The Pittsburgh Steelers scored 14 unanswered second-half points to defeat the rival Baltimore Ravens 17-10 on Sunday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Steelers wide receiver George Pickens caught six passes for a career-high 130 yards and one touchdown. His 41-yard reception with 1:17 remaining gave the Steelers their first lead of the game.
- Pittsburgh linebacker T.J. Watt sealed the victory with a fumble recovery after an Alex Highsmith forced fumble on Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson with 1:02 remaining.
- The Steelers improve to 3-2 as Baltimore falls to 3-2.
Steelers offense bailed out by big play
The Steelers offense struggled once again Sunday. “Fire Canada” chants rained down at Acrisure Stadium, as frustrations with offensive coordinator Matt Canada continue to grow in Pittsburgh. By the end of the fourth quarter, the Steelers had gone nine full quarters without scoring a touchdown.
However, despite all the dysfunction, quarterback Kenny Pickett led an eight-play, 80-yard drive, capped by a 41-yard catch and run to Pickens along the right sideline, to help Pittsburgh steal a win in a game they were mostly outplayed. The issues on offense are persistent, with no easy answers in sight. But the Steelers can go to work during the bye week with a 3-2 record. — Mike DeFabo, Pittsburgh Steelers writer
Read more: NFL Week 5 takeaways: Patriots, Mac Jones unravel again; Anthony Richardson injures shoulder
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Ravens gave game away, plain and simple
It was hard to say what was the biggest miscue in a game full of them. Was it the myriad drops? Was it Jackson’s end zone interception when the Ravens had at least three points in their pockets? Was it the decision to not kick the field goal late in the second quarter? Was it allowing a blocked punt?
Everyone had a hand in this Baltimore collapse. That very much includes John Harbaugh and his coaching staff. Just like in Week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts, the Ravens lost a game they had no business losing. — Jeff Zrebiec, Baltimore Ravens writer
Read more: What we learned in NFL Week 5: Lions legitimately good, Patriots worst team in football?
Baltimore offense doesn’t like prosperity
There was a Zay Flowers drop on the Ravens’ first drive that took away points. Mark Andrews and Rashod Bateman dropped potential touchdowns on back-to-back plays. Justice Hill fumbled the ball near midfield. Baltimore curiously eschewed a 40-yard field goal late in the second quarter to go for it on fourth-and-2.
Nelson Agholor then let a potential touchdown go through his hands. Then came Jackson’s late end zone interception. The Ravens offense shows what it can do in flashes, but it continues to hold itself back with mistakes. It’s an every-week issue and it’s the reason they are 3-2 instead of 5-0. — Zrebiec
Highlight of the game
He is him.
📲: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/T87FSnfvVk pic.twitter.com/A5hX9eOSD2
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 8, 2023
Required reading
- Steelers’ Kenny Pickett: ‘By Sunday, I’ll feel a lot better and be good to go’
- Lamar Jackson has had his way with Browns and Bengals — the Steelers, not so much
- T.J. Watt’s obsessive film study habits have helped him become an elite pass rusher
(Photo: Philip G. Pavely / USA Today)