Steelers vs Ravens Preview & Free Pick [January 1st 2023]

Pittsburgh (7-8) at Baltimore (10-5)
When: Sunday, January 1st 2023
Where: M&T Bank Stadium,
Baltimore, MD
Time: 8:20 ET | TV: NBC
Opening Odds: Baltimore -4.5/36

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The penultimate Sunday Night Football game pits bitter rivals in the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens from M&T Bank Stadium. The Steelers appeared to be heading for their first losing season since 2003, but have reeled off wins in four of their last five games to keep their playoff hopes alive. The only loss in that stretch was a 16-14 setback on December 11 to the Ravens in Pittsburgh. In that game, Mitchell Trubisky was at quarterback for Pittsburgh after Kenny Pickett was knocked out in the first quarter, and threw three interceptions. Tyler Huntley was subbing for the injured Lamar Jackson and managed just 88 passing yards. Baltimore did rush for 215 yards behind six different ball carriers. The Ravens are slight 2-point favorites in this contest with a total of 35.5. Six of the last eight matchups played in Baltimore have gone under the total.

Jackson has been ruled out for a fourth straight game, meaning Huntley will get the call again. Jackson has missed 12 straight practices since spraining the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Baltimore’s 10-9 win over the Denver Broncos on Dec. 4. The Ravens have managed just 11.5 points a game in the last four, but they have won three of them. In a 17-9 home win over the Atlanta Falcons last week, Baltimore had 184 rushing yards and three short field goals from Justin Tucker. The Steelers kept their playoff hopes alive with a 13-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders but could be eliminated before kickoff if the Dolphins beat the Patriots.

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Pickett engineered a game-winning drive to beat the Raiders last week and hit fellow rookie George Pickens with a 14-yard touchdown to cap off a 10-0 fourth quarter for the Steelers. Pickett finished 26-of-39 for 244 passing yards and a touchdown with an interception versus the Raiders. Pittsburgh’s offense ranks 29th in the NFL with 17.6 points per game, but the defense has been carrying them of late. The unit generated three turnovers last week and now lead the NFL with 17 interceptions. They have allowed just 17.4 points per game in the past seven contests, and that includes allowing 37 to the Bengals on Nov. 20. Defensive back Tre Norwood (hamstring) was ruled out, while linebacker Myles Jack (groin) and defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi (toe) are questionable.

Huntley completed just nine passes last week against Atlanta, but like the Steelers, the defense stepped up. Baltimore held Atlanta to zero conversions on four red zone trips. Baltimore has a top five red zone defense, allowing touchdowns 48 percent of the time. Offensively without Jackson, the Ravens have run the ball around 35 times a game in their last three. Huntley, along with running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards all reached double digit carries against Atlanta and combined for 184 rushing yards. Cornerback Marcus Peters (calf) was ruled out for a second straight game, while defensive end Calais Campbell (knee), tight end Nick Boyle (illness) and safety Geno Stone (hamstring) are questionable. The Under is 5-0 in the Ravens’ last five games against AFC North division teams.

I’m confident that the Ravens can run the ball effectively and come away with the victory. The Steelers defense has been good lately, but so has the Raven’s. Pittsburgh is just 1-6 ATS in their last seven against teams with a winning record.

Week 17 NFL Staff Selections

Pick: Ravens -2

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