Here’s the MVP, Winners and Losers from the Ravens’ 28-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round.
The Baltimore Ravens welcomed the Pittsburgh Steelers to M&T Bank Stadium by throttling them with violence on offense and defense and breaking their psyche by halftime. When all was said and done, the Ravens sent the Steelers packing, 28-14.
MVP: Lamar Jackson
There was no greater player on the football field than Jackson on Saturday. An MVP possessed with excellent decision-making, precision passing and electric runs that buried the Steelers in a three-touchdown deficit in 30 minutes.
It’s abundantly clear Jackson is the best player in football and nowhere was it shown greater than against the Steelers — a known issue team for Jackson — in the playoffs — where he receives his greatest critique.
Winners
Head Coach John Harbaugh: I’m going to shoot things straight here. The pressure on Harbaugh to win this game was significant. Steelers on a four-game losing streak. Ravens on a four-game winning streak. Ravens scored 30+ past four weeks. Steelers hadn’t scored 20 or more in the past four. The Ravens had to win. And they did. Harbaugh outcoached Mike Tomlin for the second time this season. He did so without Zay Flowers. His team was fired-up, physical and ready to contend. Whoever lost this one had a real chance of not being in the AFC North any longer. Harbaugh prevailed, and for good reason.
Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken: The play-calling in the first half surged the Ravens to victory. From gashing the Steelers with QB option runs to Derrick Henry in the Wildcat to trusting excellent play-calling to give Jackson and the offense the best chance of success, he called a near-perfect first half.
There was never any panic. Pure resolve, confidence and no wavering.
Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr: A first-half for the ages, a couple bad plays of execution that I don’t believe was his play calling, and holding the Steelers to 14 points. They allowed just 59 net yards in the first half and two first downs. Hiccups happened, yes. But the Ravens’ defense clobbered the Steelers and Orr gets his first playoff win as a head coach.
Derrick Henry: The run game went head-to-head with the tough, physical Steelers defense and it was Pittsburgh who flinched first. Henry hammered 100 rush yards in the first half and a touchdown. In the second half, just as the Steelers found momentum with a touchdown, Henry put the Ravens backup by 21 points with a 44-yard rushing touchdown. In all, Henry finished with 26 carries for 186 yards and two touchdowns.
Rashod Bateman: With no Zay Flowers, the Ravens needed somebody to step up. Bateman answered the bell with the opening touchdown.
Mark Andrews: Multiple third-down conversions via direct snap Tush Push and two receptions for 27 yards. Contributed where needed and was never overextending. A good start to what could be a greater, more impactful playoff run.
Tylan Wallace: After Jackson took his first sack of the game in the third quarter, the Ravens faced 2nd & 21. Jackson rolled out, hit a short completion to Wallace, who proceeded to run at three Steelers defenders and pummel his way through their attempts to strip him of the ball to gain the first down, setting up Henry’s second TD moments later.
Ar’Darius Washington: Though he may be one of the physically smaller players on the football field, he contends with the toughest, most fearless players by assaulting his assignment each play. Twice, he blasted 6-foot-5, 258-pound Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth to deny first downs on 3rd-and-short.
Washington also denied the Steelers’ gasping 4th & 15 moon shot with six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Whether or not he wanted the interception, the ball going incomplete set the offense in superior field position.
T.J. Tampa: The play won’t look anything special down the road, but his tackle on Austin’s punt return was big. The Steelers got a critical stop with 8:50 left. Stout’s punt was returned by Austin and he found running lanes. Tampa’s tackle kept it from being a much larger return, granting “only” 14 yards. Huge for the Ravens’ defense with under 10 to play.
Nnamdi Madubuike: Frequently in on physical plays and run-stuffing downs. And in the third quarter after two pitiful defensive drives giving up touchdowns, the Ravens’ defense was reeling. Madubuike ended it with a big-time sack on Russell Wilson to close out the third quarter and the Steelers’ drive.
Odafe Oweh: The Ravens’ defense needed to end this one. They did, and Oweh put a stamp on it with a clutch sack to put the Steelers’ further behind the sticks in their heaving desperation.
Offensive Line: The Steelers’ elite defensive line couldn’t stop the rushing attack. They couldn’t generate consistent pressure on Jackson. Roger Rosengarten for a third time stonewalled T.J. Watt (until Watt exited due to injury). In all, the Ravens rushed for yards, passed for 165 and allowed just one sack.
Losers
Steven Sims: The punt return to open the game was worrisome. A muffed punt at the 5-yard line against the Steelers could’ve made this an entirely different game had he lost the fumble. Then, he was gun-shy with each return afterward. That cannot happen in the playoffs. That can’t happen at any point.
Brandon Stephens: He’s continuing to be the weak point of the pass defense and where teams are targeting. He wasn’t alone. Tre’Davious White and Wiggins both allowed big completions, but Stephens was the weakest link.
Jordan Stout: One decent punt doesn’t make up for the weaker punts tonight that included the Steelers not even fielding a returner. The placement needs to be fine tuned. I don’t think I’m writing anything he wouldn’t agree with.