Steelers vs Ravens: 4 takeaways from the huge comeback win

By Curt Popejoy | November 2, 2020 2:00 am

When it’s a clash between two top teams you expect the game to come down to the wire. This is exactly what happened between Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. A huge stop on fourth down by the Steelers defense secured the win for Pittsburgh and improved their record to 7-0 on the season.

Here are our four big takeaways from the win.

The run defense was exposed

Mitchell Layton-USA TODAY Sports

I’m not sure if a team has ever rushed for 265 yards and lost before today but I can’t imagine it’s happened often. The Ravens just gashed the Steelers run defense and while I concede the scheme the Ravens run is unique with Lamar Jackson at quarterback, it was still disheartening. This really comes down to depth and the players coming in as reserves just don’t have the level of athleticism needed and the primary starters are getting gassed.

JuJu Smith-Schuster in the clutch

(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

It was great to see quarterback Ben Roethlisberger looking to wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster more on Sunday. I’m still not sure if Smith-Schuster is a true No. 1 receiver but he’s easily one of the best slot receivers in the NFL and showed in on Sunday.

The Steelers offensive line is grossly underrated

(AP Photo/Gail Burton)

I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to saw Roethlisberger isn’t quite as nimble as he has been. No shame in that. But what we saw again on Sunday is that the offensive line continues to a great job protecting him. The line allowed two sacks but in both cases, at least some of the blame fell on Big Ben for holding the football too long.

It really is someone different every week

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

One of the things that makes the Steelers so hard to beat is you literally never know from one week to the next which offensive skill players will be the focus. It has to be incredibly frustrating for opposing defenses and you saw it with the Ravens on Sunday.