This AFC North clash features key battles between specific players, units, and coaches.
The Baltimore Ravens will begin their quest to reach the Super Bowl on Saturday, facing the the Pittsburgh Steelers for the third time this year. The clash between the AFC North rivals be their first-ever playoff bout in Baltimore, where the Ravens will enter as 9.5-point favorites. Below are a handful of key matchups that could be deciding factors this weekend.
WR Rashod Bateman v. Steelers cornerbacks
With Zay Flowers officially ruled out, Rashod Bateman will assume the WR1 role in the Ravens offense after his breakout 2024 campaign.
There’s no doubt that Bateman benefits from opposing defenses’ focus on Flowers and the Ravens running game. However, he has proven he can shoulder a heavier load in the past, including in Week 18 after Flowers went down. Bateman finished as the team’s leading receiver with five catches, 76 yards, and his ninth touchdown of the season.
The fourth-year wideout has struggled against the Steelers this year, catching just three of his eight targets for 44 yards. Bateman will face off against Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson on the outside, though Todd Monken may move him into the slot for an easier matchup against Beanie Bishop Jr.
Bateman knows that he has the crisp route-running and skills at the catch point to make a name for himself on Saturday night.
“Don’t go out there and do anything that I haven’t done or try to be anything extra,” Bateman said this week. “Just be myself and make plays.”
Ravens offensive tackles v. Steelers edge defenders
The Steelers’ edge rush will be key to pressure Lamar Jackson and containing the Ravens’ run game. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley struggled against Nick Herbig and Alex Highsmith in previous matchups, but Roger Rosengarten has excelled against T.J. Watt on the right side.
Monken threw plenty of extra blockers to slow Watt down, but Rosengarten held his own when blocking Watt on an island. The former Defensive Player of the Year was held without a single quarterback hit in Week 16 in one of his worst overall performances of the season.
Roger Rosengarten vs. T.J. Watt and the Steelers. This is not how it’s supposed to look for a rookie pic.twitter.com/4RD0VFe8qv
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) December 22, 2024
Watt will be motivated to exact revenge against the rookie OT this week, but Rosengarten should have plenty of confidence after recently receiving encouragement from Myles Garrett.
RB Justice Hill v. LB Payton Wilson
In the first matchup between these teams, Payton Wilson turned the tide for the Steelers ripping away a reception from Justice Hill for an interception. A concussion knocked Hill out of the game in Week 16, but he will have another chance against Wilson this weekend. With Flowers out, Hill will have an expanded role in the passing game. In addition to pass-protection duties, the veteran running back will have to protect the ball and evade Wilson as a receiver.