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 16 against the Ravens. Let’s get this going, HERE……WE……GO!!!

1st Quarter

• Steelers win the toss and have deferred. Boswell to kick.
• And after two plays it’s obvious that the Ravens are going to hand it to Derrick Henry and the Steelers aren’t going to tackle him.
• And the Ravens are quickly into field goal range.
• Highsmith with the strip sack, but the Ravens do recover. Third down and 19.
• The defense holds and because of the strip sack the Ravens have to punt.
• You have to give the Ravens credit when they make a nice play, and they made a nice play on special teams to pin the Steelers at the two-yard line.
• Violent run by Najee on first down. Gets the Steelers a little bit of breathing room.
• The third down play for the Steelers was rushed and ended up being flagged but was declined,, so the Steelers will punt.
• The Steelers force a fumble on the return, but the Ravens are able to fall on it again. The Steelers have got to come up with one of those fumbles.
• It ends up being a great return once the fumble goes forward. Ravens are already in Steelers territory.
• So does Derek Henry have 100 yards yet? It sure seems like he’s run that much on the Steelers. The Ravens are blowing up the line of scrimmage.
• The very next play there are two to three missed tackles on Derrick Henry. If I were the Ravens I wouldn’t do anything but hand him the ball.
• Joey Porter Jr. injured tackling Derrick Henry, the thing was he should have never had to.
• Cam Hayward finally able to smack Derrick Henry in the backfield.
• So the Steelers chose not to cover the tight end at all. Touchdowns don’t get any easier than that. Raven 7, Steelers 0.
• Steelers pick up a first down, but on the very next play Russ doesn’t throw the ball on the screen and takes a huge sack.
• Second and 20 is not a great down and distance for the Steelers offense.
• Jaylen Warren gets it back to a third and eight.
• Russ is scrambling for his life, but keeps the play alive and hits Skowronek for the first down.
• Jaylen Warren running well. The Steelers are nearing the red zone.
• Van Jefferson with a catch and gets down to the one-yard line. First and goal for the Steelers.
• End of the first quarter. Raven 7, Steelers 0.

2nd Quarter

• Steelers go play action on first and goal from the one and hit Pruitt for the score! Steelers 7, Ravens 7.
• Skowronek and Porter are both questionable to return.
• The defense gets the Ravens to 3rd and 11, time to get off the field!
• Lamar gets flushed and throws incomplete. The defense does its job.
• Shankapotamus! Steelers will start at their own 40.
• Russ with a fantastic run inside the 10-yard line, but should have slid. He takes a shot and loses the ball. Ravens recover 🙁
• Kyle feels Russell got greedy on that play and wanted to score himself instead of having the confidence in his teammates that they could punch the ball in.
• The Steelers can’t recover two Ravens fumbles, but give it away right as they were about to go in and score to take the lead. If that’s the way the game’s going it’s going to be tough for the Steelers to win.
• Steelers give up a 20-yard pass play to let the Ravens get out of trouble.
• I think Justice Hill is dead. Kazee took him down and he has not moved an inch since going down.
• Thank goodness Justice Hill does get up.
• Big play to Flowers compounded by Minkah getting a piece of face mask.
• The turnover by the Steelers is now looking to be huge as they are about to give up points off of it.
• The Steelers on 3rd and 8th decide to just rush four, get no pressure, and another easy touchdown throw and catch for the Ravens. The Steelers need to change their strategy. Ravens 14, Steelers 7.
• What a game-changing sequence where the Steelers were about to take the lead and instead give the ball to the Ravens who march it 90-plus yards for a touchdown and they take the lead.
• The offense quickly gets to third down and five. If the Steelers do not convert here this game could get out of hand quickly.
• Steelers get lucky and get a timeout prior to the flag for delay of game.
• So what do the Steelers do coming after the time out? They allow a sack. Three and out gives it right back to the Ravens.
• The Steelers had all the momentum and gave it back to the Ravens on the fumble and the Ravens have not given it back to the Steelers one bit.
• The Ravens are picking on Cory Trice right now.
• The defense comes through and holds the Ravens to a field goal attempt. Tucker is good from 51 yards. Ravens 17, Steelers 7.
• Not understanding the time out usage again. They called time out with 16 seconds to go. Now there’s the chance of not getting to kick a field goal.
• Boswell on to attempt a long field goal. Boswell is perfect! At the half the score is Raven 17, Steelers 10.

3rd Quarter

• Steelers look great coming out of the half (sarcasm) as they quickly get to 3rd and 10.
• Steelers completed the pass, but well short when you’re talking about 3rd and 10. So the choice to defer does not work out in their favor. The same as if they would have started three and out in the first half.
• Nice to see the defense is picking up where they left off by letting Derrick Henry run for 10-plus yards.
• More missed tackles.
• On third down and less than a yard Elandon Roberts stops Henry in the backfield. Ravens to punt.
• CA III with a long catch!
• Najee cannot try to bounce a run outside. He does not have the speed to do it. His game is power.
• Calvin Austin with his second nice catch of this drive.
• A nice violent run by Najee gets the Steelers into the red zone.
• Cordarrelle Patterson somehow holds onto that ball and it’s a touchdown for the Steelers! Steelers 17, Ravens 17.
• I have always felt that Patterson is a mismatch for the Steelers in the passing game.
• What in the world was that? Boswell kicked the ball out of bounds. It wasn’t even close to being in bounds.
• One play and the Ravens are at the Steelers 45-yard line.
• Easy pitch and catch from Jackson to Flowers.
• Ravens now near the 10-yard line. The offense did what they needed to do and now the defense has let the Steelers down.
• The Steelers pass defense is just non-existent. Ravens 24, Steelers 17.
• The Ravens are a perfect three for three in the red zone. The Steelers defense has to be better.
• Najee drops the screen pass, but it looked like that might have been better for the Steelers.
• The Steelers pick up a first down but are now faced with a third and eight. They really need to convert this.
• Steelers will start the fourth quarter facing a fourth and five. Raven’s 24, Steelers 17.

4th Quarter

• Steelers go for it on 4th and 5. Russ throws deep to Austin who was open but the ball was late getting there. Steelers turn it over on downs.
• Minkah runs right by Derrick Henry in the backfield who then rumbles inside the Steelers 10-yard line. Stick a fork in it this game is over.
• Minkah makes up for it on the very next play by intercepting Lamar Jackson’s pass. There’s the Minkah pick we’ve been looking for.
• And what does Russ do but give a pick six right back to the Ravens. Russell Wilson has not been that good in this game. He has made some very poor decisions and had some costly turnovers. Ravens 31, Steelers 17.
• A couple of good plays and a couple of bad plays and the offenses facing a third and 11.
• They choose to run a wide receiver screen on 3rd and 11 and gain zero yards. Steelers to punt.
• Beanie Bishop burned way deep by Zay Flowers.
• It looks like Steelers defenders are making business decisions in choosing to not try to tackle Derrick Henry.
• Ravens take the field goal. Raven’s 34, Steelers 17.
• The Steelers punt and the Ravens fumble it. But they again recover. That sums up the Steelers day. Three fumbles by the Ravens all recovered by the Ravens.
• Final Ravens 34, Steelers 17.

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 so I can ready myself for the Week 17 game Christmas day against the Chefs (yes that spelling was on purpose). Make sure you get your voice heard in the comments below.