The Steelers playoff chances are a crucial victory on a chilly and rainy Saturday in Baltimore. Now, they will have to wait and see if that is enough to secure their spot in the postseason.
Najee Harris rushed for 112 yards and scored a touchdown with 26 carries, and on the opening play of the fourth quarter, Mason Rudolph connected with Diontae Johnson for a touchdown. This decisive performance helped the Steelers earn a 17–10 Steelers playoff chances over the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.
The Steelers Playoff Chances important win, increasing their season record to 10-7 and recording their seventh win in the last eight games against the Ravens (13-4). However, this victory came at a significant cost.
Star outside linebacker T.J. Watt suffered a knee injury while chasing Baltimore quarterback Tyler Huntley late in the third quarter. Unfortunately, he did not return to the game. Watt’s impressive performance included seven tackles, three of which were for loss, as well as two sacks and two hits on the opposing quarterback.
It is currently uncertain whether he will be available for potential Steelers Playoff Chances games.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin noted, “T.J.’s knee injury is undergoing evaluation. I will provide more information during our next meeting. Naturally, it’s disappointing, but football presents challenges. “Whatever the situation, we will resolve it.” ,
Game Highlights of Steelers playoff chances
The Pittsburgh Steelers currently face an open challenge, both in the immediate outcome and when Coach Tomlin addresses the situation. After their recent wins, the Steelers have a clear understanding of the scenarios that will secure their spot in the AFC playoffs. With a 10-7 record, the Titans will be assured of a playoff berth if they defeat the Jaguars at 1 p.m. on Sunday or if the Dolphins are victorious over the Bills in Sunday night’s game. Additionally, if Saturday night’s game between the Texans and Colts in Indianapolis ends in a tie, there is a rare possibility for the Steelers to reach the playoffs.
Expressing gratitude for his team’s performance, Tomlin said, “I appreciate the players’ efforts. It’s admirable to win the last four games at M&T Bank Stadium. It’s always tough to play here, and today’s weather made it difficult.” “I added another layer of difficulty. Managing ball security has been a challenge, but it was a shared struggle for both teams.”
Given the continuous heavy rain during the game, the team with better running abilities looked set to take victory.
Playoff Scenarios for the Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers have demonstrated early on that they can run the ball effectively, as long as they minimize any mishandling issues.
After the opening possession, which resulted in both teams punting, the Steelers mounted a 12-play, 76-yard drive. During this impressive series, he relied heavily on the running game and accumulated 63 yards on 10 rushing attempts. Harris achieved the third 1,000-yard milestone of his career during the game, concluding the drive with a 6-yard touchdown run. This touchdown gave the Steelers a 7-0 lead, and it occurred with 2:36 left in the first quarter.
Harris commented, “We anticipated it would be that type of game.”
On their next possession, the Ravens suffered a fumble when Mark Robinson fumbled Melvin Gordon, and Larry Ogunjobi recovered the fumble at the Baltimore 45-yard line. However, when Jaylen Warren fumbled on the end of a short catch at the Baltimore 33, the Steelers immediately gave up possession, giving the Ravens the ball back.
The Pittsburgh Steelers managed to stop the opposing team’s possession, gaining control after a punt at their 10-yard line. However, their subsequent offensive series resulted in a three-and-out when Warren’s third-and-three run fell short, forcing him to punt the ball back to Baltimore. The Ravens then took over at their own 29-yard line.
Gus Edwards scored on a 29-yard run, and shortly before the two-minute warning, Huntley threw a successful 28-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely, tying the score at 7-7.
Following a heads-up play by return man Godwin Igwebuike, the Steelers took possession of the ball at their own 40 when he forced himself out of bounds before coming into contact with the squished kickoff. However, the Steelers could not take advantage of favorable field conditions before the halftime break.
The Steelers advanced to the Baltimore 33-yard line, but Rudolph faced consecutive sacks from Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy. During the second sack, Rudolph fumbled the ball, and the Ravens recovered it just before halftime, resulting in a turnover.
Early in the second half, the Pittsburgh Steelers forced another three-and-out, and after a punt, Harris broke ground on a 15-yard run on the first play, advancing the ball into Baltimore territory. However, the Steelers suffered setbacks as Rudolph struggled to handle the shotgun snap on third down, resulting in him falling on the ball.
Rudolph, the Pittsburgh Steelers current starting quarterback, reflected on recent weather conditions, saying, “It was probably the most demanding season I’ve had to navigate.” He has achieved three consecutive wins in his role as the team’s quarterback.
The match continued as a struggle for territory, with rain continuing and the playing field becoming increasingly slippery.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Steelers faced a third-and-4 situation at their 29-yard line, with Watt sidelined for the remainder of the game due to a recent knee injury.
After receiving the snap, Rudolph initially tracked tight end Pat Freiermuth near the markers but chose a slant route to Johnson, with cornerback Rock Ya-Sin behind him. Johnson secured the ball for 15 yards and ran unchallenged for the decisive touchdown, giving his team the lead.
Rudolph commented, “Pat was taken out of the game. The defense effectively neutralized him by either dropping the defensive lineman or marking the linebacker close to him. Dionte played a key role in the read since Pat was unavailable. It was there, so I focused my attention on it.”
The longest touchdown of his career came as a 71-yard play, and it marked the sixth instance this season when the Steelers executed a play covering 65 yards or more. This feat is the first such feat for the team since 1988.
In the fourth quarter, Baltimore experienced another turnover when Edwards fumbled, and Marcus Golden recovered the ball at the Baltimore 32.
Harris helped the Steelers’ chances of making the playoffs by moving the ball inside the 5-yard line. Chris Boswell then made a 25-yard field goal to extend the lead to 17–7.
Baltimore won 17-10 over the Ravens with a late Justin Tucker field goal, marking the second time the Steelers won 17-10 against them on the season.
Rudolph had an impressive performance, completing 18 of 20 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown, resulting in a remarkable passer rating of 115.0. This marked his third consecutive game with a passer rating surpassing 112. Additionally, Rudolph set a new Steelers record with a 90 percent completion rate, surpassing Ben Roethlisberger’s 2018 performance of 22 completions out of 25 attempts against Carolina.
Huntley, replacing Lamar Jackson, led the Ravens to the top seed in the AFC Steelers playoff chances, throwing 15 completions on 28 passes for a total of 146.
