Is Steelers Game a 'Must-Win' for Ravens?
It's cliché to refer to a game as "must win," but that's how ESPN's Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon described Thanksgiving's game in Pittsburgh for the Ravens.
"It's a total must-win situation. Totally," Kornheiser said on "Pardon the Interruption." "Baltimore has to beat Pittsburgh in this. … Baltimore is in trouble. I think they're at a crossroads for this game."
Said Wilbon: "I do agree with you in terms of their circumstance, they desperately need this particular game."
The Ravens (6-4), who trail the Steelers (10-0) by four games in the AFC North with six to play, would officially be eliminated from the division race if they lose on Thanksgiving night. However, as far as the playoffs are concerned, the Ravens head into the game with the odds of playing in the postseason firmly in their favor despite the fact that they would not make the playoffs if the season ended today.
Because of their favorable schedule after the Pittsburgh game — four of their five remaining games are against teams with losing records — the Ravens still have an 85.5 percent chance of making the playoffs according to ESPN's Football Power Index, and a 75.1 percent chance according to Football Outsiders.
Data aside, Kornheiser and Wilbon believe the Ravens need to beat the Steelers to prove they're still a top team after losing three of their past four games.
Defeating a team playing as well as the undefeated Steelers on the road is difficult under any circumstances, but the task became even more daunting with yesterday's news that running backs J.K. Dobbins and Mark Ingram II and defensive tackle Brandon Williams have been placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
Kornheiser pointed out that Lamar Jackson is 1-3 against winning teams this season (not counting a season-opening rout of the Cleveland Browns, who are 7-3) and said Jackson needs to be the catalyst for a win in Pittsburgh.
Wilbon said it's unfair to place too much blame on Jackson for the Ravens' skid and the offense's regression.
"Look, as good as Lamar Jackson was and has been, and still is in terms of his talent, he is not the player you want to saddle up like a young John Elway and just try to go through an entire season," Wilbon said. "They need to now help him, Lamar Jackson. The Baltimore staff, the coaches, I don't know what they can do with juggling of talent at this point, but he needs some assistance out there.
"So it is a must-win, but you know what, I don't see them winning. Not with the personnel missing that we've just gone over."
November 24, 2020 at 09:42PM
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