The idiom “a knee jerk reaction” means that you respond to something in an equally unthinking way. That’s something as sports fans that we typically do, and if it’s in an unthinking way then I definitely qualify. Knee jerks apply especially if you are a full blood Yinzer, or even just a part Yinzer, who am I fooling it’s more like if you are a Steeler fan in general. As is the custom, I compile my knee-jerk thoughts and publish them immediately after each Steelers game (my son Kyle might have a few things to say as well). It’s my version of running my mouth first and apologizing later (if at all). So with that being said, it’s time to react to the Steelers Week 18 matchup against the Ravens. Let’s get this going, HERE……WE……GO!!!

1st Quarter

• I’ll be seeing how this goes today, as I have been under the weather…..on the bright side, Kyle won’t have to hear me yelling, as I have too much of a headache to yell.
• The Ravens win the toss and defer. Steelers to start with the football.
• Najee almost fumbles the first play.
• Diontae makes the 3rd down catch to keep the drive moving.
• Jaylen struggles with the toss on first down.
• On third down, Mason was almost picked off. Steelers to punt.
• The defense does its job and holds the Ravens to a three and out.
• Three Najee runs result in a first down.
• Jaylen Warren big run after a backward pass.
• Tough run by Najee on first down.
• Another Najee run in the Steelers are first and goal.
• Najee for the touchdown! Steelers strike first. Steelers 7, Ravens 0.
• The defense holds two or three and out again. Points from the offense here would be a big plus.
• On third and three Mason goes deep, but it was to Diontae Johnson who never seems to give the same effort on the deep ball that George Pickens does. Incomplete and the Steelers will punt.
• The offense missed an opportunity there with good field position to go put more points on the board.
• End of the first quarter. Steelers 7, Ravens 0.

2nd Quarter

• So the officiating crew throws a flag on the Steelers during the break for having too many men on the field. This crew was already under the microscope and now has a very strange call in this game.
• That ends up being a big deal as Big Press’ first punt was down at the seven and the next kick was terrible.
• The combination of Mark Robinson and Miles Jack cause a fumble and it’s recovered by Larry O!!!! Steelers back in business.
• Okay I’ve heard enough stupidness from this officiating crew. They can just stay quiet the rest of the game.
• Jaylen Warren tries to do too much on third down instead of just getting what he can and ends up fumbling the football back to the Ravens.
• Mark Robinson on the blitz gets to Tyler Huntley!
• Nice job by JPJ on that screenplay forcing the runner back to the inside where he had a lot of help.
• The defense holds and the Ravens punt.
• Najee could have had a first down but instead went sideways. The Steelers receivers have done that a couple of times today and it’s annoying.
• The Steelers come up short on a third down run and go three and out. That play by Najee ends up being huge.
• Steelers give up a long-ish pass on 3rd down and nine.
• The downside of a run blitz is that if you don’t make the play you give up a big play. The Steelers just gave up a big play.
• The defense gives up a touchdown to the Ravens tight end. The Steelers had opportunities to put more points on the board but failed to do so and now we are looking at a tie game. Steelers 7, Ravens 7.
• Smart Play on the kickoff return, as the return man stretched out from out of bounds to touch the ball to make it a penalty on the Ravens.
• Muuuuttthh!
• The Steelers try to go quick on 3rd down. Mason gets hit and fumbles the ball and the Ravens recover with 5 seconds to go in the half.
• That’s the half. Steeler 7 Ravens 7.

3rd Quarter

• That was weird. The Ravens take a delay of game penalty to start the second half because Huntley couldn’t find his helmet.
• Mr. Watt with a sack!
• The defense holds the Ravens to a three and out to start the second half.
• Austin drops the punt, but does a good job picking it up composing himself and gaining 20 yards.
• Najee starts out ripping a big run right up the middle.
• When is Najee going to learn that his style of running is north south. He always loses yards when he goes east west.
• The first play of that drive was great and every one after that was sketchy at best. Steelers will punt.
• WATT!!!! Another sack on third down. Ravens will punt.
• After a first down run up the middle to Najee they decide to toss it to Najee run wide and lose four yards. I don’t get it.
• Mason gets sacked on second down. Looks like the Steelers are going to have a second drive where after a big first down run up the middle all the plays after that are terrible.
• Couple of pass completions over the middle and the Ravens are at midfield. And T.J. Watt is down and pounding the ground in pain.
• T.J. gets up on his own right before they go to commercial. Looked like he got whacked on the knee by friendly fire.
• The defense holds at midfield and forces a punt.
• George Pickens gets his first touch of the game on 3rd down and one, but not a reception a run for the first down.
• End of the third quarter. Steeler 7, Ravens 7.

4th Quarter

• Diontae!!!!!! 71 yards for the touchdown!! Steelers 14, Ravens 7.
• Do I mention that Kyle was banished to the basement right before that play? We hollered the result down to him and he hollers back “it figures.”
• The Ravens have converted back-to-back third down and long plays. The defense needs to get off the field.
• How do they not call that a hold on Alex Highsmith?
• The Steelers get them to another third and long. Time to get off the field.
• The Steelers get pressure and hold up on the back end to force a Raven’s punt.
• Austin returns the punt from inside the 10, and gets a huge return out past the 40-yard line.
• On back-to-back carries Jaylen Warren nearly fumbled the first one and fumbled the second one. The Steelers are lucky to still have the ball.
• After the great punt return by Austin the Steelers offense goes very conservative and also goes three and out.
• The Ravens fumble the ball on their second play and the Steelers recover. Time to put this game out of reach.
• Two Najee runs has the Steelers first down in the red zone.
• The third and goal play with the inside hand off to Jaylen Warren did not fool the Ravens and gets thrown for a big loss.
• Boswell hits the chip shot field goal to extend the Steelers lead. Steelers 17, Ravens 7.
• Ravens move the ball to the Steelers 36-yard line just inside 2 minutes to play. The issue is they need two scores. So what will they do?
• The Ravens face third and five from just inside the Steelers 10. But there’s only 45 seconds left to play.
• Markus Golden with a sack!
• The sack on third down was huge because the clock kept running. The Ravens will now attempt to field goal with 20 seconds to play.
• The Ravens connect on the field goal. Steelers 17, Ravens 10. With 16 seconds to play, the on-side kick is coming.
• The Steelers recover the onside kick and will win the game with victory formation.
• Is this the last knee jerk reaction article of the season? We will find out tomorrow as we will be hoping the Steelers find their way into the playoffs.
• 3-2-1 WIN

Once again, I just fired off what was going through my head at the time. All reactions were in real time. Basically, it is the equivalent of watching the game with a me and Kyle, you just don’t have to go to another room because of my screaming at the television (sometimes Kyle leaves the room). Now time to process it, some quick analyzing for the Scho Bro Show, and then put it behind me as we wrap up the Steelers 2023 season. Make sure you get your voice heard in the comments below.