In a dominant display of football, the Baltimore Ravens dispatched their AFC North rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, with a 28-14 victory in Saturday's AFC playoff clash, thanks to standout performances by Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. As reported by FOX Baltimore, the Ravens solidified their victory with a 21-0 lead by halftime and ended Pittsburgh's postseason ambitions.
Baltimore’s offensive strategy was insurmountable for Pittsburgh, particularly their run game, which tore through the Steeler's defense, racking up 299 yards on the ground, the highest number of rushing yards given up by Pittsburgh in their playoff history. Derrick Henry accounted for 186 yards, including a breakaway 44-yard touchdown that cemented the Ravens' command. Adding to the Steelers' woes, the Ravens' 10 touchdown drives this season of at least 90 yards were detailed by FOX Baltimore as a demonstration of their systematic approach to the game.
Lamar Jackson exhibited the dual-threat prowess that has twice crowned him MVP, throwing for two touchdowns and contributing 81 yards on the ground. Jackson's first-half performance alone, which included 16 completions out of 21 attempts and 175 passing yards, significantly outpaced the entire Steelers' offense in the same period. The quarterback's movements on the field made it challenging for Pittsburgh, who struggled to anticipate whether he or Henry would be the main assailant on any given play.
As ESPN Africa reported, Ravens coach John Harbaugh praised the duo, "Derrick Henry was running hard, physical. Lamar started it off. Lamar carried the ball at different times in the first drive or two." A fake sweep by Jackson that allowed Henry to charge 34 yards was among the creative plays that disrupted the Steelers' defense.
The Steelers, facing their sixth straight playoff loss, saw quarterback Russell Wilson throw two touchdown passes, but this was not nearly enough to challenge Baltimore’s dominance. To look ahead, the Steelers now enter an offseason poised to dissect what became "a once-promising season" that lacked a triumphant closure. The future of Baltimore's playoff journey now hinges on a Denver victory over Buffalo. This scenario would bring Houston to Baltimore for the next showdown, as detailed by FOX Baltimore. Otherwise, the Ravens will face off against the Bills and MVP candidate Josh Allen in an anticipated match that foresees a high-stakes contest.
