Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens still haven’t figured out how to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. On Sunday, the Steelers’ defense held back Jackson and the NFL’s top-ranked offense, leading Pittsburgh to an 18-16 win. The victory came thanks to Chris Boswell’s six field goals, tying a franchise record. “We had a lot of slow starts, if anything … a lot of penalties, turnovers and stuff like that,” Jackson said. “We can’t have that in these types of games and this environment. It’s a division game.”
The Steelers have now won seven of the last eight games against Baltimore. In fact, each of the last nine matchups between the two teams has been decided by seven points or fewer. Jackson, Derrick Henry, and the rest of the Ravens’ offense never found their rhythm against Pittsburgh’s defense. Baltimore ended the game with season-low totals in both points and yards (329) and struggled with 12 penalties and three turnovers. Each of these mistakes led to Boswell’s field goals.
Jackson had one touchdown, one interception, and 207 yards on 16 of 33 passes. With 1:06 remaining, he found Zay Flowers for a 16-yard touchdown, tying the score at two points. But the Ravens’ 2-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
Henry’s 15th rushing score of the season tied a franchise record, although he was only allowed 65 yards and missed the unsuccessful convert.
“Today, our defence performed admirably,” Jackson remarked. “We only scored 16 points, while they held a fantastic offence to 18 points.” This season, we have been scoring all these points. That’s annoying.”
It appears that the Steelers always have a plan in place to keep Jackson in check. He runs the most effective offence in the NFL and leads the league in both quarterback rating and touchdown passes. But Jackson’s record versus the Steelers as a starter is currently 1-4.
His two NFL MVP honours are greater than his victories over Pittsburgh. In games versus them, Jackson has thrown eight interceptions and five touchdown passes.
For Jackson and the Ravens, a fourth-quarter interception by Steelers linebacker Payton Wilson proved costly.
When Russell Wilson was intercepted by Marlon Humphrey in the end zone, the Ravens forced a turnover with Pittsburgh ahead 15–10. The first play following the fumble saw Jackson run for 25 yards, but a 15-yard connection to Henry was stopped because of a downfield penalty for an ineligible man.
After Jackson was intercepted by Payton Wilson on the following play, Boswell eventually made his final field goal, a 50-yarder, to put Pittsburgh ahead 18–10.
According to Ravens coach John Harbaugh, “the penalties set us back too much.”
For Baltimore, the errors began early. Justin Tucker missed two field goals in the first quarter, and Henry fumbled on the game’s second play. Since 2022, Tucker had not missed more than one kick in a game until this one.
Tucker remarked, “It’s frustrating.” Particularly when we are aware that these games, like the one played today, are crucial. I allowed a couple to escape.
For the Steelers, Boswell kicked two field goals: a 52-yard kick in the second quarter and a 32-yarder following Henry’s fumble.
The Ravens took the lead later in the quarter when Henry completed a six-play, 80-yard drive with a touchdown. However, after Isaiah Likely fumbled the ball, which was forced by former Ravens defender Patrick Queen, Boswell scored his third field goal of the half, a 32-yarder.
Jackson remarked, “I think we were moving in the right direction, and then something would happen.”
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