Sport of the week
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4) v Baltimore Ravens (9-5)
The battle for the AFC North nears its climax with two bitter rivals gutting it out for hallowed home-field benefit within the playoffs. If the Pittsburgh Steelers proceed their scorching streak and earn a fifth successive win in Baltimore then the division is theirs whereas the Ravens can clinch a playoff spot with victory and see a path to the highest of the category if Mike Tomlin’s workforce fall to the Chiefs or Bengals to shut out the season.
Each groups will really feel they’ve an edge on the opposite because the Ravens have flattered to deceive at occasions (see: defeats to Raiders and Browns), whereas the Steelers have struggled to maneuver the ball with out George Pickens. John Harbaugh’s workforce boasts a complete offense that rivals Buffalo and Detroit in effectivity and explosiveness. The unbelievable tandem of quarterback Lamar Jackson and working again Derrick Henry can tie even the most effective protection in knots on their day. However will the celebrities align? Pittsburgh’s brutal go rush will nonetheless be assured they’ll convey out the dangerous in Baltimore.
What the Steelers have to do to win: Pickens wants to come back again into the lineup. The star receiver remains to be but to return to observe although so the Steelers have to lean on the working sport, whereas nonetheless not shedding religion in Wilson’s deep passing menace, in his sizable absence. Final week’s field rating instructed Wilson significantly struggled however his receivers had been locked up in tight protection all day by a passing protection that provides up 227 yards/sport, the second fewest within the NFL. In the meantime the Ravens cough up the second most at 323. The offensive scheme wants to make use of Wilson’s deep menace however discover stability to use that weak point when it counts.
Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has to discover a technique to get the working sport going whereas additionally together with Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren within the passing assault. In opposition to the Bengals they mixed for 10 catches and over 100 yards, however in opposition to the Eagles they’d a catch every for a complete of 10 yards. Probably the most essential upshot of discovering success with the run will probably be chewing the clock. The protection began scorching in opposition to Philadelphia however regarded fully gassed on the gun as they had been despatched out many times. TJ Watt particularly will want relaxation to deal with Jackson and Henry as he manages an ankle harm.
What the Ravens have to do to win: The Ravens want to scrub their act up and take a dispassionate method to show round their rotten type in opposition to the Steelers. With just one win of their previous 9 conferences, Baltimore have to remain centered to keep away from game-killing turnovers and penalties that had been the distinction when overwhelmed by Pittsburgh in November. Harbaugh’s workforce dedicated 12 penalties, turned the ball over thrice and missed two area targets whereas Jackson had three balls batted on the line of scrimmage and was sacked twice.
If and when the errors are tidied away, Jackson – 1-4 in opposition to Pittsburgh – wants to resolve Mike Tomlin’s protection. One path to doing so will probably be utilizing working again Justice Hill’s velocity and stylish route working out of the backfield so the extra predictable targets to Mark Andrews can be utilized extra successfully in bits and items for chunk performs and touchdowns. Mixing in tight finish Isaiah Doubtless within the slot or out vast has the potential to assist break Pittsburgh’s will too. The ultimate piece of the puzzle needs to be copying Philadelphia’s success by dominating time of possession. They solely managed 24 minutes to Pittsburgh’s 36 in Week 11.
Rising in playoff race: Philadelphia Eagles
Suggesting a 12-2 workforce on a 10-game profitable streak are on the rise feels slightly late … but the Eagles clicked right into a a lot increased offensive gear of their dominant win over Pittsburgh final week, particularly within the passing sport, than had beforehand been seen. A frightening improve that can have the remainder of the league a contact shaken after QB Jalen Hurts hit his finest receiver AJ Brown for double-digit targets for the primary sport since Week 1 whereas giving the second-in-command Devonta Smith double-digit receptions for the primary time this season. They even completed with eerily comparable numbers of a landing every with Brown going for 110 yards and Smith 109.
The No 1 seed shouldn’t be but theirs to lose although however they’re hovering with intent, as holes proceed to proliferate Detroit’s roster whereas the Minnesota Vikings additionally problem at 12-2. The Lions although face the Vikings within the remaining week of the season after Minnesota face the Inexperienced Bay Packers in week 17. The Eagles can put critical stress on their rivals for the first-round bye with a win over Washington on Sunday. A sweep of the Commanders would get shut to making sure an unbelievable 15-2 end contemplating their cake-walk in opposition to the Cowboys and Giants to finish the season.
Falling in playoff race: Seattle Seahawks
Seattle will probably be relieved as Geno Smith will begin in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. They definitely want him. After Smith exited final week’s thrashing from the Packers with a knee harm, Sam Howell entered, type of, recording a median of 1.71 yards from 14 passing makes an attempt. Even with the starter the omens look iffy after the Seahawks lastly with their future in their very own arms, rapidly handed it off to the surging Los Angeles Rams. They’re stage with their NFC West mates on 8-6 although have the weaker convention document and will slip again a sport if the Rams deal with the New York Jets.
The Vikings feels very very similar to a show it sport for Mike Macdonald’s workforce and an assumption of defeat is untimely after racking up 4 wins in succession this month. The query is who’re Seattle actually: the robust defensive operation from December that may put the squeeze on Sam Darnold or the pushovers that went 1-5 in midseason?
Race for No 1 draft decide
Contained in the raging tire fireplace of NFL ineptitude there’s a bowl sport of kinds on Sunday. The three-11 Jaguars meet the 2-10 Raiders in an encounter that would have dramatic ramifications for the 2025 draft order. A defeat for Las Vegas retains them in pole place for the highest rookie quarterback – Shadeur Sanders? – to show the ailing pirate ship round whereas a loss for the Jaguars would preserve them within the race to signal finest the non-QB, on this case Heisman Trophy-winning cornerback Travis Hunter from decide three. The order because it stands has them at No 1 and 4 respectively however the eventualities are so open that the Raiders might find yourself choosing as excessive as 10 with a win adopted by two extra to shut out a dismal yr robust. Stranger issues have occurred.
