10 Thoughts: Run defense was non-existent

Dec 21, 2024 at 10:00 PM

Dale Lolley

Contributing Writer/Editor

BALTIMORE - The last time the Steelers faced the Ravens back in Week 11 at Acrisure Stadium, they stopped Derrick Henry for a three-yard gain on his first carry. His second rushing attempt gained four yards, but resulted in a fumble forced by linebacker Nick Herbig that was recovered by the Steelers.

Henry would get the ball 11 more times the rest of the game after that, as the Steelers slowed Baltimore's 247-pound running back early and often, dissuading the Ravens from running the ball as much as they typically like to do.

Here at M&T Bank Stadium, the Steelers didn't dissuade the Ravens from running the ball at all. In fact, if anything, they encouraged the Ravens to stick with their running game because the Steelers did little to slow Henry all day in a 34-17 loss to Baltimore.

Henry got six yards on his first rushing attempt. His second carry picked up 14 yards. By the time the first quarter was over, Henry had eight carries for 52 yards. He would finish with 24 carries for 162 yards, helping the Ravens stay alive in the AFC North race.

"It comes down to just playing sound defense," said Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt. "Just the simple things, tackling, myself included, being gap sound, relying on everybody in the gap game. And ultimately, getting the runner down, and we didn't do that enough."

Not nearly.

The result was that the Ravens were pretty much able to do what they wanted to do when they wanted to do it.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson got off to a slow start, completing just two of his first six passes and fumbling on a sack.

But with Henry continuing to hammer away and get into a depleted secondary, the Ravens were able to weather the storm early until Jackson settled down.

Jackson's overall numbers weren't eye-popping. He completed 15 of 23 passes for 207 yards. But he had three touchdown passes - along with an interception. He ran the ball for just 22 yards.

Thing is, Jackson's numbers didn't need to be eye-popping because Henry's were.

"We didn't control the run game," said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. "We never did."

And because the Steelers didn't control Henry up front, it cost an already-depleted secondary another starter. Already playing without corner Donte Jackson and safety DeShon Elliott, Henry got to the second level on Baltimore's second possession and ran into cornerback Joey Porter Jr.

Porter got Henry on the ground. But he also suffered a knee injury that knocked him out of this game on the play.

The Steelers made it too easy on the Ravens by not winning up front.

"We had a good plan. We have a great runner, so it starts with that, and the ability to come downhill was important to us in this game and our ability," said Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. "We had a couple scheme things that took some of their pursuit out of it, so I thought that was really clever of our coaches."

The Steelers threw some 4-3 looks at the Ravens at times with two defensive tackles and their two outside linebackers effectively forming a four-man defensive line with three inside linebackers behind that.

But it didn't slow the Ravens. And it certainly didn't slow Henry.

"Once (Henry) gets going, he goes north to south. It's hard to break him down," said Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward. "If there's a crease or a gap that's pretty wide, he's going to take advantage of that. If he gets to the second level ... I thought our DB's did a pretty good job of trying to get him down in instances. From the first quarter on, it felt like we never really got control of him."

They paid for that negligence in this game.

"We didn't do a good job controlling the line of scrimmage today. Embarrassing to say the least," said Highsmith.

• Despite all of that, the Steelers had a chance to win this game. And they reason they did was because of Russell Wilson.

With the defense depleted coming in and missing wide receiver George Pickens for a third consecutive game, as well, for the Steelers to win this game in Baltimore, they needed Wilson to play an A-plus game.

He played well. But he made two critical mistakes.

The first came on a 20-yard run in the second quarter with the game tied at 7-7.

Wilson broke the pocket and had nobody in front of him when he cleared the line of scrimmage. Wilson went 19 yards to the Baltimore 4 when he tried to deke the one defender standing between him and the end zone, safety Ar'Darious Washington.

Washington jarred the ball loose as he took Wilson to the ground and linebacker Kyle Van Noy came rolling in to recover the loose ball in a scrum.

"I was just kind of cutting off the block. I didn't want to slide there," said Wilson. "I felt like we could have gotten in the end zone; I was just trying to get a touchdown and go for it. They made a good play."

