The Baltimore Ravens have all the chips on the table in their Week 14 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both teams enter the matchup at 6-6, and the winner will leave with first place and the tiebreaker along with it.
The Ravens have found new life in the second half of the 2025 campaign. After their Week 7 bye, they rattled off five straight wins to put them back in playoff contention. A horrendous loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Thanksgiving put many of their fatal flaws back on full display. On Sunday, the Steelers are itching to expose one of those major issues.
The offensive line has been a thorn in the offense’s side all season. Quarterback Lamar Jackson has been beat up as a result, and the rushing attack under running back Derrick Henry is not as lethal as it once was.
Rookie offensive lineman Emery Jones Jr. brought some optimism with his play in the team’s loss in Week 13. He has not locked down a starting role by any means, but in the opportunities he got in place of left guard Andrew Vorhees, he looked promising. The potential matchup he draws against the Steelers poses a rapid learning curve, though, and he may have a tough time carving out a consistent spot in the rotation.
Emery Jones stares down daunting test on Sunday
Jones showed why he was a highly regarded prospect last Thursday. Sure, his NFL debut was cluttered with flaws you typically see from rookies, but he showed aggressiveness and toughness at the line of scrimmage. But that was against a struggling Cincinnati defense. If he plays on Sunday, he will line up against a pesky Pittsburgh pass rush.
Their run defense was awful last week in their 26-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills, where they allowed 249 rushing yards. However, their pass rush is still as lively as ever. They are tied for seventh in the NFL with 34 sacks, and outside linebackers T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig have been lethal at generating pressure this year.
Of course, Baltimore should follow Buffalo’s game plan and feed Henry over 20 times in this contest, but that is an area where Pittsburgh’s veteran defensive lineman Cameron Heyward will go up against the rookie, too. There are obviously ways to set Jones and the offense up for success, but it will not be easy for the 21-year-old.
In showdowns like the one against the Steelers, veteran experience tends to reign supreme. Regardless, the guard play is awful and Jones needs this chance to play. Giving him a daunting test early in his playing career should pay off down the stretch in the regular season, as it could play a pivotal role in his development.