Steelers vs Ravens: Early causes for concern this week
Once again the Pittsburgh Steelers head into the final week of the season needing a win and some help to make the playoffs and as it has happened before, this final showdown is against the hated Baltimore Ravens. There’s a lot of unpack with this week’s game so here are some early concerns.
Mason Rudolph could flop
No one appreciates what Mason Rudolph has done the last two games more than me. But you can’t help but wonder if he will eventually regress to the mean and struggle. The Ravens will be the best defense he’s gone against and they will be ready.
Overconfidence
It doesn’t take much for this Steelers team to get in their own heads and get overconfident. The combination of two straight big wins paired with the potential of playing backups is a recipe for a trap game.
Quarterback drama
Beyond the worries about Rudolph not playing well, the built-in drama with Kenny Pickett as the backup is enough to worry about. A power struggle is inevitable and Pickett needs to be supportive for the sake of the team but will he?
The Ravens backups are still pros
In 2019, the Steelers took on the Ravens backups in the final game of the season with the playoffs on the line and got whipped. With how inconsistent this team has been this season, they can take nothing for granted.