Later, in the fourth quarter, with the Steelers trailing 24-17, Wilson rolled out and tried to get the ball to MyCole Pruitt in the flat. But he threw the ball behind the tight end and into the waiting arms of trailing cornerback Marlon Humphrey.

Humphrey returned the interception 37 yards for a touchdown to make it 31-17.

Wilson was answering Baltimore's scores throughout the game, keeping the Steelers in the game, despite Baltimore controlling the game with its rushing attack.

Yet midway through the third quarter, this game was tied at 17 because Wilson was spreading the ball around without Pickens.

Wilson completed 22 of 33 passes for 217 yards with two touchdowns and the interception. And many of his incompletions were throwaways, allowing the Steelers to live for the next play. Nine different players caught passes.

But the two mistakes were killers.

"I thought we did a really good job of regaining momentum," Wilson said. "We had a chance late in the game, the interception just hurt us, really two negative plays. I felt I had seen it well. I thought our guys made some really good plays; guys were making great catches all night. Just different guys were catching the ball and making plays. I thought the offensive line was battling.

"We knew it was going to be a tough fight, and they made two plays on us that were significant plays, unfortunately. I can't let that happen."

• The Steelers also didn't take advantage of Baltimore's mistakes, something they typically do against the Ravens, which had led to them winning eight of the past nine matchups coming into this one.

The Ravens fumbled twice early in the game, once by Jackson, the other by punt returner Desmond King.

Baltimore fell on both loose balls.

Later in the game, they failed to recover a second fumble by King in the fourth quarter. But by then, the game was all but decided.

The two early fumbles were critical, especially the miscue by Jackson on the sack by Highsmith.

If the Steelers fall on that one, Jackson might have begun to wonder what he needs to do to not allow those kind of things to happen against Pittsburgh.

He entered the game having beaten the Steelers just once in five career starts against them, turning the ball over 11 times in those five games.

"We had a couple of balls on the ground, we didn't get any of them," Highsmith said. "And when they were on the ground, they got them."

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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Keeanu Benton (95) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith (56) and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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The offense huddles during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre (42) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith (56) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers center Zach Frazier (54) and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo (73) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Cory Trice Jr. (27) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers tight end MyCole Pruitt (81) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell (9) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones (77), Pittsburgh Steelers guard Mason McCormick (66), Pittsburgh Steelers center Zach Frazier (54), Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo (73) and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. (65) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers center Zach Frazier (54) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Mark Robinson (93) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers tight end MyCole Pruitt (81), Pittsburgh Steelers center Zach Frazier (54), Pittsburgh Steelers tight end/fullback Connor Heyward (83) and Pittsburgh Steelers guard Mason McCormick (66) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson (11) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Isaiahh Loudermilk (92) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Fans during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers tight end MyCole Pruitt (81) and Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronek (15) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee (23) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen (6) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell (9) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones (77) and Pittsburgh Steelers guard Mason McCormick (66) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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The offense huddles during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Preston Smith (91) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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A general view during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts (50) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Payton Wilson (41) and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Keeanu Benton (95) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell (9) and Pittsburgh Steelers punter Corliss Waitman (8) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Dean Lowry (94) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers punter Corliss Waitman (8) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (19) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts (50) and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Payton Wilson (41) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen (6), Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Cory Trice Jr. (27) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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The defense during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers running back/kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson (84) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones (77) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Fans during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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The offense huddles during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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• The killer was what Baltimore did after Wilson's fumble at the Ravens' 4. Baltimore went 96 yards on eight plays against the Steelers' depleted secondary.

"A 96-yard drive can't happen," said Watt. "I don't even know if we got off the field on third down tonight. I don't think we had any three-and-outs tonight. We had a tough time."

The Steelers did get off the field on third downs at times. Baltimore was 4 of 10 on third downs, the same as the Steelers. But the Ravens did not have a single three-and-out in this game, picking up at least one first down on every possession.

In a series that often is decided by field position, that doesn't help to win that aspect of the game. But even when the Steelers did have the Ravens pinned back deep in their own end, Baltimore moved the ball – including going 96 yards for a score.

• Now, the Steelers have just four days to rebound before they have to play their third game of this 11-day, three-game gauntlet.

And up next are the 13-1 Kansas City Chiefs.

