Ravens Dominate Ground Game in Playoff Victory Over Steelers
The Baltimore Ravens showcased their formidable running game, securing a decisive 28-14 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers in their first playoff matchup of the season. This performance was highlighted by an impressive total of 299 rushing yards, with Derrick Henry leading the charge.
First Half: A Tale of Two Offenses
The Ravens wasted no time establishing dominance. On their opening drive, they marched down the field for 95 yards, culminating in a touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson to Rashod Bateman from 15 yards out. The Ravens continued to assert themselves with another lengthy drive in the second quarter that featured all runs and ended with Henry powering through for a touchdown.
As halftime approached, Jackson evaded pressure and connected with Justice Hill for another score just before the break, pushing Baltimore’s lead to 21-0 and amassing over 300 total offensive yards. The first half statistics were stark: Baltimore led Pittsburgh by a staggering margin of 19-2.
Steelers Fight Back but Fall Short
Despite being backed up at their own two-yard line early in the third quarter, Russell Wilson demonstrated resilience by completing three crucial third-down passes. His efforts culminated in a stunning 30-yard touchdown throw to Van Jefferson that finally put points on the board for Pittsburgh.
However, Baltimore quickly responded as Henry dashed downfield for an electrifying 44-yard touchdown run shortly after.
Pittsburgh Attempts Comeback
Wilson wasn’t done yet; he threw another pinpoint pass to George Pickens late in the third quarter that narrowed Baltimore’s lead back down to two scores with just over three minutes remaining in that period.
Although momentum seemed to shift slightly towards Pittsburgh as they attempted to claw back into contention during the fourth quarter, they ultimately faltered when they turned over possession on downs midway through—an effort that proved fruitless as time ran out on any hopes of a comeback.
Statistical Highlights
Derrick Henry finished his day with an impressive tally of 186 rushing yards on just 26 carries, scoring twice along the way. Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson contributed significantly both on foot and through airways—rushing for 81 yards while completing 16 out of 21 passes for a total of 175 passing yards**.
As this thrilling contest concluded at M&T Bank Stadium, attention now turns toward who will be next up against Baltimore as they prepare for their divisional round matchup—most likely against either Buffalo or Houston following unexpected results from other games this weekend.
this playoff clash not only highlighted Baltimore’s strength but also set them up favorably moving forward into deeper postseason play.
Graduated from University of Denver, Residing in Dallas, Texas. Political observer and a Conservative. Follow on Twitter for more.