The Baltimore Ravens take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday at Heinz Field in a game that has been postponed three times due to COVID-19 issues. This game was originally scheduled for Thanksgiving, then it was moved to Sunday, next was Tuesday, and now Wednesday.
The Ravens have dropped to third in the AFC North with just one win in their last four games. Baltimore has been dealing with COVID-19 issues for the last two weeks and they head to this game without at least a dozen players including MVP Lamar Jackson. The Steelers are still unbeaten this season and they are running away with the NFC North division. These teams played four weeks ago and Pittsburgh won that game 28-24 on the road.
The Baltimore Ravens have dropped to third place in the AFC North Division. The Ravens have lost three out of their last four games and have dropped their last two, including a 30-24 loss to the Tennessee Titans last week. The Ravens have been ravaged by COVID-19 and they head to this game without at least 12 players including Lamar Jackson.
Jackson rushed for 52 yards on 13 carries while throwing for 186 yards with one touchdown and one interception. J.K. Dobbins led the rushing attack with 70 yards on 15 carries while Mark Andrews had five catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. Dez Bryant recorded his first catch since 2017 and finished with four catches for 28 yards.
The Ravens are the 12th best scoring team in the league at 26.8 points per game this season. However, they are just 24th in total offense at 343.9 yards per game and are 31st in passing at 183.4 yards per outing. The Ravens have the best rushing attack in the league at 160.5 yards per game. They are also third on defense at only 19.5 points per game allowed and 8th at 333 yards per game conceded.
The Pittsburgh Steelers kept their clean slate with a 27-3 win as 11-point favorites against the Jacksonville Jaguars the last time out. Pittsburgh outgained Jacksonville 373-206 in total yards and won the first down battle 23-14. The Steelers forced four turnovers while committing just one for themselves.
Ben Roethlisberger passed for 267 yards with two touchdowns and one interception on 32-46 passing. Roethlisberger has completed 67.1% of his passes and has thrown for a total of 2,5434 yards with 24 touchdowns and only five interceptions. Diontae Johnson had another big game with 12 catches and 111 yards. James Conner led the rushing attack with 89 yards on 13 carries.
The Steelers are allowing just 17.4 points per game this season which is the best scoring defense in the league. They are also fourth in total defense at 306.9 yards per game allowed and seventh against the run at 103.4 yards per game. On offense, they are 4th in scoring at 29.8 points per game but only 21st in total offense at 347.8 yards per game and 18th in passing at 245.6 yards per game.
Baltimore is 15-5 SU in their last 20 games played. The Ravens are 4-1 SU in five road games played this season, and 7-1 SU in their last eight games against the AFC North division. Pittsburgh is 10-0 SU in their last 10 games played. The Steelers are 5-0 SU in five home games played this season. Head to head, the Ravens have won two out of the last three meetings between these two teams.
It appeared that the Ravens were going to end their struggles last week when they took an 11 point lead over the Titans in the second half of the game. However, Tennessee came roaring back and beat Baltimore in overtime. To add to their struggles, Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins tested positive for COVID-19, joining Lamar Jackson and several key players on defense.
Pittsburgh is the only unbeaten team in the league and more than their offense, their defense is what makes them very scary. The last time out, they allowed just three points and 206 total yards to Jacksonville.
Offensively, Ben Roethlisberger has found a new favorite target in Diontae Johnson who caught 12 passes last week and posted his second straight 100-yard receiving game. Chase Claypool is only the third rookie in NFL history to catch 10 TD passes in his first 10 NFL games.
The Ravens will be without at least a dozen players here including MVP Lamar Jackson. With 10 consecutive days of a positive COVID-19 test, Baltimore has nod had enough time to practice, if at all. Pittsburgh’s defense has been outstanding this season and I expect them to dominate a ravaged Baltimore squad here. Give me the home team in this game.
Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Ravens are 1-4 ATS in their last five games played. Baltimore is 2-2-1 ATS in their five road games played this season. The Steelers are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games played. Pittsburgh is 4-1 ATS in their five home games played this season, 6-0 ATS in their last six games against the AFC. Head to head, the Ravens are 6-3-1 ATS in their last 10 games played against the Steelers. Baltimore is also 4-0-2 ATS in their last six games played in Pittsburgh.
Baltimore has failed to cover in four out of their last five games. They will be heading to this game ravaged by COVID-19. Lamar Jackson won’t be playing for the league’s best running team while J.K. Dobbins and Mark Ingram remain questionable so that’s a problem. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh will be without James Conner and Stephon Tuitt but the absence of the two is nothing compared to what the Ravens are missing. I don’t think Baltimore can score enough points to keep up with the Steelers.
Prediction: Steelers -10
The total has gone under in six out of the last 10 games played by the Ravens. Baltimore has seen the total go over in three out of their five road games played this season. The under is also 7-2 in their last nine games played against the AFC. The total has gone over in four out of the last five home games played by the Steelers. The over is 5-4-1 in their 10 games played this season. The under is 5-1 in their last six December games, and also 11-5 in their last 16 week 12 games.
These two teams combined for 52 points when the total was set at 44 last November 1st. Pittsburgh has scored at least 24 points in every game this season, including the 28 when they faced Baltimore in a game where they only had 221 yards of total offense. The Ravens won’t have key defensive players here and Baltimore gave up 30 points to the Titans in their last games. With their COVID-19 situation, the Ravens won’t be able to practice much and Pittsburgh should have its way against them. I think the Steelers are going to have a good scoring game here with Big Ben having more than enough time to throw the football.
Prediction: Over 42.5
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