The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a 27-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. It was a pretty disappointing loss for the Steelers, but on the bright side, Pittsburgh is still 10-4 and well-positioned to win their division. With one more victory over the Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers can clinch the AFC North. They have already secured a playoff berth.
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Steelers' TJ Watt sacks Ravens' Lamar Jackson during a home game in the Steel City.
To win the division, they’ll need to take down the Ravens on Saturday, a task that won’t be easy. It’s always tough to beat a division opponent twice in one season, but the Steelers have had success against the Ravens lately, winning the majority of their recent matchups. Pittsburgh will rely on its defense and playmaking ability to get the job done.
Lamar Jackson, however, has had some struggles against the Steelers in previous seasons. Despite his struggles against Pittsburgh’s defense, Jackson spoke with confidence to the media on Tuesday, insisting that he has figured out the key to beating the Steelers. It’ll be interesting to see if Jackson’s newfound confidence can overcome the Steelers’ defense, which has been dominant in recent matchups.
"I believe so," Jackson said Tuesday. "I believe we should have answers. I bet I'll have an answer for you after the game."
Jackson sounded confident in his response, but true to his nature, he remained humble. The 2024 season has been a standout one for Jackson, as he has thrown for 3,580 yards, 34 passing touchdowns, and just three interceptions.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. makes a game-winning tackle on Lamar Jackson in 2024.
He's also been a major threat on the ground, rushing 117 times for 743 yards and three touchdowns, averaging an impressive 6.3 yards per carry. Jackson is playing at an MVP level once again.
Steelers Have Historically Stopped Ravens' Lamar Jackson
However, his previous encounter with the Steelers earlier this season didn’t go as planned. In that game, Jackson struggled, completing only 48.5% of his passes—his worst performance of the year—as the Steelers came away with the win.
Lamar Jackson in six games vs. Steelers:
— Blaze (@Blaze5921) June 24, 2024
- 7 fumbles
- 4 TDs
- 7INTs
- 66.8 passer rating
- Sacked 20 times
- 0 rushing TDs
- 59.1 completion %
COMPLETELY OWNED ‼️ pic.twitter.com/UyxILUcrSD
Now, with the AFC North title in their hands, Pittsburgh heads to Baltimore with the opportunity to clinch the division. It will be a challenging task, and with Jackson playing at such a high level, the Steelers will need to bring their best to come out on top once again.
A motivated and confident Jackson is never good news for anyone, but this Steelers defense will be looking to bounce back. TJ Watt has given Jackson trouble in the past, and Alex Highsmith will be bearing down on him as well.
AP
Steelers' Alex Highsmith and TJ Watt sit on the sideline during a home game.
Cam Heyward will lead his team with determination, looking to put their disappointing performance against the Eagles behind them as they seek redemption on Saturday. A win over the Ravens would be huge, especially considering the Steelers were initially favored to lose the division. Now, they have a chance to claim it with a few games to spare.
This matchup will have NFL fans on edge. If Jackson struggles again, the narrative of the Steelers being his kryptonite will continue to grow. But if he has a big game and leads his team to victory, the noise around those stories will quiet down. The stage is set, and many are eagerly awaiting the showdown between Jackson and the Steelers.
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