Multiple Ravens pass catchers stepped up against Steelers in Zay Flowers’ absence

With their Pro Bowl wide receiver out of commission for the first round of the playoffs, other skill position players rose to the occasion.

When a team can establish the run and dominate on the ground in the historic fashion that the Baltimore Ravens produced in their Wildcard round victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the contributions in the passing game can get overlooked.

Even though the offense ran the ball more than twice as many times as quarterback Lamar Jackson threw the ball (50-21), there were still several very impactful plays made by pass catchers who helped fill the void created by the absence of Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers.

With the dynamic second-year pro out with a knee injury he suffered in the regular season finale that caused him to miss the entire week of practice, the Ravens had seven different players record one or more receptions and make the most of their limited opportunities.

“I think it’s just a credit to the organization, to the offense, to [offensive coordinator Todd Monken] and the hard work he puts in,” wide receiver Rashod Bateman said. “I think all season we’ve shown that we can be versatile to win games with different people having big games, and hopefully we continue to do that, and hopefully we get Zay back soon so he can be part of that.”

The fourth-year pro was the first one to make a big play and was the player many expected would have to carry the load with Flowers out. While he was only targeted twice, he hauled in both for 24 receiving yards with the first resulting in the first points of the game on the Ravens’ opening drive. He gained separation from Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson in the back of the end zone on a third-and-long for a 15-yard touchdown. His second catch came on the last drive of the first half and resulted in a nine-yard gain and a first down.

“I played vertically and turned left there and there was the ball,” Bateman said. “[Lamar Jackson] threw a really great ball where only I could catch it, and you know, it was a touchdown.”

The Ravens’ elite tight-end duo combined for five catches on seven targets for 80 receiving yards. Each recorded a play of 20-plus yards and were reliable targets for Jackson when he needed the chains moved with a clutch catch and run. Three-time Pro Bowl veteran Mark Andrews was also only targeted twice and he caught them both for first downs on eventual scoring drives. His first went for a seven-yard game on the Ravens’ first drive of the first half and the second was a 20-yard catch and run where he leaked late and was able to get out of bounds to stop the clock.

Third-year tight end Isaiah Likely finished as the Ravens leader in receiving yards (53), tied for the lead in targets (four) and tied for the second-most receptions (three). He caught Jackson’s first attempt for nine yards and first down in one-on-one coverage with his former teammate, Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen. His second catch was a 25-yard catch and run that got the offense past midfield on the only Ravens drive that didn’t end in points in the first half.

Likely’s third reception succeeded Andrew’s second and was nearly as long with a 19-yard rumble that was highlighted by a stiff arm of Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton that was just as vicious as Derrick Henry’s cratering of Minkah Fitzpatrick earlier in the game. What made the play even more impressive was that he didn’t get up and celebrate the first down or incredibly physical finish to the play, he immediately ran the ball to the official to spot so they could get the ball snapped and clocked to preserve precocious seconds that would prove vital.

The first spark and chunk play through the air on the Ravens scoring drive before halftime came from veteran receiver Nelson Agholor who was inactive for the final three games of the regular season for injury reasons. With 52 seconds left on the clock, Jackson hit him over the middle of the field after escaping the pocket to his right and Agholor proceeded to rip off a 25-yard catch-and-run to move the ball into Steelers territory.

The drive was capped off in the final seconds of the half after the Ravens drove down to the Pittsburgh five-yard line when Jackson eluded pressure to find veteran running back Justice Hill on a checkdown and he took the short pass into the end zone for the third touchdown of the game. It was one of his team-leading four catches for just 13 receiving yards with his long being a seven-yard gain where he picked up a first down.

Fourth-year wideout Tylan Wallace is a special teams ace who has proved this year that he can contribute in a meaningful way on offense if given the chance. That’s exactly what he did when he powered his way to a 21-yard gain on his lone target and reception of the game. It came at a pivotal time following Jackson getting sacked on the Ravens’ first play of their second drive of the third quarter and dug them out of a second-and-20 hole.

“Tylan has been here for a while. He got in and made some splash plays for us,” Jackson said. “[He] kept the drive going on a critical second-and-long, like second-and-20. That was crazy, and Tylan caught the ball and got YAC [yards after catch]. That was great for him.”

Even veteran receiver Anthony Miller who was elevated from the practice squad to provide more depth at receiver got in on the action by catching all three of his targets for 12 receiving yards. Veteran Steven Sims didn’t have a single target come his way but he did take a jetsweep carry for a 15-yard gain on the Ravens’ fourth scoring drive of the game.

“Some guys [were] just waiting for their opportunity to get out there and show the world what they’re capable of,” Jackson said. “We got Anthony Miller getting in, catching crucial first downs, making things happen, getting us closer if it’s third-and-whatever. Our guys … And Steven Sims got in and had that long run. Guys just want to play, and guys just want to win, and if you’re over here, you better want to win.”