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 or nephew Warren 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 11 against the Ravens. Let’s get this going, HERE……WE……GO!!!

1st Quarter

• Steelers win the toss and defer this week. Boz to kick off.
• Henry fumbles the ball Steelers recover!
• Herbig forced that fumble!
• Strong run by Najee and the Steelers are in the red-zone.
• Steelers now facing a third down and eight. Would really like to convert this.
• Was not a great looking play and Russ had to throw it away. Field goal unit on.
• Boswell is good and the Steelers turn the Ravens turnover into three points. Steelers 3, Ravens 0.
• Ravens get flagged for a hold and will face second and long. And now third down and 10.
• The defense holds and forces a punt. Would like to see the offense get the ball here and put some more points on the board.
• That second down play didn’t fool the Ravens at all. Steelers facing third and six.
• Austin was unable to come up with the catch on 3rd down. It was there, he just has to catch it.
• Ravens with a big play on the very first play. Already in field goal range.
• They can keep throwing it to Diontae Johnson all day. We can depend on him to drop balls or run backwards.
• The defense holds and the Ravens will attempt a field goal. Tucker misses from 47 yards! Steelers 3, Ravens 0.
• Steelers looking at a third and one. Want to see this drive continue. Wilson sneaks it and I don’t think he made it.
• Steelers go for it on 4th down and instead of sneaking like they did on third down, they hand it to Najee and he doesn’t make it. That play was too slow to develop for a fourth down play. Terrible call. That should have been the third down play.
• Herbig with pressure on Jackson, forces him to throw it away.
• Steelers get fooled by that designed quarterback run and give up 14 yards.
• Is it me watching this game on CBS or is Charles Davis really getting on everybody else’s nerves.
• Dean Lowry knocks down the third down pass from Jackson.
• Tucker will attempt another 50-yard field goal. Tucker missed again! Steelers 3, Ravens 0.
• On 2nd and 10 Russ gets sacked.
• Russ basically eats it on third down as well. Why can’t they get a receiver open against this secondary?
• End of the first quarter. Steelers 3, Raven 0.

2nd Quarter

• Flag down on the punt. Dirty Red was blocked in the back.
• Ravens get a nice gain on first down as two Steelers run into each other at the snap of the ball.
• Cam Heyward knocks down the third down pass, and the Steelers are able to decline the illegal shift to force a punt.
• Steelers convert the third down and one with a throw to George Pickens. Fight breaks out at the end of that play.
• Najee runs for 11. Late flag on the play. Offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
• And Russ takes another sack. Boswell on to attempt a 52 yard field goal. It’s perfect. Steelers 6, Ravens 0.
• Ravens get flagged for a hold on first down. Can the Steelers take advantage of that?
• Ravens now facing third and 11. The defense needs to get off the field here.
• The pass is incomplete and the Ravens will punt.
• Russ takes yet another sack. This is getting ridiculous.
• Najee drops the ball on second down. Steelers now facing third and 20.
• Steelers did not manage to get a first down and will punt it back to Baltimore.
• The Steelers get a sack on first down, but Patrick Queen gets flagged for a hold to take away the sack.
• And the Steelers finally give up a big run to Derrick Henry. Minkah was able to trip him up to save a touchdown.
• Ravens now have a first and goal. The Steelers defense played well most of the half, but at the very end are now giving up big yards.
• Derrick Henry gets it into the end zone for the Ravens. The Steelers play so well for the entire first half, but give up the lead at the very end. Ravens 7, Steelers 6.
• Pickens messed that play up and never got his second foot down in bounds when he should have had it down easily.
• Russ scrambles but a short of the first down.
• Steelers cause a fumble and recover it. They are going to get the opportunity for points at the end of the half. Queen forced the fumble and recovered it.
• Steelers start with the ball in the red-zone.
• A holding call on the Ravens.
• Seumalo gets called for a false start. That makes it much more difficult for the Steelers.
• Steelers unable to find the end zone. Boswell on to attempt a field goal. It’s good. Steelers 9, Ravens 7.
• Ravens taking a knee and the Steelers go into the half with a lead.

