Ravens vs Steelers: Top match-ups Baltimore must win on Sunday
The Baltimore Ravens face a must-win game Sunday vs. the Steelers. Securing a victory will come if Baltimore can get the upper-hand in these match-ups.
The Ravens need a win versus Pittsburgh in the worst way imaginable. Tensions are high headed into this game and everyone in the organization knows it. All week, this game has been highlighted by everyone associated with Baltimore. Calling this game “season defining” might just be an understatement to how important it truly is for the purple and black to walk away victorious.
Of course, we all know that the Ravens have already secured a victory against the Steelers earlier this season in dominant fashion. But that was over a month ago, and this Ravens team is playing much differently than they were back then. This game is certainly no cakewalk, but Baltimore can absolutely walk away victoriously.
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To do this, Baltimore has to win the crucial match-ups across the board. Whether it’s individual match-ups or unit-vs-unit, there are multiple aspects of this game the Ravens have to take advantage of to get a win. Three match-ups came to mind among the rest that standout as “must-wins,” and it all starts with…
The front-seven vs. Steelers run game:
In the Ravens match-up against the Steelers back in week four, Baltimore was able to contain Pittsburgh’s run game and gave them an advantage on defense. James Conner, who has been by far the biggest star for the Steelers, is playing at an All-Pro level in 2018. Conner has been so effective that Defensive Coordinator Don Martidale told the media he believes that the Steelers are better off with Conner than All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell.
No running back on the Steelers roster has more than ten carries other than James Conner, showing off the confidence instilled in the second-year man out of Pitt. Conner is also third on the team in receptions with 31. Clearly, the Steelers offense has heavily run (no pun intended) through Conner.
Somehow, the Ravens were able to corral Conner in week four and limit him to nine carries for 19-yards. If Baltimore plans to take home another win on Sunday, they’ll have to play with that same intensity. It starts up front with the team’s big-men, as Brandon Williams and Michael Pierce will have to eat blocks and make life easier for linebackers like C.J. Mosley and Kenny Young. Of all the match-ups we will take a look at, this is easily the most detrimental battle the Ravens must win.