Pittsburgh Steelers Sunk By Ravens: Instant Reaction

Sep 11, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith (89) pursued by Pittsburgh Steelers safety Mike Mitchell (23) and cornerback William Gay (22) at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Steelers faced off against the Baltimore Ravens on a muggy Thursday night in Baltimore.  We all knew that Ray Rice would be the talk of the evening leading up to and most likely through the game.  The Steelers always have a tough time in Baltimore, ever since 2002.  They would have to play a darn near perfect game to come away with a win.

The Steelers played just about the complete opposite of a perfect game.  Both sides of the ball were riddled with mistakes, miscues, lack of urgency, and just a basic lack of competency over the course of the entire game.  That just doesn’t cut it when you play the Ravens in Baltimore.  Where does one even begin on describing this dumpster fire of a football game?

The Steelers only looked decent on their first scoring drive.  Ben clicked a few times with Markus Wheaton (who is the only bright spot on this team right now), but once again the play calling inside the Red Zone killed the drive, and the Steelers settled for three points.  The second half was just full of putrid play from the offense.  Turnovers, inaccurate passes, and the turn style that is Marcus Gilbert left the offense close to flatline lifeless.

The Ravens seem to have the Steelers figured out at the beginning of each season.  Protect the ball.  Protect Flacco.  Throw the ball down field.  Get penalties called in your favor.  Throw cheap slants in the end zone.  Wash. Rinse. Repeat.  I could have replayed this game and said it happened in 2010, 2011, 2012, or in 2013, and if you couldn’t see player names, no one would question the year provided.  The Ravens offense took advantage of all the weaknesses that lie within the Steelers defense (which, shocker, are a lot), and just had their way practically all night long.

The Steelers fell victim to a couple of really poorly called penalties by the officiating crew.  Both Troy Polamalu and Mike Mitchell were called for back to back personal foul calls for leading with the helmet.  Replay showed that both hits looked pretty darn close to being legal.  Three years ago you would have never have seen yellow fly on those hits.  Those two calls put the Ravens at the goal line, and they scored easily.  Thus began the huge decline in the game.

Speaking of Red Zone defense.  The Steelers D made Ravens TE Owen Daniels look like Jimmy Graham in the end zone.  Wide open and two TD’s.  The second TD, there were six linebackers on the field for the Steelers.  Not really sure what Dick LeBeau was going for that kind of defensive look.  If it was meant to get the Ravens to blink and call a time out, they didn’t.

That kind of score is really frustrating too.  Flacco is called elite and makes it looks so easy.  Well that’s because the plays called make it happen.

The Steelers continued their struggle to get pressure on the QB.  Blitzing from the Steelers appears to be only in books that I read from the 1970’s and 90’s.  The run defense looked solid for a little while by only letting the Ravens average 2.7 yards per carry, but then let some big ones through late in the game that set up some scores that sealed the game.

The Steelers offense was vapid of life except for a few moments.  Thankfully, Antonio Brown did not suffer a concussion and returned to the game.  But was he 100%?  Ben barely hooked up with him the rest of the game.  Ben practically struggled all evening and should shoulder a chunk of the blame with his inaccuracy, check downs, and lack of urgency.

All in all the game was garbage.  Everyone from the top down did a poor job.  A few more games like this and they are looking at another 2-6 by the halfway point.  I don’t have the answers, but the coaches better find them, or another 8-8 (or worse) season could mean heads roll.  It’s pretty embarrassing.