The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to face the Baltimore Ravens in what promises to be another intense AFC North showdown, with control of the division on the line. The Ravens, led by a high-powered offense, enter the game as the league’s best, averaging 31.8 points and 440.2 offensive yards per game. Meanwhile, the Steelers have been solid, averaging 23.9 points per game. However, with Russell Wilson at quarterback, their scoring jumps to 30 points per game, making them one of the league’s most surprisingly dangerous emerging offenses. Wilson’s impact can’t be overstated—he’s brought energy, confidence, and leadership to the offense, giving Pittsburgh a real shot at matching Baltimore’s firepower.

Under Wilson, the Steelers’ offense has improved across the board. While Baltimore boasts a league-best 182.6 rushing yards per game, Pittsburgh holds its own with 138.3 yards per game, which increases to 152 yards with Wilson as QB1, which would rank fifth in the league. The Steelers’ passing game, though ranked low overall for the season, has surged to 230.3 yards per game with Wilson at the helm, putting them just outside the league’s top 10. Baltimore’s secondary, with its struggles in pass coverage, presents an area the Steelers are likely to exploit.

On defense, the Steelers hold a clear advantage. They’re allowing just 16.2 points per game—second best in the NFL—and are particularly tough against the run, giving up only 87.1 rushing yards per game. Baltimore’s defense, meanwhile, has struggled, surrendering 25.3 points per game, placing them near the bottom of the league. While their run defense remains strong, Baltimore’s pass defense is horrendous, giving up a league-worst 294.9 passing yards per game. This raises the question: Is Baltimore’s run defense as effective as it appears, or are teams passing more just to keep up with the Ravens’ explosive offense? The Steelers will likely aim to establish the run but should also take advantage of a weak secondary with Wilson’s deep passing ability.  The intermediate area of the field could be a liability as the Ravens could be without stud safety Kyle Hamilton possibly sidelined due to an ankle injury from Week 10.

For Pittsburgh to come out on top, they’ll need to capitalize on opportunities to expose Baltimore’s secondary and keep pace with their explosive offense. The Steelers must focus on scoring touchdowns rather than settling for field goals. This game isn’t likely to follow the low-scoring pattern typical of Steelers-Ravens matchups; with two of the hottest offenses in football, expect points to be scored.

Another key for the Steelers will be slowing down Baltimore’s prolific offense. Completely stopping them is out of the question, as the Ravens boast the NFL’s most explosive attack. However, the Steelers defense showed its potential by holding the third-ranked Washington offense to just 242 total yards, with 145 of those yards coming on only two drives: one before the end of the first half and the other to start the second half. Outside of those two drives, the Commanders gained only 97 yards of total offense. Pittsburgh forced six three-and-outs against a team that had only 13 total through the first nine weeks. While Washington isn’t Baltimore, if the Steelers can bring the same intensity, they have the potential to make life difficult for the Ravens.

With one of the most complete teams in the NFL, the Steelers have a legitimate chance of pulling off an upset as home underdogs. This game has been circled on my calendar ever since the schedule was released. The time is here—the best rivalry in football is upon us! Here We Go!

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Stay Blessed and Stay Positive… “Here We Go”