Kenny Pickett leads Steelers to late rally to defeat rival Ravens, playoff hopes intact

This Sunday evening matchup had playoff implications written throughout it. The Pittsburgh Steelers wanted to win to remain alive for a wild card, whereas the Baltimore Ravens, already proudly owning a playoff spot, nonetheless has an opportunity to win the AFC North. 

It was the black and gold that got here out on prime to avoid wasting their season. 

The Steelers defeated their division rival, 16-13, due to a late landing by working again Najee Harris from rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett.

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There wasn’t a lot offense that got here out of this one, because the Ravens particularly have been struggling to place factors on the board with Lamar Jackson nonetheless sidelined. The Steelers have additionally been going via completely different quarterbacks all season, and this time it was the rookie first-rounder Pickett getting the nod to play below heart. 

Nonetheless, the top of this sport turned out to be a thriller because the Steelers bought the ball on their very own 20-yard line down 4 factors with an opportunity to take the lead late within the fourth. 

And Pickett was delivering strikes on this drive, discovering Pat Freiermuth for 20 yards to get to midfield after accumulating one first down. Then, Pickett threw a seed to Steven Sims throughout the center of the sphere for 28 yards to make issues very fascinating in Ravens’ territory. 

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After burrowing below the offensive line for an additional first down on a quarterback sneak, Pickett would ultimately scramble out to his left just a few performs later and fireplace a dot to working again Najee Harris to take the lead, 16-13, with slightly below a minute left to play.

It was the primary landing of the sport for Pittsburgh, however it couldn’t have come at a extra essential time with their season on the road. 

Isaiah Doubtless #80 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates a seven-yard landing reception in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the course of the second quarter at M&T Financial institution Stadium on January 01, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland.
(Patrick Smith/Getty Photographs)

Having Justin Tucker on the sideline, the Ravens and quarterback Tyler Huntley understood they did not need to get far into Steelers’ territory to aim a game-tying discipline purpose and ship it to time beyond regulation. Tucker’s leg has hit from past 60 yards earlier than. 

However Huntley wasn’t cautious with the ball. On 2nd-and-10 from the Baltimore 38-yard line, he determined to throw one deep supposed for Demarcus Robinson. As an alternative, it discovered the arms of security Minkah Fitzpatrick, which iced the win for Pittsburgh. 

Whereas the Ravens will hope that the Cincinnati Bengals lose to the Buffalo Payments on Monday evening, snapping their seven-game win streak to maintain their division title hopes alive, the Steelers can nonetheless get in subsequent week in the event that they beat the Cleveland Browns. 

If that occurs, Pittsburgh nonetheless wants assist from the New York Jets, who should beat the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots lose to the Payments. So, sure, we’re saying there’s undoubtedly an opportunity for Mike Tomlin’s group to get in. 

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The sport began with lengthy, methodic drives from each groups, however they every resulted in made discipline targets. The Steelers’ drive went 15 performs for 73 yards and killed 7:59 of clock, whereas the Ravens went 61 yards on 15 performs over 7:52 of time, draining out the primary quarter with nobody getting the higher hand. 

Kenny Pickett #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers throws a go in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens in the course of the second quarter at M&T Financial institution Stadium on January 01, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland.
(Patrick Smith/Getty Photographs)

It wasn’t till a missed Chris Boswell discipline purpose prompted a Ravens drive that went 62 yards for a landing to rookie tight finish Isaiah Doubtless for seven yards to offer Baltimore the lead. 

The second half noticed extra discipline targets, most notably Tucker knocking one in from 51 yards out. Strong defensive play on each side saved it extraordinarily shut. 

In the long run, Pickett completed with 168 yards on 15 of 27 via the air, whereas Harris set the tone within the run sport with 111 yards on 22 carries. Jaylen Warren additionally contributed 76 yards on 12 touches. 

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For the Ravens, Mark Andrews had 100 yards on 9 receptions, whereas J.Okay. Dobbins completed with 93 dashing yards on 17 carries. Huntley was 14 of 21 for 130 yards along with his passing landing and interception.