By Nate Skinner
Week 11 in the NFL featured some exciting matchups, including the Chiefs vs. Bills, Bengals vs. Chargers, and 49ers vs. Seahawks. But the standout game was an AFC North showdown between longtime rivals the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens.
These teams have a rich history, with legendary players like Ray Lewis, Hines Ward, Troy Polamalu, Ed Reed, Joe Flacco, and Ben Roethlisberger defining the rivalry. Iconic moments have shaped their meetings, from Polamalu’s pick-six in the 2008 AFC Championship to Haloti Ngata breaking Roethlisberger’s nose and Antonio Brown’s helmet catch.
This past Sunday, their latest clash was filled with action and memorable moments, adding another chapter to this storied rivalry.
The Pittsburgh Steelers improved to 8-2 with an 18-16 victory over the Baltimore Ravens in a hard-fought AFC North showdown. Pittsburgh’s defense was the standout, with key plays from rookie linebacker Payton Wilson, who intercepted a pass, and Nick Herbig, who forced a fumble on Ravens running back Derrick Henry.
Former Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen also made a big impact, stripping tight end Isaiah Likely of the ball in the final minute of the first half.
Despite struggles in the red zone, where they went 0-4, the Steelers managed to get the job done. Quarterback Russell Wilson and the offense failed to convert in the red zone, including one drive that ended with an interception by Marlon Humphrey on a pass intended for 6-foot-7 tight end Darnell Washington.
The biggest contributor to the win was kicker Chris Boswell, who connected on all six of his field goal attempts, marking the second time this season the Steelers won without scoring a touchdown.
In the postgame press conference, Mike Tomlin expressed his appreciation for Boz, despite the team’s ongoing flaws. “Love Boz, but I’m tired of him getting Player of the Week. He’ll probably get it again, and he deserves it, but it reminds us of our warts,” he said.
The game was sealed late when Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. disrupted a two-point conversion attempt, forcing Lamar Jackson to throw an incomplete pass.
With the win, Pittsburgh extended its dominance over Baltimore, improving to 8-1 in the last nine meetings. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is now 1-4 against the Steelers.
The Steelers now head to Cleveland for a Thursday night football clash with the Browns, who are coming off a 35-14 loss to the Saints. The game, set for 8:15 p.m. on Amazon Prime, marks the second of six divisional games in the second half of Pittsburgh’s season. The Steelers will need a sharper performance from their offense as they aim for a sixth straight win and further solidify their playoff hopes.
