Steelers who come into this game with a 10-2 record but a lot of question marks after a really ugly win against the Cincinnati Bengals.
They trailed most the game, and it took a field goal as time expired to walk off winners. The offense really struggled in the first half only putting up three points and that has kind of become a trend this year. The offense has been really inconsistent at times, and if they want to make a run in the playoffs, it’s going to need to be better, because they can’t go through runs where they struggle for quarters or halves.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Steelers have been good coming into this game averaging only 17.2 points per game given up. To win this game the defense needs to try after get Flacco early, and hopefully create a turnover or two.
Writer’s Prediction
I know the Steelers dominated the game the first time these two teams played, but I don’t think that will be the case in this game. The Ravens are playing much better, and if anything else they should be able to at least keep it close. I think the Steelers will win the game, but the Ravens will cover. Pick: Ravens (+5)
