Ravens referendum: Pressure’s on Baltimore entering Saturday against Steelers

Living rent-free inside an opponent’s head isn’t just free, it’s priceless. The Steelers own a one-game lead in the AFC North race, but the Ravens most assuredly bear the pressure.

Baltimore (9-5) on paper has advantages in every phase heading into its rematch with Pittsburgh (10-4) on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, FOX). The Ravens are healthier, coming off a bye just two weeks ago. They also have more momentum, having crushed the Giants last week. The Steelers, meanwhile, lost more than a game last week at Philadelphia. Pittsburgh lost its best player, T.J. Watt, to an ankle injury.

Now, on a short week and in the middle of an 11-day stretch with three games, the Steelers need to contemplate resting Watt against the Ravens. Pittsburgh has to play the 13-1 Chiefs on Christmas, just four days after facing Baltimore. Watt, who has 11½ sacks and leads the league in both forced fumbles (six) and tackles for loss (18), was limited on Pittsburgh’s practice injury report this week. Plus, the Steelers on offense are likely again without their most impactful player, wide receiver George Pickens, who hasn’t practiced so far this week with a hamstring injury.

But despite Baltimore’s advantages, Pittsburgh unquestionably holds the mental edge. The Steelers have won eight of the last nine in the series and, during that stretch, the Ravens have a minus-8 turnover margin and a minus-12 penalty margin. Lamar Jackson is 1-4 against Pittsburgh with only five touchdown passes and eight interceptions.

Jackson’s leading receiver, Zay Flowers, said Tuesday the Ravens have done it to themselves. Asked what the Steelers have done to dominate the series, he didn’t show much respect.

“Nothing,” said Flowers, who has 916 yards and four touchdowns on 66 receptions this season. “They don’t really do nothing that really stresses me, if I’m being honest.

“I don’t think it’s trouble. I think we always have turnovers, missed kicks, stuff like that during the game, so if we just eliminate those – because we move the ball downfield — I know you see that. … We just have to take care of the ball, make kicks and try to put the ball in the end zone.”

Putting the ball in the end zone is something the Steelers didn’t do in their 18-16 win on Nov. 17. Six Chris Boswell field goals and a stingy Pittsburgh defense were enough. But Saturday’s rematch is more than simply Baltimore proving it can score more points. It’s a referendum on Baltimore’s season. If the Ravens can’t prove they can beat a team like the Steelers, no one’s going to believe they can beat Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen – or Russell Wilson, should the Ravens see the Steelers again in the first round of the postseason.

Saturday also is an opportunity for John Harbaugh to prove his team can play more disciplined than the Steelers. In the Week 11 loss at Pittsburgh, Derrick Henry fumbled on the game’s second snap and the Steelers cashed in the turnover for a field goal. Baltimore also had 12 penalties for 80 yards and Justin Tucker missed two field goals.

Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin will meet for a 37^th time on Saturday, with Tomlin holding a 21-15 advantage. Only one other pair of head coaches has engaged in more battles, Hall of Famers George Halas and Curly Lambeau, who met 49 times.

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