The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the playoffs, and with it being the team’s latest game fans’ hopes remain high heading into the Wild Card Round of the AFC Playoffs. The hope is there is a winning performance on the horizon on Saturday when the team travels to play the Baltimore Ravens.

What exactly do the Steelers need to do to on defense to claim the playoff victory? Let’s break it down…

Defense

Attack the Run

The Steelers defense will have their hands full with the Ravens offense, but if they stand a chance they need to attack the run. In the first meeting the Steelers contained the Ravens ground game, but in the second game the Baltimore offensive line had their way with the Steelers defense. If you are going to pick your poison in this game, you’d likely do so with Lamar Jackson as a thrower of the football, compared to being bludgeoned to death by Derrick Henry and company. Attack the run, and force the game into Lamar’s hands as a passer is the best way to beat the Ravens.

Take it Away

The last time these two teams played, in Baltimore, the Steelers saw the football on the ground three separate occasions, and couldn’t recover any of them. Will this be the game where the ball bounces the Steelers way and they are able to claim valuable takeaways equating in victory? Weird stuff happens in these games, and if the Steelers defense can make those necessary plays vs. their division rival they will set up the team for their first playoff victory since 2016.

Keep it Close Early

On the podcast I talked about containing Lamar Jackson as the third, and final, key to victory for the defense. However, the true key is the defense to stand tall in the first quarter of the game. Here was the Steelers deficit in their past playoff games since their latest postseason victory.

• vs. JAX – 21-0
• vs. CLE – 28-0
• at KC – 35-7
• at BUF – 21-0

See a trend there? Keeping this game close early will be huge for the Steelers, and that has much to do with the offense as it does the defense. In many of these games turnovers doomed the team early. Weather the early storm, and be prepared for a typical close, nail-biting, Ravens game Saturday night.

I talk about this, and MUCH more on the “Let’s Ride”, and you can hear that podcast in the player below this article. In the meantime, be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the team as they gear up for game time!