The Baltimore Ravens came away with a victory in another classic AFC North clash against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday.
While the Steelers could have clinched the division crown with a win, the Ravens leaned on their No. 1 offense and an impressive defensive unit to jump to first place — where they are now tied with Pittsburgh — for first in the AFC North.
If both teams win their final two games, the Steelers will win the division due to strength of winning percentage. But Pittsburgh faces the (14-1) Kansas City Chiefs next week and closes against the Bengals, who only have six wins but seem to be in every game they play.
Baltimore will have to knock off the Texans next week and knock off the Browns in the last regular season game for a chance to win the division. While the Ravens are already locked into the 2024 postseason, winning the division and getting home field advantage in the playoffs makes a major difference.
Lamar Jackson was fantastic yet again and reminded the world why he’s in the conversation to win back-to-back NFL MVP awards. He finished the game 15-of-23 for 207 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He added another 22 yards on the ground as a runner.
Derrick Henry followed up with another monster performance for the Ravens offense, finishing with 24 carries for 162 yards, averaging 6.8 yards per rush.
But while the Ravens offense has been their strong suit all season, their defense — a unit that has struggled throughout the year so far — came up big in key moments which proved to be the difference.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Jackson threw a costly interception giving the ball back to the Steelers, who trailed by just a touchdown. But two plays later, Ravens’ CB Marlon Humphrey jumped a short pass from Russell Wilson who had pressure in his face, and returned the interception for a 37-yard touchdown that proved to be the difference.
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbuagh told reporters after the game he gave Humphrey a game ball, but that it was for the cornerback’s son, who was just born this week.
“Marlon also had a baby this week, so he didn’t get the game ball, his son got the game ball.”
