BALTIMORE — Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo grades each aspect of the Steelers’ 17-10 victory against the Ravens:
Quarterback: Mason Rudolph is 3-0 as the Steelers starter and will lead them into the playoffs if they get the help they need on Sunday. It was Rudolph’s third consecutive game with a 100 quarterback rating or better. He finished Saturday’s game 18 for 20 for 152 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. His rating was 115. Rudolph hasn’t thrown an interception since he became the starter.
Grade: A
Running backs: Najee Harris had his second consecutive 100-yard game, finishing with 112 yards on 26 carries. Jaylen Warren added 50 scrimmage yards, but he fumbled twice and lost one of them. The running game was a big part of the Steelers ripping off three consecutive wins to end the regular season.
Grade: A
Receivers: Diontae Johnson’s 71-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter was the big play in the game, giving the Steelers a 14-7 lead. Johnson had four catches for 89 yards. It was a good thing Johnson broke the one big play because the passing game was otherwise quiet. George Pickens was held without a catch, and the second-leading receivers were Harris and tight end Pat Freiermuth, who each had 21 yards.
Grade: C
Offensive line: Once again, the offensive line paved the way for Harris and the running game. The pass protection was solid, too, except for two sacks late in the first half that killed a potential scoring drive.
Grade: B+
Defensive line: Larry Ogunjobi recovered a fumble, but it was another quiet day for the defensive line. Rookie Keeanu Benton had three tackles, and Cam Heyward two. There wasn’t a lot of pressure generated in the pass rush, either.
Grade: C
Linebackers: T.J. Watt had two sacks before he left the game in the third quarter with a sprained MCL. He leads the league in sacks entering Sunday’s games and could lead the league for the second time in three seasons. Markus Golden added another late in the fourth quarter. Mark Robinson stripped Melvin Gordon III and created a turnover in the second quarter. All of the inside linebackers helped keep the Ravens running game in check.
Grade: B
Secondary: Eric Rowe’s forced fumble midway through the fourth quarter gave the Steelers the ball in Baltimore territory, and the offense was able to convert the turnover into a field goal that gave them a 10-point lead. Patrick Peterson had a rough game, missing two tackles on the Ravens’ only touchdown drive of the game, but it was a solid day overall for a unit that has been besieged by injuries. Tyler Huntley threw for only 146 yards.
Grade: B
Special teams: Calvin Austin III had five punt returns for 92 yards, including a 34-yard return in the fourth quarter. It was a good day for the returners. Kickoff returner Godwin Igwebuike made a smart play when he fielded a Justin Tucker kickoff with one foot out of bounds, giving the Steelers the ball at the 40-yard line with a little more than two minutes to go before halftime. There were some mistakes that could have cost the Steelers. On the final play of the first quarter, the punt team had 12 players on the field, negating a 49-yard punt that had the Ravens pinned at the 7-yard line. On the re-kick, Pressley Harvin III shanked a 26-yarder to the 35, a 28-yard change in field position. Later, Connor Heyward was called for a hold on a punt return.
Grade: B
Coaching: The Steelers finished the season on a three-game winning streak, and Mike Tomlin deserves credit for that after they dropped the previous three games that put their playoff hopes in serious doubt. Whether they make it or not, Tomlin led the Steelers to 10 wins while using three quarterbacks. He also got through the second half of the season with second- and third-stringers manning the inside linebacker and safety positions.
Grade: A
Ray Fittipaldo: rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @rayfitt1
First Published: January 7, 2024, 12:42 a.m.
Updated: January 7, 2024, 2:25 a.m.
