The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens will square off in the Wild Card Round at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday. The Steelers finished the regular season on a four-game losing streak and a record of 10-7.
Pittsburgh suffered a discouraging defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18. On the other hand, the Ravens enter this matchup between two heated rivals on a four-game winning streak and clinched the AFC North after notching a blowout victory over the Cleveland Browns in Week 18.
The two teams will meet for the third time this year, as the Steelers and Ravens split the regular season series, with Pittsburgh winning the Week 11 game and Baltimore winning the Week 16 contest.
Though the Ravens have played their best football lately and are entering the playoffs with a ton of momentum and the Steelers have played abysmal over the last month, games between divisional rivals are usually highly competitive and unpredictable.
Let’s see what the experts think about Saturday’s contest between two long-time foes.
NFL picks, predictions Wild Card: Steelers vs. Ravens
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: Ravens 30, Steelers 17
Iyer: “The Steelers have lost four consecutive games, and after playing QB just right all season with Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, Mike Tomlin is suddenly being second-guessed despite yet another above-.500 playoff campaign. The Ravens are riding a four-game winning streak, and Lamar Jackson has been locked in more than ever. Baltimore’s pass rush is getting hot at the right time, and Wilson has hit a worrisome wall.”
Bill Bender, Sporting News: Ravens 23, Steelers 15
Bender: “The Steelers are on a four-game losing streak, which includes a 34-17 loss to Baltimore in Week 16. Russell Wilson is averaging 174.5 passing yards per game in that stretch, and the Steelers allowed 220 rushing yards in the last meeting. If that happens again, then the tandem of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry will cruise to a victory here, too. The Steelers have won three of four playoff meetings, but the Ravens won the last one in 2014. They’ll win this one, too, but Pittsburgh will keep it tighter this time.”
Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic: Ravens 30, Steelers 16
Cluff: “This is the third meeting this season between the AFC North rivals. Pittsburgh won the first at home, 18-16. Baltimore won the second in Week 16 at home, 34-17. The Steelers limped into the playoffs with four straight losses. The Ravens have won four in a row. We expect a result similar to the Week 16 game.”
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Ravens 24, Steelers 19
Prisco: “The Ravens seem to be riding high heading into the playoffs, while the Steelers have lost four straight, including to the Ravens two weeks ago. The Steelers have struggled on offense lately, which is an issue against a high-scoring offense led by Lamar Jackson. But it’s tough playing a third game against a division opponent. I think the Steelers will hang around in this one. It’s close, but the Ravens take it.”
ESPN
Stephania Bell: Ravens
Jeremy Fowler: Ravens
Dan Graziano: Ravens
Eric Moody: Ravens
Seth Wickersham: Ravens
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