The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a troubling last four games, but the good news is they handled their business early enough to clinch their playoff ticket. Despite the recent struggles, the Steelers are set to hit the road as the sixth seed to face off against the third-seeded Baltimore Ravens. While Pittsburgh may be limping into the postseason, they’re still in the hunt, with their ticket punched and their fate now in their hands.
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Steelers' TJ Watt sacks Ravens' Lamar Jackson during a home game in Pittsburgh.
The two teams couldn’t be further from each other right now in terms of trending in the right and wrong direction. The Ravens have locked in and are playing their best football, showcasing their complete dominance. The Steelers have unfortunately lost four straight, leaving fans questioning their ability to perform on the big stage. As the game approaches, many are wondering if Pittsburgh can turn things around or if their recent woes will carry over.
Dallas Cowboys star edge rusher Micah Parsons went on his podcast aired on the Bleacher Report YouTube channel, where he shared his insight and prediction for this matchup. Parsons, known for his unflinching analysis, doesn't have much faith in the Steelers, giving them little chance against a red-hot Ravens team. His harsh words might be a reflection of the Steelers' recent struggles, but they also serve as motivation for Pittsburgh to prove their doubters wrong when the stakes are highest.
"Lamar [Jackson] is on a tear," Parsons said. "The Steelers, they have not been clicking late in December and in January they have not looked like the best team. This isn't the same Steelers team we saw in October or November. They look like a completely different team and versus a team who's looked extraordinary the past six, seven weeks. I can't go against the Ravens."
Parsons isn’t exactly making a bold prediction here. The oddsmakers seem to agree, as they’ve set the Steelers as 10-point underdogs, with some books offering +400 odds for an upset. These aren’t promising numbers for a team desperate for a playoff win to settle the nerves of their fan base. However, it doesn’t mean the Steelers have no chance.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin looks on during loss to the Bengals in the 2024 NFL season.
While the Ravens are certainly trending upward, the NFL is known for how quickly things can change. Mike Tomlin will be determined to avoid ending the 2024 season on a five-game losing streak. This game carries significant weight for both teams as a playoff showdown, but for Tomlin, it’s crucial. A loss would mean the Steelers dropped from 10-3 to losing five straight, a scenario Tomlin simply cannot allow to unfold.
Steelers Split 2024 Regular Season Series With The Ravens
The Steelers have had success against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens in recent matchups. In 2024, they split the series, each team winning one game. In the first meeting, Pittsburgh didn’t score a touchdown, but pulled off a win thanks to some rare missed kicks from Justin Tucker and six field goals from Chris Boswell.
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Steelers' Chris Boswell kicks one of six field goals in a win over the Baltimore Ravens in 2024.
In the second game, the Steelers lost 34-17, but the score doesn’t tell the whole story. They were primed to take a 14-7 lead before Russell Wilson fumbled in the red zone, and a costly pick-six later sealed their fate. The Steelers believe they can learn from that loss and get revenge on the Ravens. With Tomlin highly motivated to quiet the doubters, anything can happen.
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