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3 Major Takeaways From Ravens Loss To Steelers

By Joe Schiller

Dec 25, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin (left) shakes hands with Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) after their game at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 31-27. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 25, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin (left) shakes hands with Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) after their game at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 31-27. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cannot Settle For Field Goals

The Ravens could have put up 30-40 points against the Steelers. They had no problem getting into opposing territory, but could not finish drives.

This is not something new for the Ravens. The inability to finish drives has been a problem all season. Missed touchdown catches by Dennis Pitta and Darren Waller could have added another 14 points to the score. Instead, the Ravens settled for 3 points on each of those drives. Against a team like the Pittsburgh Steelers in a playoff atmosphere, you have to finish drives. The Ravens settled for 4 field goals, while the Steelers only settled for 1 and that is the difference right there. When the Steelers had the ball on the offensive side, they finished drives and put the ball into the end zone.

Going forward, this has to be a focal talking point for the front office and coaching staff. Out of the 7 losses on the season for the Ravens, 3 or 4 could have been won if the Ravens did not settle for field goals. With such a great kicker like Justin Tucker, it worries me that the Ravens were too conservative because they knew Tucker could make a field goal from everywhere. More urgency on the offensive side of the ball could have changed this.

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