The Baltimore Ravens are heavy favorites against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild-Card Playoffs, but the AFC North champions should still be worried about struggling cornerback Brandon Stephens ahead of the game at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday, January 11.

A couple of former Ravens players are concerned Stephens will quickly become a target for the Steelers. Among them, ex-wide receiver Qadry Ismail told Kevin Oestreicher of the Locked on Ravens podcast, “Right now Brandon Stephens, bruh! Bruh! We just don’t know if he’s ready, and is he capable of taking on the challenge that is the Pittsburgh Steelers and what they like to do, which is thrown the football down the football field and make big plays. They haven’t made big plays. You hold them to big, you limit them and not allow big plays, you win. Brandon Stephens, you’re in their crosshairs, period. End of discussion.”

Ismail sounded an ominous tone shared by former Ravens defensive end Marcus Spears. He declared on ESPN’s Get Up (h/t Oestreicher), “that damn [Brandon] Stephens scares the hell out of me on the back-end.”

Stephens experienced several lapses this season, and the Steelers can exploit his weakness. Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson’s enduring ability to throw the deep ball, coupled with the speed of standout wide receiver George Pickens, is a combination Stephens should fear.