In one of the best recent examples of the sports maxim, “the only numbers that matter are the ones on the scoreboard,” the Pittsburgh Steelers managed an unlikely 27-22 win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14.
The win allowed the Steelers to retake control of the AFC North at 7-6. They now have full control over their destiny over the final month of the campaign. But should they have?
If you looked at the raw numbers from the matchup in Baltimore, you’d have thought the Ravens won after leading wire-to-wire. The Steelers had more passing yards thanks to a career day for DK Metcalf. But apart from that it was all Baltimore.
They had more total yards by a pretty significant margin (420 to 318), they committed fewer penalties (five to seven), converted 3-of-4 fourth down tries, and dominated the time of possession (33:44 to 26:16).
But their biggest advantage came on the ground, where they outgained Pittsburgh 217 to 34. Not something you’d expect from a team that trailed for most of the game.
And it turns out, this is nothing new in the Steelers-Ravens rivalry.
According to NFL writer Scott Kacsmar, the Steelers have only won three games since World War 2 where they were outrushed by 170+ yards. All three have come in the last half-decade—and all three have come against the Ravens.
There was the 28-24 Week 8 win in 2020 in which Pittsburgh was outrushed 265-48 (-217). The next year there was another instance in the final game of the 2021 season. In that one, Baltimore outrushed Pittsburgh 249-79 (-170) as they lost 16-13 in overtime.
And then, of course, there was the third instance we just witnessed at M&T Bank Stadium where they had a +183 rushing yard advantage.
Running back Derrick Henry had 25 rushes for 94 yards, his highest totals in nearly a month. Change of pace back Keaton Mitchell got in on the fun too, taking six carries for 76 yards (both season-highs), which included an electric 55-yard scamper. QB Lamar Jackson also had seven rushes for 43, which was his highest rushing total since he was first injured back in September.
Despite that unfortunate trend, the Ravens’ best path to success is still through that running game. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken shouldn’t worry about this wild stat.
They need to keep pounding the rock in Maryland.