PREMIUM
Stephen Nover's NFL Thanksgiving Top Ticket
(NFL) Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh,
Point Spread: 4.50 | -110.00 Baltimore (Away)
Result: Push
Point Spread: 4.50 | -110.00 Baltimore (Away)
Result: Push
I understand the 6-4 Ravens have been one of the more disappointing teams this season. I considered the Chiefs and them to be the two best teams going into the season.
But now there has been too much of an adjustment made in this line. The Ravens haven't done a good job of finishing games, but they still are a strong team giving up the third-fewest points in the league and ranking No. 1 in rushing. Baltimore also has been tremendous on the road winning 10 of its past 11 away matchups.
Kudos to the Steelers for going 10-0 while also covering eight of those games. Impressive. However, I don't consider Pittsburgh a dominant team.
The Steelers generate a lot of sacks and force many turnovers. But their offense is below average in rushing and in passing yards. The Steelers are averaging just 61 yards on the ground during their last four games. Pittsburgh has played only three above .500 opponents. The Steelers' last three games were against the Jaguars, Cowboys and Bengals.
This is perhaps the most heated rivalry in the NFL. Most of the games in this series have been close. Baltimore is the more desperate team. The Ravens should have won the first meeting played 3 1/2 weeks ago. Baltimore had more yards, more first down and owned the ball by more than 11 minutes, but lost 28-24 because the Steelers were plus 3 in takeaways. One of those takeaways was a pick-six on Lamar Jackson.
Jackson needs to connect more on his downfield passes with defenses concentrating on cutting off his running lanes. Jackson can make an occasional beautiful pass. Dez Bryant looked good for Baltimore last week. That's a plus for Jackson. Mark Andrews could be the third-best tight end behind Travis Kelce and George Kittle.
The Ravens will be missing J.K. Dobbins and Mark Ingram. Yet they still are deep at running back not to mention Jackson being the best running QB in the league. There's a strong possibility the Ravens get back star pass rusher Calais Campbell for this game. So this helps offset the absence of Dobbins and Ingram, who I consider overrated.
But now there has been too much of an adjustment made in this line. The Ravens haven't done a good job of finishing games, but they still are a strong team giving up the third-fewest points in the league and ranking No. 1 in rushing. Baltimore also has been tremendous on the road winning 10 of its past 11 away matchups.
Kudos to the Steelers for going 10-0 while also covering eight of those games. Impressive. However, I don't consider Pittsburgh a dominant team.
The Steelers generate a lot of sacks and force many turnovers. But their offense is below average in rushing and in passing yards. The Steelers are averaging just 61 yards on the ground during their last four games. Pittsburgh has played only three above .500 opponents. The Steelers' last three games were against the Jaguars, Cowboys and Bengals.
This is perhaps the most heated rivalry in the NFL. Most of the games in this series have been close. Baltimore is the more desperate team. The Ravens should have won the first meeting played 3 1/2 weeks ago. Baltimore had more yards, more first down and owned the ball by more than 11 minutes, but lost 28-24 because the Steelers were plus 3 in takeaways. One of those takeaways was a pick-six on Lamar Jackson.
Jackson needs to connect more on his downfield passes with defenses concentrating on cutting off his running lanes. Jackson can make an occasional beautiful pass. Dez Bryant looked good for Baltimore last week. That's a plus for Jackson. Mark Andrews could be the third-best tight end behind Travis Kelce and George Kittle.
The Ravens will be missing J.K. Dobbins and Mark Ingram. Yet they still are deep at running back not to mention Jackson being the best running QB in the league. There's a strong possibility the Ravens get back star pass rusher Calais Campbell for this game. So this helps offset the absence of Dobbins and Ingram, who I consider overrated.
