The Pittsburgh Steelers were able to hang on for a close, 18-16, win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday afternoon to not only maintain their lead in the AFC North, but also extend it. That is the main headline.
The sub-plot to that game is the continued struggles of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson against the Steelers defense. They continue to be the one team that he has not yet been able to dominate in his career.
With Jackson playing his way toward a third MVP, there was a thought that maybe this could be the season he makes an impact against them.
It did not happen on Sunday.
Jackson had by far his worst game of the season, completing 16-of-33 passes for 207 yards (6.3 per attempt), one touchdown and an interception. His 66.1 passer rating was also by far his lowest of the season.
Entering play on Sunday his previous low was 81.4 in Week 2 of the season. Even that was his only game with a mark under 90.0, while he had been on a run of eight consecutive games over the 101.0 mark.
Aside from the pedestrian numbers, Jackson just looked out of sync and struggled to find his wide receivers. The Steelers also allowed him to run just four times for 41 yards, with 25 of those coming on one run in the fourth quarter.
In Jackson’s defense, he did lead a touchdown drive with under three minutes to play that put the Ravens in a position to potentially tie the game with a two-point conversion. Jackson was forced into a bad pass that harmlessly went incomplete. That was really the only drive the Ravens were able to maintain all day.
Jackson has now played five games against the Steelers in his career and owns a 1-4 record. Even worse, his individual numbers have been by far the worst that he has against any other team in the NFL.
His individual numbers in those games: 94-for-165, 1,077 yards, five touchdowns and eight interceptions. That is a 66.7 passer rating. He also has has seven fumbles in those five games and has been sacked 22 times.
Those are by far the worst numbers he has against any other team in football. The only other opponent where his passer rating falls below 80.0 is the Atlanta Falcons (74.5), a team he has only played once in his career.
The Steelers typically have an outstanding defense, and that almost certainly plays a role. As does the familiarity that comes with playing in the same division. Whatever it is, that is the one team he has not been able to play like an MVP against.
He has at least one more chance this season when the Steelers visit the Ravens in Week 16 of the season. It could be another game that helps determine the top spot in the AFC North division.