by Bo Marchionte
Twitter @BoMarchionte
Pittsburgh came out flat but prevailed over the Ravens, 28-24.
Dreary and glooming.
It best described the weather in Baltimore and Steelers performance. It also was the perfect environment between these two heavy weights fighting for supremacy of the AFC North.
This was the pay-per-view game of the week in the NFL.
“We did not play well today,” Mike Tomlin said after his team reached 7-0, matching a franchise record set in 1978. “We lacked detail in a lot of areas.”
The lacking attention to detail was evident in the way Baltimore carved through the Steelers defense like a hot knife through butter. Pittsburgh’s battle tested run defense ranked second in the NFL, with 413 yards allowed over six games. It stymied two upper echelon running games of Cleveland and Tennessee, in previous back to back weeks.
However, against Baltimore it was humiliated.
With Mark Ingram sidelined the trio of Lamar Jackson, J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards worked in perfect harmony, even without two of their starting offensive linemen leaving the game due to injuries. The Ravens man handled the Steelers in the trenches with one jab (run) after the next. With 265 yards on the ground, the Ravens rushing attack controlled the game and nearly dictated the outcome. Almost 40% of their rushing yards allowed occurred in the four quarters of action versus the Ravens.
“We said going into this game its going to be all about execution and knowing your assignments,” T.J. Watt said after five tackle and one sack game. “Every guy doing his job and not trying to do too much. I’m sure the film will tell us the story.”
A story that will not be shared with anyone outside of the facility if in fact players were struggling to grasp and manage the expectations of beating their rival, while trying to maintain a perfect record in the National Football League.
“I’m really looking forward to watching this film,” T.J. Watt said post game. “I’m not happy how everything unfolded, especially the running game.”
Once again Watt referencing the strong urge to watch the tape and find out how the assignments were not being executed to normal perfection demonstrated by this team in the previous weeks.
Baltimore used the running game in the same manner a seasoned prize fighter utilizes the jab. The repeated success of the jab weakens the opponent over the volume of punches. Carry after successful carry, Baltimore was controlling the fight (time of possession). The Ravens held the football over ten minutes longer than Pittsburgh an eternity in professional football.
In the first half Watt appeared engaged in candid dialogue with Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler. The frustration of the Ravens success was spilling over on the side lines of the Steelers.
“Everybody wants to be successful,” Watt said. “Stuff like that happens in football from time to time.”
The topic that created the exchange in words, most likely was rooted in the way Baltimore was precisely jabbing the Steelers defense.
The jab was working.
It was causing confusion and frustration for Pittsburgh.
The prize fight revolved around the Ravens jabbing the Steelers with hard punches to the body, with its formidable rushing attack. It was winning the time of possession and tiring out a unit that prides themselves on being the quintessential force against the run.
The methodic style of the Ravens offense was a stark contrast to how Pittsburgh was trying to remain unbeaten.
Backyard football and haymakers.
Ben Roethlisberger said as much saying the seat of his pants style of play was never on display more than this game.
I know throughout my whole career, people say I always play playground backyard football,” Roethlisberger said. “Today, it was in its truest form.”
The randomness of their antics ended up being the keys to their success.
Pittsburgh on the opposite end threw a couple haymakers.
That landed.
The haymakers arrived in the form of two big interceptions and a couple of fumble recoveries.
Steelers linebacker Robert Spillane staggered the Ravens immediately, when he intercepted Jackson for a pick six in on the games opening drive. The 33-yard touchdown return helped keep Pittsburgh in the fight as the offense sputtered and the Ravens took control with a double-digit lead (10-points).
“They’re a great team,” Stephon Tuitt said after the game. “To come here. Away. To steal a win, especially against a tough opponent and division opponent like the Ravens is big.”
Trailing by 10-points entering the third quarter the Steelers put up fourteen points and took the lead entering the final quarter of play, 21-17.
“I think we anticipated it way too much,” Eric Ebron said after the victory. “I know our unit was ready, but we didn’t look ready.”
Ebron eluded that the adjustments made where tremendous in allowing Pittsburgh to crawl themselves back into the game and eventually take and hold on to the lead during the end of the final quarter of play.
“At the end of the day you make adjustments,” Ebron said. “In the first half we came out with a game plan. They punched us in the mouth. We have to make adjustments. That shows you a good team. I’ve been part of no adjustments.”
The enthusiasm Ebron displays, echoes the pulse around this team.
Pittsburgh basically admitted as much that their performance often results in a loss. However, this team has that magic touch. The fairy dust that helps you win when you should not.
Hence a 7-0 record.
The only unbeaten in the National Football League.