Ravens vs. Steelers predictions: Ebony Bird round table

Isaiah Strumpf’s prediction:

Typically, a week five game doesn’t feel like a must win. You’re team is still in a spot of contention at this time (unless they’re 0-4) and a loss wouldn’t kill any hope of it staying that way. However, the Ravens are in a special predicament. After two good weeks and two bad weeks, Baltimore finds themselves in week 5, playing in a must-win game.

The Ravens are traveling to Heinz Field in Pittsburgh to take on their division foe, Steelers. In a game that will not feature the likes of Ben Roethlisberger, Terrell Suggs, Antonio Brown, or Joe Flacco the stakes are still high. With a win, the Ravens will stay on pace with, or take the division lead from the Cleveland Browns. With a loss, Baltimore will fall to third place in the North.

The Steelers are without their number one quarterback, both James Conner and JuJu Smith-Schuster are battling injuries, so the Ravens need to take advantage of a flailing rival, convincingly. The defense needs to have a bounce back game after their historically bad run in weeks 3 and 4, and the offense must find their way back to the groove they were in in weeks 1 and 2. This entire set up has a Ravens victory all over it.

However, I have a strong feeling the Ravens fall in this one. The defense has looked horrendous and I don’t think they will be able to patch it up enough to win this week. Throw in the fact that it’s a divisional matchup and it makes a Ravens win even less appealing to predict. Baltimore’s offense hasn’t gelled the same in recent weeks, and Lamar Jackson has come down to Earth with his passing attack. While I believe the Ravens are the better team, the Steelers are facing them at the right time.

I hope I’m wrong because a win would do wonders for Baltimore’s confidence, especially with a home game against Cincinnati in week 6.

Prediction: Steelers 24, Ravens 23