Are there enough words to describe the Pittsburgh Steelers 16-13 come-from-behind road win against the Baltimore Ravens, on the first new day of the new year, at the home of their most cunning and worthy of rivals?
No. But you didn't come here for smart jokes, so I'll move on.
You came to read how a sequence of events played out like one of the Bards' many plays. Comedy? Tragedy? Histories? We've got it all in this epic that in 18 of the last 32 meetings, a Steelers - Ravens fray ended by 3 points or less. The total points scored by each opponent is separated by a single point.
That's awesome.
Pittsburgh Steelers' Najee Harris runs against the Baltimore Ravens on January 1st, 2023. | Photo Credit - Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
What is most important is that the team bounced back and handled the immense pressure of having to win or the playoff chase ends. This team has more hurdles to get over before maybe, the low end for percentages exist for the men of steel to make it into the NFL tournament.
Opening Drive Of Game By Steelers: A Missed Opportunity That Didn't Hurt In The End
You can call me all the names you want, but kicking a field-goal at the end of the opening drive was the wrong choice. And here's why...
I don't care if they get stopped or miss on a pass that should have been caught. I can live with being stopped. Of course if they do go for the TD and get it, genius call. But they kicked the field goal. Why was that wrong?
Because right then and there, this team could have finished that drive as it began. With total victory. Pushing and punching those Ratbirds in their own home to start was a welcomed surprise. Najee Harris had his best game of his NFL career Sunday night. What a time to come up with his first 100-yard game of the year. He also had the game winning touchdown. More on that and who played a role later.
Everybody on offense on that first drive of the game looked good. Prepared. Focused. Menacing.
Until 3rd and goal. Just an awful decision to throw when you had run so convincingly. Really the first play in goal-to-go was bad. Another throw and it was incomplete.
You had gashed them the entire drive, 55 of your opening drive total of 73 came via the ground. The Steelers ran both up the gaps, misdirection and a variety of sweeps that keep providing yardage with ruthless aggression. Tomlin and his crew played safe and took three.
Playing not to lose just 7:59 into the game was a typical decision this team makes and sometimes you can't do that. You have to learn to adapt and change in spots like this as uncomfortable as it is to suggest and ponder it objectively.
It's like Matt Canada, like many offensive coordinators want to get too fancy in spots like this, mostly out of ego instead of you know, continue to keep doing what's really worked and end the drive with 7, not 3 points there.
For the record, I don't totally blame Mike Tomlin here. He should remind Canada of this heading into Week 18. That stop helped the Ravens avoid an early 7-point deficit and led to our second act.
Ravens Return Serve After Opening Drive By Doing What Defense Couldn't Stop In First Half
Mike Tomlin looks on as the Pittsburgh Steelers faced the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, January 1st, 2023. | Photo Credit - Jared Wickerham/Pittsburgh Steelers
It was at that point the Ravens would get a chance to respond and they sure enough did with a 15-play drive that matched the Steelers opening effort to tie the game. Over the rest of the half, the Ravens would establish field position and end the half up 10-3, aided by a horrible penalty called on Cameron Hayward that led to the Ravens only touchdown.
The Steelers would also miss on a FG chance in the second quarter as Chris Boswell doinked a 48-yard kick that would have untied the game. The Birds responded with the touchdown mentioned above. Sounds kind of tragic to that point, right?
It got a bit worse to begin the final 30 minutes of play as Baltimore ripped off a scoring drive that got the lead to two scores. The Steelers would respond with back-to-back drives that ended with successful Boswell kicks and led to our final act, and the best one of Kenny Pickett and his infantile professional career as a successful starter in the Shield.
A Drive For the History Books Written As Needed By The Future Steelers Franchise Quarterback
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, January 1st, 2023. | Photo Credit - Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
Boy, did Pickett follow up his arrival game last week vs. the Las Vegas Raiders that was maybe an even bigger game than the one he just played! Wrap your head around that one.
When the team needed him the most, Pickett showed for a second straight week in a prime-time televised game that his selection in the 1st round could chart another 10 plus of winning. Pickett has the 'it' factor. Once he gets more settled into the role, gains valuable game-time reps and God help us, finds some cohesion with Canada, (Who I said months back isn't losing his job under Mike Tomlin), the Steelers will have made the transition post-Ben Roethlisberger much easier.
Time will tell, but man, that was a great ending to a win that gives the 6-time Lombardi winners life and a chance to go after number 7. History completes this tale. Hope you enjoyed the ride.
So Steelers fans, what's the likelihood of a playoff spot? Sound off below!
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