The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the midst of the 2024 regular season, and with it being the team’s latest game fans’ hopes remain high heading into the second half of the season. The hope is there is a winning performance on the horizon on Sunday in Week 11 when the team hosts the Baltimore Ravens.

What exactly do the Steelers need to do to on offense to claim their eighth victory of 2024? Let’s break it down…

Offense

Help the Defense

Let’s throw out some preliminary numbers right off the bat:

BAL Defense

• Yards per game: 367.9 (27th)
• Rush Yards per game: 73 (1st)
• Pass Yards per game: 294.9 (32nd)

Okay, so you’re wondering why an offensive key to victory is how they can help the defense? It’s really simple. The Baltimore defense can be had, and it will be up to the offense to not just move the ball, but to keep Lamar Jackson and company on the sideline as long as possible. Winning time of possession will be huge, but so will be converting long drives into touchdowns.

Here are some more numbers to digest:

BAL Defense

• Red-Zone Defense: 59.38% (T-20th)
• 3rd Down Defense: 46.7% (30th)

Can the Steelers keep drives moving, and put up touchdowns? If they do early, it might have the Ravens getting away from the running game and put them in desperation mode. Yes, this is absolutely a game where the offense can help the defense.

Run the Rock

As you see above, the Ravens have the best run defense in the NFL, but it isn’t like the Steelers running game is awful. The Steelers are averaging 138.3 rushing yards per game, which ranks 8th in the league, and will have to continue to run the football if they want to win. Not just to extend those drives, but also to keep the Ravens defense honest and not dropping safeties deep to try and cushion their porous pass defense.

The Steelers want to set up play-action and take those deep shots down the field, it will be up to Arthur Smith staying committed to running the football throughout the game.

Go toe-to-toe

More numbers to analyze in this matchup:

• Pittsburgh Offense, Points Per Game: 23.9 (12th)
• Baltimore Offense, Points Per Game: 31.8 (1st)
• Baltimore Defense, Points Per Game: 25.3 (25th)

I know Steelers fans are thinking this game might be a traditional Steelers vs. Ravens game, but this is a contest which screams high scoring affair, at least in traditional standards. Can the Steelers go toe-to-toe and be the one standing when the scoreboard hits zeroes? That will be a huge key in this game.

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!