The Pittsburgh Steelers insist there’s no secret method to stopping Lamar Jackson. They don’t have any hidden strategy to handle the Baltimore Ravens’ star quarterback. Instead, they rely on the basics: watching film, reading the game, and playing hard.
And, it works. Just about no one else does it as consistently as they do. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said, “Forget the details of what you do, you have to play hard, fast, and together or you have no chance.”
This approach worked again on Sunday when the Steelers defeated the Ravens 18-16, slowing down one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the league.
Pittsburgh (8-2) limited Jackson and the NFL’s top-ranked offense to season lows in points (16) and yards (329), while Baltimore (7-4) made costly mistakes, including three turnovers that led to six field goals from Chris Boswell.
The Ravens also committed 12 penalties, and they never found the rhythm they typically have against teams other than the Steelers.
After the game, Jackson said, “I can’t call it. I feel like we (were) making strides in the right direction and then something would happen.”
Jackson, a two-time MVP, completed just 16 of 33 passes for 207 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He connected with Zay Flowers for a 16-yard touchdown with 1:06 left, bringing the Ravens within two points. But their attempt for a 2-point conversion failed when Jackson’s throw didn’t find a receiver.
The Steelers, with backup quarterback Justin Fields playing a few snaps in relief of Russell Wilson, managed to run out the clock after picking up a crucial first down to secure the win. This victory gave Pittsburgh a 1 1/2-game lead over the Ravens.
Defensive tackle Cam Heyward said, “To come away with a win, it took everybody, not one guy. And we understand how critical these AFC North games are.”
The Steelers’ victory marked their eighth win in their last nine games against the Ravens. Rookie linebacker Payton Wilson made a key play, stealing the ball from Baltimore’s Justice Hill for an important fourth-quarter interception.
Former Ravens Patrick Queen and DeShon Elliott also made major contributions. Queen, after leaving Baltimore in free agency, stripped the ball from Isaiah Likely late in the first half, leading to a Boswell field goal that gave the Steelers a 9-7 halftime lead they never gave up.
Tomlin joked about Queen’s situation, saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. I’m glad he is on our team.”
Boswell’s six field goals were essential for the Steelers, especially as their offense struggled. Wilson threw for 205 yards but also had an interception in the end zone late in the fourth quarter. Najee Harris rushed for 63 yards, and George Pickens caught eight passes for 89 yards.
Fields also got involved, running for 9 yards on a crucial play in the final minutes and handing the ball off to Harris to kill the clock.
Wilson praised Fields, saying, “I believe that Justin Fields is a franchise quarterback, a great player, a great teammate, a hard worker. We just love doing this thing together.”
The win was the second time this season the Steelers won without scoring a touchdown. Boswell’s six field goals in this game matched his effort in the season opener against Atlanta, making him the second player in NFL history to achieve that feat twice in a single season, joining John Carney (1993).
Tomlin acknowledged Boswell’s success but also pointed out that it highlights areas they still need to improve, saying, “It reminds us of our warts. It reminds us of the work we need to do.”
The Steelers will have the opportunity to address these issues while sitting at the top of the AFC North. The Ravens, on the other hand, have to regroup as they wait for their next chance at a rematch in December. Jackson said after the game, “We can’t keep beating ourselves in these types of games. We’ve got to find a way to fix that. That (stuff) is annoying.”
