Ebony Bird
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Five Takeaways from the Ravens’ 39-38 loss to Steelers

By Cory Hughes

Pittsburgh Steelers makes a catch while being defended by Brandon Carr #24 of the Baltimore Ravens in the second quarter during the game at Heinz Field on December 10, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Pittsburgh Steelers makes a catch while being defended by Brandon Carr #24 of the Baltimore Ravens in the second quarter during the game at Heinz Field on December 10, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 10: Le’Veon Bell #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers avoids a tackle by C.J. Mosley #57 of the Baltimore Ravens as he runs into the end zone after a catch for a 20 yard touchdown reception in the first quarter during the game at Heinz Field on December 10, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 10: Le’Veon Bell #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers avoids a tackle by C.J. Mosley #57 of the Baltimore Ravens as he runs into the end zone after a catch for a 20 yard touchdown reception in the first quarter during the game at Heinz Field on December 10, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

2. The defense falls apart, again.

If I told you leading up to this game The Baltimore Ravens would generate over 400 yards and score 38 points you probably would have laughed at me. But, no Raven fan was laughing Sunday night. This past April General Manager Ozzie Newsome drafted all defense in the first four rounds. In hopes that what happened on Christmas last season wouldn’t happen again in the near future. All for it to happen all over again, around the same time, against the same division rival.

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Dean Pees’ defense gave up a total of 545 yards to the resilient Pittsburgh offense. But, they had plenty of chances to win and it felt like Pees just wanted to play conservative with two, two-score leads in the second half. The Pass rush couldn’t get there, Ben had all day to throw the ball and on top of that, the coverage wasn’t there. it seemed as if Brandon Carr was getting beat by Antonio Brown every play and Pees wasn’t switching the match ups. I don’t know what it was going to take for Pees to just Have Marlon Humphrey shadow Brown. I guess we’ll have to hope and pray they’ll be a part three later on down the road this season.

3. Marty Mornhinweg continues his struggles with play calling

With only a few minutes left in the fourth quarter, up a score, all you have to do is run the ball. It had been working all the game. Alex Collins had over a hundred rushing yards, was averaging 6.7 yards a carry and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg decided to run the ball only once. The Ravens failed to get the first down and went three and out only to give the Steelers back the ball. Mornhinweg’s play calling since the beginning of the season has been extremely sketchy. But, playing a division rival, hoping for a playoff spot you can’t gamble the way Marty did. The run game has worked for you all night, the saying goes, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.

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