SCOUTING THE RAVENS
Last meeting
Steelers beat Ravens, 27-22, on Dec. 7 in Baltimore
Key matchup
Ravens WR Zay Flowers vs. Steelers CB Asante Samuel Jr.
Over the past four weeks, Flowers ranks eighth among NFL wide receivers in catches (22) and receiving yards (306). That hot stretch began during the Dec. 7 game against the Steelers when he had a season-high eight catches for 124 yards. Samuel played only one defensive snap in that game but has since settled in as an every-down presence as a Steelers outside cornerback. Attention willbe on the Ravens’ running game, but Flowers could be a difference-maker.
Key injuries
Steelers startersOLBT.J.Watt(lung),WRCalvinAustinIII(hamstring),GIsaacSeumalo(triceps),CBBrandinEchols(groin),CBJamesPierre(calf)andILBMalikHarrison(bonebruise) were all cleared to play after entering the week with each having his status in question.TEDarnellWashingtonisoutaftersufferingabrokenforearmduringlastweek’sgame.
The Ravens welcome back two-time NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson (back) after he missed last week’s win at Green Bay. Listed as questionable headed into the weekend are receiver Rashod Bateman and cornerback Marlon Humphrey. Each is battling an illness.
Series record
Steelers lead 37-27
Series notes
The Steelers lead the regular-season series between the teams 34-25, with the Steelers having won five of the past six and nine of the past 11. … Baltimore, though, won a wild-card round playoff game last Jan. 11. That was at M&T Bank Stadium by a 28-14 score. … This is the seventh time Baltimore has served as the Steelers’ opponent in the regular-season finale — but it has now happened on three occasions over the past five seasons. The teams split the first six such meetings, though the Steelers have won the past two (at the end of the 2023 and 2021 seasons). … Never before have both teams had a playoff berth on the line when meeting in the regular-season finale. … Since the AFC North was christened (as a slimmed-down AFC Central) in 2002, the Steelers have won it nine times and the Ravens eight. (The Cincinnati Bengals claimed the other six). No team has won it three consecutive seasons; Baltimore claimed the past two AFC North crowns. … With a win Sunday, the Steelers would sweep the season series against the Ravens for the fourth time over the past six seasons. … Ten of the past 11 regular-season games between the teams have been decided by seven points or fewer.
Notable
The Ravens lead the NFL in rushing yards per game (157.8) and yards per carry (5.3). Only two teams have more rushing touchdowns than the Ravens’ 23. … Only twice since Week 6 has Baltimore had fewer than 150 rushing yards in a game. Over that 11-game span, the Ravens are averaging 177 rushing yards per game. That includes a season-high 307 in a win at the Green Bay Packers last week, and accumulating 217 rushing yards during the loss to the Steelers last month. … Baltimore running back Henry will turn 32 years old Sunday. He needs 31 rushing yards for his fifth season of at least 1,500 over his 10 NFL campaigns. Henry enters the game third in the league in rushing yards, 137 behind leader James Cook of the Buffalo Bills. His 16 rushing touchdowns are second in the league to Jonathan Taylor’s 18 for the Indianapolis Colts. … Cook, though, is the only NFL running back with more fumbles this season than Henry’s four. … Counting the playoffs, in Henry’s three games against the Steelers over the past 12 ½ months he’s averaged 147.3 rushing yards on 25 carries for an average of 5.9 per carry. … The Steelers have the 12th-ranked rushing defense at 111.6 yards allowed per game. But over their past three outings since after the Ravens ran up the yardage against them, the Steelers have allowed just 52 rushing yards per game and 2.9 per carry. … Baltimore ranks 28th in passing defense (172.7 per game).
Fantasy tip
Since the surprising announcement of his three-year, $39.3 million extension Dec. 3, Ravens tight end Mark Andrews has just 76 receiving yards on nine catches over four games. Over his past two games against the Steelers (in the playoffs last January and Dec. 7), Andrews has combined for just three receptions for 36 yards.