The Baltimore Ravens face a season-defining test in their Week 14 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite a rough Thanksgiving loss, they still have a golden opportunity to control their own destiny and take over the top of the AFC North moving forward.
Obviously, a win would significantly boost their playoff odds, but they looked so bad in their loss last week that many are questioning if a playoff berth is a realistic option for Baltimore. The five-game winning streak that got them back into playoff contention looks fraudulent to some, but the Ravens can quiet those doubters on Sunday.
For safety Alohi Gilman, the rivalry matchup is more than just a playoff-esque game. It is a chance for him to earn his stripes and truly call himself a Raven.
“I’ve been told I’m not a Raven yet, until I beat the Steelers,” Gilman said. “Records at this point don’t mean much. This is just about an AFC North division rivalry game, going out there and playing ball, and playing to our standard. I’m grateful to be a part of this opportunity. I’ve played in some rivalry games…but nothing like this. This is a first for me, and I’m excited.”
Alohi Gilman has a lot to prove vs. Steelers
Since arriving in Charm City, Gilman has played a key role in transforming Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr’s defense. His presence in the backend has helped calm rookie safety Malaki Starks and allowed him to grow into the difference-maker he was drafted to be. More importantly, the acquisition is allowing versatile safety Kyle Hamilton to make game-changing plays, anytime, anywhere.
While he has made a crucial impact, though, Gilman has had his fair share of troubles. Most notably, his missed tackle rate is alarmingly high. He has nine missed tackles in seven games with the Ravens, a 20.5% missed-tackle percentage. Gilman is earning a fine 69.1 overall grade for his time in Baltimore, per Pro Football Focus, but his 42.2 tackling grade is abysmal.
Amid his questionable play, safety Ar’Darius Washington made his return to practice. After suffering an Achilles tear in the offseason, he was a practice participant for the first time this year this week. He saw limited action on Wednesday and Thursday and was a full participant on Friday. While he will not play in Week 14, Head Coach John Harbaugh had an encouraging update on Washington, and if the upward trend continues, the 26-year-old could suit up in Week 15.
Needless to say, along with looking to earn his wings, Gilman could also be playing for reps against Pittsburgh. It is unlikely that Washington will take Gilman’s starting spot, even if he has his worst performance to date on Sunday. However, Washington could definitely cut into his snap count. He has played nearly every defensive snap since starting his Baltimore career, and an electric showing on Sunday can not only help catapult the team into first place in the AFC North but also continue to impress the coaching staff and lock down his role on Orr’s unit.