OTL: Despite Mediocre Records, Ravens-Steelers Mean a Lot Again

It is almost time for the most important game of the year. Steelers week always has some kind of buzz, but this is different. It kind of feels like whoever loses this game is going to go through big changes when it comes to their long-tenured head coach, right? If the Steelers lose, they are very likely to miss the postseason, and the streak of .500 or better seasons may also be in jeopardy. It would almost be the kiss of death for Tomlin, as Tony Lombardi went into earlier today.

A Rivalry on The Brink?

On the other side, here in Baltimore, the stakes are just as high. Losing this game slashes the team’s playoff chances dramatically. The AFC North is very unlikely to send a team to the playoffs as a wild card, so it’s division or bust for both squads.

As far as what that would possibly foretell about the future of John Harbaugh, Tony covered that as well.

Is There a Hot Seat in Baltimore?

Our head honcho having covered the coaches already this week, I’ll stick to the players on the field (or…gulp…not on the field).

With that said, we have big injury news:

QB Lamar Jackson (ankle) is NOT practicing after he was limited yesterday. So much for that full week of practice for the Ravens QB.

NT Travis Jones also not practicing.

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) December 4, 2025

For the fourth straight week, Lamar won’t get in a full week of practice. While this shouldn’t be surprising since we all know he is hurt right now, if there was going to be a week where he got all three sessions in, this was the one coming off the mini bye. Especially given that he looked much better moving around on Thanksgiving.

Alas, he was out yesterday, and we’ll see what today brings. It is what it is at this point. He isn’t as sharp when he doesn’t practice – we know that by now – but hopefully the team realizes that as well and doesn’t ask him to do so much. Which leads me to my next point about Sunday…

Please, for the love of everything good in this world, run the ball:

Work flow pic.twitter.com/6KhpjuoqHv

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 4, 2025

I get that the offensive line is a problem, and no, I really don’t care. Too often, we have seen the Ravens stop running when things don’t go their way from the jump, and this needs to stop. They aren’t in a position right now where they can afford to stop running the ball. In the past, they could get away with it because Lamar was so good that he could cover up the flaws. Well, now our Superman has a piece of kryptonite attached to his ankle, and the team needs to commit to letting the running backs take some of the load off him.

The Steelers can’t stop the run. Buffalo ran all over them, and with Derrick Harmon again out, the Ravens should plan to do so as well.

I know, I know: Buffalo’s offensive line is better. That can’t be an excuse anymore. Overcome the issue that you,  the Ravens, created and stop trying to force your injured quarterback to win the game for you. Run.The. Ball. Challenge your offensive linemen to win their battles, move bodies, and open lanes.

And now, a note from Captain Obvious:

Asked about not running the ball enough last week, Todd Monken said, “We didn’t score enough.”

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) December 4, 2025

The Baltimore offense has struggled to put up points. Again, offensive line issues I get, but please try something new. Trick plays, run some screens, do something different, and stop running it up the middle every play and wasting our time when we get into the red zone. As Dev says, there used to be more creativity:

If the #Ravens are going to turn it around on offense, we need more creativity & better problem solving from Monken.

Watching the 2023 games over again, & there’s a big difference.

He used Ricard as an extra pass pro blocker. He used pump fakes & misdirection in the red zone.

— Dev Panchwagh (@devpanchwagh) December 2, 2025

The Likely play was actually from the 2024 tape. And it was a fake pitch. But my point still stands.

Between those two seasons, he was using more misdirection, proactively trying to solve issues on offense through adjustments in formation & personnel.

— Dev Panchwagh (@devpanchwagh) December 2, 2025

This is a last-chance type of game for both teams. The Ravens have to show they can dominate on the ground and score consistently. The Steelers are trying to prove they’re still the Steelers.

It’s put-up-or-shut-up time. You win, you are still alive, and have seized control of the AFC North.

You lose, and this train ride stops at the station of disappointment, and the head coach is updating his resume’.

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