At least that one is at Acrisure Stadium.

The NFL did the Steelers no favors making them play three games in 11 days against three of the top teams in the league with the first two of those games on the road.

Yes, the Ravens, Texans and Chiefs also have the same schedule. But Baltimore and Houston at least had their bye weeks leading into this stretch.

The Steelers and Chiefs did not have the benefit of some rest going into this stretch.

Then again, given how angry the defensive players were in that locker room after getting pushed around in the ground game, for many of them, the next opportunity can't come soon enough.

Though with some of the injures the Steelers now have, particularly on defense, it won't get any easier.

"We have to get better. We have to get guys up to speed that are playing as quickly as possible," Watt said. "We have four days until our next game. So, there is no time to sit around and pout."

• The Steelers allowed 418 yards to the Ravens after giving up 401 yards to the Eagles last week. It marks the first time they've allowed 400 total yards in back-to-back games since they did it three games in a row to open the 2019 season.

Not surprisingly, two of those games were on the road – at New England and San Francisco. The 400-yard game sandwiched in between was to the Seahawks at home against Wilson.

This defense is better than that, even without some of its injured starters.

But the recent results haven't shown that. Then again, this game marked the end of a stretch of games in which they have played four of five games on the road.

That tends to make things look worse than perhaps they really are.

The Steelers will be at home the next two weeks. If they can win those two games, they'll be AFC North champions. They still control everything in front of them.

And if they win both of those games at home, they'll guarantee themselves at least one home game in the postseason, as well.

"Who said football was easy?" said Heyward. "We talk about it. If you're a veteran or you're a pro, you're taking care of your body tomorrow, but you're also watching film, whether it's this game or the opponent's. That's how we roll. We don't make excuses. We deal with what we've got, and we move on."

• If there was another silver lining in this game, the running game produced a solid effort against a Baltimore run defense that came into this contest leading the league.

The Steelers had 117 rushing yards on 24 attempts, with both Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris churning out consistent yards as they combined for 90 yards on 21 attempts. Wilson had 27 yards on three scrambles.

The Steelers also more successful on first downs in this game. They averaged 6.4 yards on first downs in this game, as Wilson was 8 of 11 for 118 yards and a touchdown on first downs, though he was sacked twice on first downs.

The Steelers also ran the ball 14 times for 69 yards on first downs in this game.

Another of those first-down plays was a 44-yard completion to Calvin Austin III, who has stepped up in a big way Pickens out.

• A big moment in this game came after Wilson threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Cordarrelle Patterson with 5:14 remaining in the third quarter to tie the score at 17-17.

On the ensuing kickoff, Chris Boswell's kick went out of bounds at the Baltimore 10, resulting in the Ravens getting the ball at their own 40.

It was a rare mistake from Boswell. And it set the Ravens up with a short field.

Boswell, who made his team-record 12th field goal of 50 or more yards in this game, is apparently human after all.'

• Playing four road games in five weeks as the Steelers have done will wear a team down. And perhaps that leads to some missed tackles, overall mistakes and perhaps some injuries.

But with a game against the Chiefs looming, the Steelers can't be focused on anything else.

They should get Pickens back for the game against the Chiefs. That will certainly help the offense.

But this team needs Elliott and Jackson back to help bolster the secondary, especially if Porter is forced to miss the game against Kansas City.

Yes, Tomlin preaches the "next-man-up" mentality. But at some point, playing with a secondary full of reserves reaches a tipping point and leads to miscommunications because players are being asked to do more than they have before.

• Dale Lolley is co-host of "SNR Drive" on Steelers Nation Radio. Subscribe to the podcast here: Apple Podcast | iHeart Podcast Pittonline@iheartmedia.com

• It was good to see Minkah Fitzpatrick end his interception-less streak in this game. And at the time of his pick of Jackson, it seemed like a massive play.

It had been 25 games since Fitzpatrick's last interception. That had caused some to believe he hasn't been playing well.

But that is certainly not the case. He's a huge part of this defense. And in this game, he was the one constant in that secondary, along with veteran safety Damontae Kazee.

Because of the issues the Steelers had up front dealing with Henry, both safeties had to deal with him a lot on the back end. Too much.

10 Thoughts: Run defense was non-existent

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