The Pittsburgh Steelers are sitting pretty at 8-2 atop the AFC North right now, and they have performed better than most predicted coming into the 2024 season. A win over Baltimore always makes for a great week as a Steelers fan! Here are some thoughts following Sunday’s game.

The Defense Proved Just How Elite They Are

For Steelers fans, the defensive performance against a high-powered Baltimore offense fueled by their rushing attack is not surprising. However, holding the Ravens to 16 points this week makes a statement league-wide. Prior to Sunday, the Ravens had put up no fewer than 20 points in a game this season.

Perhaps even more impressive is holding Derrick Henry to just 65 yards rushing. 65 yards for the King. That’s it. While he did score a touchdown, Derrick Henry is a force to be reckoned with, and the defense should hold their heads high for keeping him so well-contained.

This defensive unit is more than capable to help earn some wins in January. I suppose only time will tell how far this team is able to go!

Winning the Turnover Battle Proved to be Vital

Having a positive turnover differential is essential in any football game, but in a Steelers-Ravens clash that is typically a low-scoring affair, it is arguably even more important. Two recovered fumbles and an incredible interception by Payton Wilson allowed for Pittsburgh to win the turnover battle 3-1. The Steelers again took care of the ball this week resulting in another win, and continuing to do so will be key going down the stretch to secure a playoff spot. As an added bonus, it’s always great to watch the black and gold take the ball away! It made the game exciting despite a quiet day offensively for both teams.

Russell Wilson Didn’t Have His Best Day, and That’s Okay

The lack of touchdowns against a Ravens defense that has struggled this season is likely to spark some talk regarding Russell Wilson’s play. Were the first three games a fluke? Is his performance on Sunday concerning going forward? In my opinion, the answer is no. While the Ravens do have a struggling defense, they also have an offense that, up until facing the Steelers, had found its groove and been thriving.

The reality is that even with some new faces on both sides, Baltimore knows Pittsburgh like the back of their hand. The vice-versa is also true. These teams almost always play each other well regardless of other circumstances. There is no need to panic here. This game was a clash of stingy defenses, offensive struggles, and was simply a classic Steelers-Ravens matchup.

Justin Who? I’ll Take Boz

After being so incredibly consistent for the Ravens for years, Justin Tucker has struggled at times this season. That was on full display in Acrisure Stadium on Sunday as Tucker went 1 for 3 on field goal attempts. As for the Steelers, Chris Boswell went 6 for 6, 3 of which attempts were longer than 50 yards. Boswell once again secured a victory for the Steelers, and he has been playing incredible this season.

In seasons past, although I am a Chris Boswell fan, I would have admitted that I believed Justin Tucker was the better kicker. However, a different story is playing out in 2024. As it stands today, I would take Chris Boswell over Justin Tucker every time. Pittsburgh is blessed to have a placekicker who is “Bozomatic” when they need it the most.