Ravens @ Steelers: Official Game Thread

In week 11, the Steelers defeated the Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field. Now the Steelers travel back to Heinz Field to host the Ravens.

For the Steelers to win:
The Steelers need to play a complete game (Offense, Defense, Special Teams for 60 min.).
The Steelers defense needs to pressure Robert Griffin III.
The Steelers defense needs to shut down the Ravens running game.
The Steelers need to run the ball effectively (Benny Snell Jr. and Anthony McFarland Jr.).
Ben Roethlisberger needs to play well - getting the ball out quickly.
The Steelers need to score TDs when in the red zone (and when not).
Chris Boswell needs to play well - like he did in 2019.
The Steelers need to protect the ball. They need to win the turnover battle.
Alejandro Villanueva, Matt Feiler, Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro, and Chukwuma Okorafor need to play well as a unit.

From Steelers Depot:
Steelers Versus Ravens Week 12 Projected Inactive List

QB Joshua Dobbs – Dobbs remains the third-string backup quarterback to starter Ben Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph going into the team’s Week 12 game and that’s not a bit surprising. Barring any injuries, Dobbs is likely to remain the Steelers third quarterback the remainder of the season so that means he will likely remain a mainstay on the team’s game-day inactive list in 2020. Dobbs has already been inactive ten times this season and his eleventh time should happen on Wednesday against the Ravens.

RB Jaylen Samuels – Samuels injured his quadricep in the Steelers Week 10 win against the Cincinnati Bengals and after failing to practice since, he was again finally ruled out for the Week 12 home game against the Ravens on the team’s injury report a few days ago. With Samuels out injured and with fellow running backs James Conner and Trey Edmunds now on Reserve/COVID-19 and Reserve/Injured, respectively, the Steelers are down o just two running backs on the 53-man roster in Benny Snell Jr. and rookie Anthony McFarland Jr. It’s expected that running back Wendell Smallwood will be elevated from the practice squad on Wednesday as the team still has one open roster spot to fill as of Tuesday night. If that’d the case, Smallwood should be active for Wednesday’s game as a third running back.

OLB Jayrone Elliott – Elliott has been inactive the last two games with the most recent time including him essentially being a healthy scratch. the Steelers shouldn’t need to dress all nine linebackers on Wednesday and especially with safety Antoine Brooks Jr. being elevated on Monday as special teams help. In short, it will be very surprising if Elliott isn’t on the Wednesday afternoon inactive list.

DE Isaiah Buggs – Buggs spent most of last week on the team’s Reserve/COVID-19 list as a close contact individual. While the Steelers will be without defensive end Stephon Tuitt on Wednesday because of him testing positive for the virus, it’s still not a guarantee that Buggs will dress. The last few games we have seen rookie defensive tackle Carlos Davis get a helmet and if the Steelers only wind up dressing five total defensive lineman on Wednesday, Buggs has a good shot at being the odd man out.

TE Kevin Rader – The Steelers have yet to dress three tight ends for a game this season and so with veteran tight end Vance McDonald now off the Reserve/COVID-19 list, he’s had plenty of time to get himself ready and conditioned to play on Wednesday against the Ravens. If that’s the case and McDonald dresses, it will be hard to make an argument for Rader to get a helmet. Had this game been played Thanksgiving night, there’s a small chance that Rader would have dressed over McDonald.

 

Keys to the game:

Mike Prisuta: Spread Them Out and Pick Them Apart.
Craig Wofley: Let Ben be Ben.
Charlie Batch: Creating Points Off of turnovers.

 

They just can't relax. I know Jackson, Andrews, and Snead are out but the D has got to stay intense. The Ravens can run it and if you don't get to RGIII, he can burn you.

Offense has to avoid turnovers, just like last time. Getting off to a good start would be nice and then, keeping the pedal down.

 

Word is now that Dobbins and Ingram will not be ctivated for tonights game. An earlier report had said they would be eligible to come off the covid list and play.

 

This without a doubt. Ravens will come to play no matter who suits up Steelers need to do the same.

 

Let’s get the win and put the first shovel of dirt on the ravens season

 

From Steelers Depot:

STEELERS NEWS
Schefter: Steelers Placing Maurkice Pouncey On Reserve/COVID List

 

DOH!!!!

 

From BTSC:

Steelers place Maurkice Pouncey on Reserve/COVID-19 List prior to Ravens game

 

Will this game look like a “replacements” game from the strike season of 1987?

 

Should've kicked a FG

 

Joe Haden INT TD!!!!!

 

Steelers up 12-7 at the half. An awful game by both sides. Poor clock management from the Ravens cost them points at the end of the half. They should've spiked it and took the FG.

 

Why are the Steelers playing like this is a trap game? It’s the ravens, we should be destroying them

 

Honestly, the Ravens should be up in this one... very weird game thus far.

Two good defenses tho, should be an interesting 2nd half and I expect Ben to get the offense going a bit better.

 

I would love the league to add the eighth team to the playoffs because we play horrible when we have too much time off

 

Steelers D with a sack in 68 straight games... holy crap!

 

Well, its called delay of game. And im not even trying to be a dick, go look up the rule book.

Its a delay of game for any player to unnecessarily remain on a runner who is down. Well there were about 5 players deliberately making zero effort to move and the runner was unable to get up for about 15 seconds. Thats not even remotely debatable, i trust we can all be mature enough to accept that. Steelers got the benefit of a HUGE no call cos Refs shat the bed and didnt do their jobs.

 

That is one hell of a stat.