Russell Wilson’s mistake against the Ravens could weigh heavily on the Steelers’ quest for a division title.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are usually good enough to win games even if Wilson doesn’t play great.
That was on display on Nov. 17, when Pittsburgh defeated the visiting Baltimore Ravens 18-16 for first place in the AFC North.
Wilson threw for just 205 yards, one interception, and no successful attempts in the end zone, but Chris Boswell’s six field goals were a boon for Pittsburgh’s defense, which clamped down on Baltimore’s high-powered offense. was enough.
Fast forward five weeks to Saturday’s rematch, and Wilson was once again pedestrian, to put it kindly. This time it wasn’t enough. And it may end up costing the Steelers the division.
Wilson was better in some ways in his second matchup with the Ravens, throwing two touchdowns and finishing with a 38.0 QBR after posting a season-low 15.2 clip in the first matchup. But as his production increased, two significant mistakes occurred.
The first occurred with the score tied at 7 early in the second quarter, causing a 14-point swing.
Pittsburgh drove to the Baltimore 23-yard line as Wilson escaped the pocket and charged toward the end zone. He looked poised to give the Steelers the lead until Ravens safety Ar’Darius Washington forced a fumble on a shocking hit, but Baltimore clawed back with four points on their own. After eight plays and 96 yards, the hosts took a 14-7 lead.
Wilson helped Pittsburgh tie the score at 17 early in the third quarter, and when Wilson and company rushed onto the field with 13 minutes, 57 seconds left in the fourth, the Steelers still had a 24-17 lead. He made a big contribution to the match.
Then came the backbreaker.
Wilson faked a handoff and rolled to his right, misfiring a throw in the flat, but Marlon Humphrey intercepted it and returned it 37 yards for a crucial pick-six. Dejected, Pittsburgh did nothing in the final two games and watched their arch-rival clinch their third straight playoff berth.
a If the Steelers had won, the division would have been locked.but going into the final week of the regular season, Pittsburgh’s margin for error became uncomfortably small.
The Steelers and Ravens are both 10-5, with Pittsburgh currently holding the tiebreaker in conference records, but Baltimore’s last two games are a bit more favorable. The Ravens visit Houston on Wednesday before hosting Cleveland in their final regular season game.
Of course, neither game is a gimme, but given the Steelers’ upcoming challenges, there’s a good chance Baltimore can beat the North if they can win both. Pittsburgh hosts Kansas City, 14-1, on Wednesday and hosts a Cincinnati team that took on the Steelers and lost 44-38 on Dec. 1.
Pittsburgh still holds its fate in the AFC North, but if the Ravens take the lead, it would be fair to look back on Saturday’s game. The Steelers had chances, but Wilson in particular fell short.
The rematch required more from Wilson than the teams’ first matchup. Pittsburgh was missing top receiver George Pickens and three starters on defense, and star linebacker TJ Watt was playing through an ankle injury, so he probably wasn’t playing 100 percent.
Even with Pickens out, Wilson needed to shine because the Steelers weren’t going to overwhelm the Ravens on the ground.
Pittsburgh had just 3.6 yards per carry against Baltimore in Week 11, and on Saturday the Steelers averaged 4.9 yards per pop, but could not pace the Ravens offense that wore down Pittsburgh’s patchwork defense. There just wasn’t enough to match.
To Wilson’s credit, he played aggressively and made several impressive throws in tight windows and runs. He could have slid on an unlucky scramble, but you have to give credit to the veteran quarterback for welcoming the contact and not giving up on the play.
Wilson’s mistake on Saturday was too costly. It is not yet clear how deep the impact will be.