3rd Quarter

• On second down the Ravens get called for an illegal hands to the face. Steelers pick up a first down.
• Justin Fields comes into the game and runs a quarterback draw for 7 yards.
• Steelers facing a fourth and one. I would have gone for it based on where they are on the field, but they are going to trot Boswell out for a really long field goal attempt.
• Boswell nails it from 57 yards. Steelers 12, Ravens 7.
• T.J. Watt nails Derrick Henry in the backfield.
• Unfortunately for the Steelers, Mark Andrews makes the play in front of Minkah to pick up a first down.
• The Steelers defense has given up back-to-back third down conversions. They’ve got to find a way to get off the field.
• The Steelers blow up the second down play, but Nick Herbig was offsides.
• T.J. Watt was in and had Jackson wrapped up, Jackson does get rid of it, but it’s incomplete.
• DeShon Elliott gets in on Jackson who I think threw that ball while sitting on Elliot.
• Tucker on to attempt the field goal. Tucker makes this one from 54 yards. Steelers 12, Ravens 10.
• Najee makes a nice run, but Broderick Jones gets called for holding.
• George Pickens with a catch-and-run to make a first down on second down and 16.
• A nice screen play to Jaylen Warren gets another first down.
• A gazillion flags coming on that play. Broderick Jones gets flagged for holding again. And he is drawing a lot of boos.
• George Pickens. What else is there to say.
• Steelers now inside the 10-yard line.
• Jefferson drops the third down pass. That ball should have been caught. The Steelers will have to settle for another field goal attempt.
• Boswell is good. Steelers 15, Ravens 10.
• End of the third quarter. Ravens will face a third down going into the 4th. Steelers 15, Ravens 10.

4th Quarter

• Lamar steps out of bounds while scrambling on third down. I think you’re going to credit T.J. Watt with a sack.
• Steelers quickly get to a third down. They’re conversion rate today is awful. Luckily George Pickens brings this one in for a first down.
• Nice run by Jaylen Warren for 8 yards.
• Mount Washington over the middle for a nice gain and a first down.
• Najee with a strong run. First and goal Steelers.
• Steelers now facing third and goal. They really need to punch this in.
• Not only does Russell Wilson not get the Steelers in, he floats a ball right to the Ravens for an interception. The Steelers needed at least the field goal there. That was dumbest play I’ve seen Russell Wilson make as a Steeler.
• That hurts for the Steelers to take that ball and drive it that far on the Ravens and come away with no points. If they lose the game I will be pointing back to this play.
• In the first play after Renegade the Steelers give up 25 yard run to Lamar Jackson.
• The Ravens have an ineligible player downfield on a nice screen play. Benton is down for the Steelers. Not good.
• Peyton Wilson with an interception!!!!!
• Steelers quickly to a third down. They really need to convert a third and seven here.
• Mount Washington down the middle for a first down.
• Two good runs by Jaylen Warren and the Steelers are back in field goal range.
• Steelers facing another third down.
• The third down play was almost picked off in the end zone by the Ravens again.
• Boswell on to attempt to field goal. It is good from 50 yards. Steelers 18, Ravens 10.
• Cam Heyward bats down another Lamar Jackson pass.
• Steelers get the Ravens to 3rd and 10 but allow them to convert. The defense needs to step up here.
• It’s now at the 2-minute warning. Steelers with an eight-point lead trying to hold on and secure the victory. I must say I am a bit nervous.
• Baltimore completes inside the 10 yard line, but gets flag for an ineligible down field.
• So it looks like the Steelers are now just going to play their famous soft zone and probably end up letting the Ravens tie this game up.
• The Steelers play that terribly and Baltimore scores a touchdown. Now they have to make the two-point conversion.
• The conversion from the Ravens looks awful and goes nowhere. The Steelers just need to recover this onside kick.
• The Ravens are not going to declare for an onside kick because they want to try to hold the Steelers deep so when they get the ball back they can get to field goal range easier.
• One first down could seal this game for the Steelers. The problem is they have to get that first down.
• The first down play goes nowhere.
• Justin Fields comes in and had a first down, but slid early and it cost them the first down.
• I can’t handle this stress. It was over right there. All Fields had to do was make sure he had the first down.
• Najee up the middle for a first down!!!
• The Steelers line up in Victory formation. Two snaps will do it.
• 6 Boswell field goals will be the difference in this game. 3-2-1 win!!!
• 8-2 is a good feeling.

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 (Warren too), 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 so I can ready myself for the Week 12 on Thursday night matchup against the Browns. Make sure you get your voice heard in the comments below.