The Pittsburgh Steelers typically play very well against the Baltimore Ravens. That wasn’t the case the last time these two teams faced each other. The Steelers have beaten the Ravens once this year, but over the past few weeks they have looked like a completely different team. This is why they are on a 4-game losing streak. Former NFL running back LeSean McCoy believes there is no way the Steelers will win in Baltimore on Saturday night.
“The Steelers can’t put up points and they can’t stop other teams from putting up points,” McCoy said Friday. From The Facility on FS1. “How will they win? And you are on your way. I wouldn’t be surprised. [the Ravens] Win this game by 14 points. If Lamar is, I wouldn’t be surprised about this game. [Jackson] And Derrick Henry was out of the game until the fourth quarter.”
It may seem bold, but given how both teams have played recently, it’s not crazy. The Steelers are on the decline and the Ravens are playing their best football. Over the past few weeks, it didn’t look like this match would be any different from the last meeting.
But the Steelers may not be as desperate as McCoy says. He’s right. They seem allergic to scoring, but their defense was on track against the Cincinnati Bengals. Facing one of the most potent offenses in the league, the Steelers allowed just 19 points.
Additionally, the Steelers suffered numerous injuries in their loss to the Ravens. Their secondary was missing Donte Jackson and DeShon Elliott, while Joey Porter Jr. also suffered an injury. They performed better against the Ravens because of those players.
Perhaps a healthier defense would allow the Steelers to perform better in this game. They may be facing an uphill battle, but they are still incredibly talented. Their recent playoff record against Baltimore hasn’t been great, but they’ve had comeback wins before.
The last time the Ravens and Steelers faced each other in the playoffs was during the 2014 season, and the end result was similar to what McCoy describes. The Ravens led 30-17 and things didn’t get particularly close until the fourth quarter when Baltimore took a 20-9 lead. The Steelers attempted a comeback, but it was too late.
Obviously, both teams are vastly different compared to those games, but it shows that McCoy’s prediction isn’t outlandish. The Steelers have been bad lately and it’s no surprise the Ravens are blowing them out. That’s why they’re huge underdogs.
