The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to take on the Baltimore Ravens for the third time during the 2024 season. This is the fifth time the two teams will be meeting for a third time in a single season, as the Steelers have a 3-1 record when matching up against Baltimore in the postseason. However, this is the first instance that the Steelers will need to travel to Maryland for a playoff game. The Steelers are obvious underdogs heading into the game on Saturday, and they will need their stars to make plays and young guys to step up in big ways.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. breaks up a pass against the Cincinnati Bengals during his 2023 rookie season.
One player that has been relied upon heavily on the defensive side of the ball is cornerback Joey Porter Jr. The second-year player has emerged as a great, shutdown cornerback, but he certainly needs to refine his skills.
Throughout the 2024 season, Porter has struggled with penalties, which is due to the physical nature in which he plays the game. Pittsburgh will need a good game from the 2023 second-round pick, and he spoke to the media on Thursday when he was asked about the older games in the rivalry when his father was on the field.
"I remember a couple of them," Porter said. "I was young a little bit, but I definitely remember those back-and-forth matchups. I'm just happy to be a part of this one and get to make my name in this game. I'm ready to just make some plays out there."
Many Steelers players have turned into legends due to some of their performances when squaring off against Baltimore, especially in the playoffs. Hall of Fame safety Troy Polamalu would have had a great career regardless, but a lot of fans remember him for his pick-six against the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game during the 2008 season.
This sent Pittsburgh to Super Bowl XLIII, and Porter has the potential to do something similar on Saturday night as Pittsburgh looks for its first playoff victory since the 2016 season.
Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. warms up prior to a Week 16 contest with the Baltimore Ravens in 2024.
The Steelers lost their last matchup with Baltimore In Week 16 by a score of 34-17, however the game was much closer than the score indicates. Pittsburgh could have easily had a chance to win had it not been for two costly turnovers from Russell Wilson. Porter exited that game early with an injury, which ultimately led to him missing the Week 17 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Ravens will be without their best wide receiver in Zay Flowers, so Porter will likely be tasked with dealing with Rashod Bateman throughout the entire game. In addition to that, Porter and the rest of the defensive backs will be relied upon to come up and take down either Derrick Henry or Lamar Jackson in the running game.
Porter has become a fairly good tackler, and he could be a huge factor in the run game if he gets a good read on Baltimore's offense.
Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. collects his first interception in a regular season game against the Baltimore Ravens during the 2023 season.
Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. Had A Very Big Moment In His First Game Against The Ravens
Porter began his rookie year in 2023 coming off of the bench. He played in some dime packages and would occasionally come on the field in relief of Levi Wallace or Patrick Peterson. The Steelers hosted the Ravens in Week 5, and the game was close near the end. The Ravens were driving and were in the red zone, and Jackson looked to Odell Beckham Jr. on a fade route in the end zone. Porter leaped up and grabbed the ball for his first career interception.
If the second-year cornerback can recreate a play like that on Saturday in the playoffs, his resume as a Steeler will grow immensely. Pittsburgh will need some big plays from the defense in order to have a chance against the red-hot Ravens.
What do you think about Porter's comments? Let us know in the comments below!
#SteelerNation
