Steelers Aim To Bounce Back Against Rival Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens (8-3 SU, 5-6 ATS) look to solidify their grip on first place in the black-and-blue AFC North when they entertain the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-5-1, 4-7) on Sunday. The Ravens got past the Cleveland Browns in Week 12 to retain the top spot in the division while the Steelers were manhandled by the Cincinnati Bengals in another divisional matchup.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

Oddsmakers opened the Ravens as 3-point favorites and the line had moved to Baltimore -4 in most spots by Tuesday afternoon. The total had also seen slight movement from its Sportsbook of 45 points down to 44 points.

Baltimore News & Notes

Although the Ravens managed to secure a victory, their offense took a step back in Week 12, with Lamar Jackson throwing four interceptions among his 32 pass attempts. Baltimore couldn’t get its rushing game going, which forced Jackson to air it out more often than he would have preferred.

Marquise Brown led the team with eight receptions for 51 yards. Baltimore will have the benefit of a healthy offensive unit going into Week 13 but an overreliance on Jackson could come back to bite them as the season continues.

The once-feared Baltimore defense is not what it used to be but the Bengals managed to make life miserable for Ben Roethlisberger last week and the Ravens will look to do the same.

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Pittsburgh News & Notes

Since a disappointing tie against the winless Detroit Lions, the Steelers have lost two straight, including last week’s mauling at the hands of the Bengals in a crucial divisional clash.

Pittsburgh has now allowed 41 points in each of the past two games, a troubling development given the team’s offensive struggles through much of the season. Ben Roethlisberger’s pass attempts haven’t diminished but his accuracy certainly has. To make matters worse, the offensive line has allowed teams to reach the veteran QB with ease of late.

Diontae Johnson remains the most productive receiver on the team but running back Najee Harris’s usage has fallen off a cliff the past two weeks. A Baltimore defense that held Cleveland’s run game in check in Week 12 is not going to be an easy matchup.

How Baltimore Will Cover

Lamar Jackson will be licking his lips at the prospect of facing a poor Pittsburgh defense as the Ravens seek to eclipse 16 points for the first time since Week 9. Baltimore’s defense will look to pressure Roethlisberger as the Bengals did last week.

How Pittsburgh Will Cover

If the Steelers can establish the run with Harris, they may be able to pull off a surprise. In recent weeks, they have neglected the run in favor of the passing game. If they continue to attempt around 40 passes per game, their fortunes will not change.

Computer Pick: Ravens -4

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