Lamar Jackson threw for 2 touchdowns in a flawless first half, Derrick Henry scored twice whereas main Baltimore’s devastating working recreation, and the Ravens beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-14 on Saturday night time to advance to the second spherical of the AFC playoffs.
The Ravens transfer on to face both Buffalo or Houston after leaping out to a 21-0 halftime lead and holding on towards their AFC North rivals. Baltimore had a 19-2 benefit in first downs within the first half, when the Ravens produced landing drives of 95, 85 and 90 yards.
Henry ran for 186 yards, and Baltimore outrushed the Steelers 299-29. It was probably the most yards speeding allowed by Pittsburgh in a playoff recreation, breaking the mark of 232 set by the Oakland Raiders 51 years in the past.
Jackson, the two-time MVP nonetheless searching for a postseason breakthrough, made it clear from the beginning he was going to make Pittsburgh (10-8) defend his arm and his legs. He saved the chains transferring, and the Ravens (13-5) had been completely happy to advance the ball methodically towards a Steelers group that has relied closely this season on forcing turnovers.
Pittsburgh’s season ends with 5 straight losses, two of which got here in Baltimore. The ending was a well-known story for the Steelers, who’ve misplaced six consecutive playoff video games. The final 3 times they’ve been within the postseason, they’ve fallen on the highway in video games which have exemplified the hole between Pittsburgh and the convention’s true contenders.
The Ravens had 10 landing drives of a minimum of 90 yards within the common season, probably the most by a group since a minimum of 2000. They began at their very own 5 on their first possession and drove 13 performs for a landing.
The Steelers have made a behavior lately of profitable tight video games towards the Ravens, capitalizing on Baltimore errors. The Ravens averted that downside Saturday, taking few main dangers.
They did get artistic on the primary drive, lining Henry up for a direct snap from middle whereas Jackson got here throughout and faked a sweep. Henry saved the ball for a 34-yard achieve. Jackson capped the possession with a 15-yard scoring strike to Rashod Bateman, who was Baltimore’s prime wholesome receiver with Zay Flowers (knee) unavailable.
Jackson went 16 of 21 for 175 yards and rushed for 81.
Henry made it 14-0 with an 8-yard run with 4:09 left within the half. After a Pittsburgh punt, the Steelers referred to as timeout on third-and-2 from the Baltimore 18, hoping to get the ball again, however the Ravens transformed after which shortly moved into place to attain.
On second down from the Pittsburgh 5 with 11 seconds left, Jackson almost used up the remaining time scrambling round, however he finally dumped the ball off to an open Justice Hill, who went into the top zone with 2 seconds left.
The Steelers drove 98 yards for a landing on their first second-half possession, with Russell Wilson throwing a 30-yard scoring move to Van Jefferson. Baltimore shortly answered when Henry broke release the center for a 44-yard TD – Pittsburgh defenders had been caught out of place as a result of Jackson faked a run to the left after handing the ball off.
Wilson answered with a 36-yard landing strike to George Pickens within the third, however that was it for the scoring. Wilson went 20 of 29 for 270 yards on an evening when neither group turned the ball over.
The Ravens want Denver to win at Buffalo on Sunday in the event that they’re going to host a recreation subsequent weekend. If that occurs, Houston would come to Baltimore. If not, Baltimore would head to Buffalo for a matchup between Jackson and fellow MVP candidate Josh Allen.
The Steelers enter the offseason after Wilson and coach Mike Tomlin had been in a position to get them to the playoffs, however a once-promising season ended with a thud.
