A classic AFC North battle is on tap as the Pittsburgh Steelers travel to face the Baltimore Ravens in a game with significant divisional implications. This rivalry, known for its physicality and close contests, will be renewed in Week 14.
1. Game Overview
- Matchup: Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens
- Date: Sunday, December 7
- Time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Location: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD
- TV Schedule: The game will be broadcast on CBS.
2. Team Form and Analysis
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers enter this matchup with a 2-3 record over their last five games. The team has been dealing with inconsistency, particularly on offense, leading to what some analysts have described as a “messy situation in Pittsburgh.” The offensive line’s performance has been a point of concern, and the team will need a much more cohesive effort to compete against a formidable Ravens defense. Historically, the Steelers have had success in this rivalry, with head coach Mike Tomlin winning eight of his last nine games against Ravens’ head coach John Harbaugh. Pittsburgh leads the all-time series 36-27.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens come into this game with a 5-5 record in their last ten contests. The team’s performance has been buoyed by the play of quarterback Lamar Jackson, who, alongside inside linebacker Roquan Smith, provides leadership on both sides of the ball. Recent results have been positive, with the team securing back-to-back victories for the first time this season, suggesting they may be finding their rhythm at a crucial point in the schedule. The Ravens will look to leverage their home-field advantage and Jackson’s dynamic playmaking ability to break their recent trend against the Steelers.
3. Injury Report
While the provided search results reference the existence of injury reports for both teams ahead of their Week 14 matchup, specific player names and their official game-day statuses were not detailed in the text snippets. In a rivalry known for its physical nature, the health of key players will be a critical factor. Monitoring the final pre-game injury designations for both squads will be essential.
4. Betting Odds Breakdown
The betting lines for this game highlight the Ravens as the home-field favorites.
- Point Spread: Ravens -6. This means the Ravens must win the game by more than 6 points to cover the spread. The Steelers can cover by winning the game outright or losing by 5 points or fewer.
- Total (Over/Under): 42.5 points. Bettors can wager on whether the combined final score of both teams will be over or under 42.5 points.
- Moneyline: While not explicitly stated with a numerical value, the -6 point spread indicates the Ravens are the moneyline favorite (requiring a larger bet to win a smaller amount), and the Steelers are the underdog (offering a larger payout on a smaller bet).
5. Prediction
The Baltimore Ravens are the rightful favorites at home, possessing a more consistent offense led by Lamar Jackson. However, the Steelers-Ravens rivalry has a well-documented history of producing close, hard-fought, and lower-scoring games, regardless of the teams’ respective records. The Steelers’ recent struggles are notable, but Coach Tomlin’s impressive record against Coach Harbaugh cannot be ignored.
The Ravens should have enough to secure a victory, but the 6-point spread seems large for a divisional game of this nature. Expect the Steelers’ defense to keep them in the game, making it a one-score contest deep into the fourth quarter.
Prediction: Baltimore Ravens 20, Pittsburgh Steelers 17
Sources:
Steelers vs. Ravens Results | The Football Database
Ravens–Steelers rivalry – Wikipedia
Ravens Vs Steelers Last 10 Game Logs | StatMuse
Who leads AFC North if ravens beat steelers : r/NFLNoobs
Steelers vs. Ravens Injury Report – Week 11, 2024 | FOX Sports
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