Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers Picks and Predictions December 21st 2024

Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers December 21st 2024

The Ravens are heavily favored in their week 16 matchup against the Steelers, with a money line of -279. The game, which kicks off at 4:30 ET on Saturday, December 21st at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, is being televised by FOX. The Ravens are -6 point favorites, and the over/under line is set at 44.5 points.

Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore Key Information

At 10-4, the Steelers hold a 70.1% chance of winning the AFC North and have already clinched a playoff spot. They rank 9th in our NFL power rankings and are 3-1 in division games and 7-2 in conference matchups. Pittsburgh is 5-1 at home and 5-3 on the road this season.

Against the spread, the Steelers are 10-4, with a +5.1 scoring margin. They are 5-3 as favorites and 5-1 as underdogs. Their O/U record is 7-7, with the under hitting in their last two games.

Russell Wilson’s passing numbers have declined over his last three games, going from 414 yards in week 13 to 158 yards in week 14, and 128 yards in week 15 against the Eagles. In that game, he completed 14 of 22 passes, with one touchdown and no interceptions. Pittsburgh’s offense struggled in the second half, failing to score after putting up 13 points in the first half. Najee Harris had just 14 rushing yards on 6 carries, and Calvin Austin III led the team with 65 receiving yards on 5 catches.

Heading into week 16, the Steelers rank 17th in our offensive power rankings. They are 9th in the NFL in scoring, averaging 24 points per game, and are 17th in total yards, with 325.6 per game. Pittsburgh leans heavily on the run, ranking 2nd in rushing attempts, while ranking 28th in passing attempts per game.

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In their 27-13 loss to the Eagles, the Steelers’ defense allowed 78.1% completions and 270 passing yards. Philadelphia converted on 58.8% of their third down attempts, and Pittsburgh struggled to defend the big play, giving up 8.4 yards per attempt. The Steelers did record three sacks and held the Eagles to 3.1 yards per rush on 42 attempts.

Despite the defensive effort, Pittsburgh’s offense struggled, putting the defense on the field for 34:50 minutes. The Eagles finished with 401 total yards, and the Steelers’ offense was only 4-14 on third down.

Heading into week 16, the Ravens hold a 9-5 record, putting them 4th in our NFL power rankings. Despite sitting 2nd in the AFC North, Baltimore has a 99.5% chance of making the playoffs. They are 4-2 at home and 5-3 on the road, and their division record stands at 2-2.

Against the spread, the Ravens are 7-6-1, with all of their wins coming as the favorite. Their O/U record is 11-3, with an average of 53.6 points scored in their games. The over has hit in 4 of their last 5, including week 15, when they and the Giants combined for 49 points (O/U line: 43.5).

Heading into week 16, the Ravens are 2nd in our offensive power rankings. They lead the NFL in yards per game with 424.1 and rank 3rd in points per game, averaging 29.9. Despite being 26th in passing attempts, they are 3rd in passing yards per game with 245.6. On the ground, Baltimore ranks 4th in rushing attempts and 2nd in rushing yards per game, averaging 178.4.

Lamar Jackson is coming off a 5-touchdown performance in week 15, where he threw for 290 yards on 21/25 passing against the Giants. He posted a passer rating of 154, marking his 3rd straight game with a rating over 100. Derrick Henry rushed for 67 yards on 14 carries, while Rashod Bateman led the team with 80 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns.

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The Ravens’ defense was dominant in their 35-14 win over the Giants, holding them to just 55 yards on 20 rushing attempts. They allowed only 181 passing yards, with a yards per attempt of just 4.9. Baltimore defended 16.7% of third down attempts and came away with three sacks.

Despite giving up one passing touchdown, the Ravens’ defense limited the Giants to 236 total yards and held them to a 59.5% completion rate. They also came up with one interception in the game.

Our pick vs. the spread is to take the Steelers to cover as 6-point road underdogs in this week 16 matchup between the Steelers and Ravens. Our score prediction is 28-17 in favor of the Steelers.

For the over/under, we like taking the over, with a projected combined score of 45 points and the line sitting at 44.5 points.

Steelers and Ravens Set for High-Stakes AFC North Clash

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens renew their bitter rivalry on Saturday, with the AFC North title and playoff implications hanging in the balance.

Steelers Eyeing AFC North Crown

At 10-4, the Steelers have already secured a playoff berth but are now focused on clinching the division. A win over Baltimore, coupled with a little help from other results, could crown them AFC North champions.

Pittsburgh earned a narrow 18-16 victory over Baltimore on Nov. 17, thanks to Chris Boswell’s six field goals and a clutch defensive stop on a Ravens’ two-point conversion attempt late in the game. The win added to the Steelers’ dominance in the rivalry, as they’ve won eight of the last nine meetings.

Ravens Seeking Redemption

The Ravens (9-5) are determined to flip the script and keep their own playoff hopes alive. A win would secure their spot in the postseason, while a loss could leave them scrambling in a competitive AFC wild-card race.

Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson has struggled against Pittsburgh, with a 1-4 record as a starter, including last month’s loss. Despite his stellar season, where he’s thrown 34 touchdowns against just three interceptions, Jackson has yet to claim a signature win over the Steelers in front of a packed home crowd.

“Losing, in general, bothers me—not the team we play, really,” Jackson said. “We’ve just got to find a way to get a ‘dub.’”

Key Matchups to Watch

1. Steelers Defense vs. Lamar Jackson

Pittsburgh’s defense has been a thorn in Jackson’s side, and the availability of T.J. Watt could be critical. Watt, dealing with an ankle injury, was limited in practice this week but remains hopeful to play.

“I’ll be sending ice to his house and praying to God we get him right,” joked Cameron Heyward, highlighting Watt’s importance to the Steelers’ defense.

2. Ravens Run Game vs. Steelers Front Seven

Baltimore’s Derrick Henry has been a force this season, ranking second in the NFL with 1,474 rushing yards, but he’s struggled recently, failing to hit the century mark in four of his last five games. Pittsburgh limited him to 65 yards in their last matchup, a trend the Ravens must reverse to control the game.

3. Steelers Offense vs. Ravens Secondary

Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson has been inconsistent, with his passing totals dropping dramatically in recent weeks. Adding to Pittsburgh’s offensive woes, top receiver George Pickens has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury and is questionable for Saturday.

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Baltimore’s secondary will aim to capitalize, though they may be without Nelson Agholor (concussion) and Jalyn Armour-Davis (hamstring), who missed practice this week.

What’s at Stake

For the Steelers, a win could mean securing a home playoff game and adding another notch in their dominance over Baltimore. For the Ravens, Saturday is about more than postseason survival—it’s a chance to stop Pittsburgh’s streak and reignite a rivalry that has tilted one-sided in recent years.

Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey emphasized the emotional weight of the game:
“It bothers me. That’s not a good number at all. You want to be able to beat your rival. This means a lot to a lot of people. It means a lot to me, and if you don’t understand, the message will be very clear as the week goes on.”

Bottom Line

The Steelers have the momentum and history on their side, but the Ravens are desperate and playing at home, setting the stage for another classic AFC North battle. With playoff implications for both teams, Saturday’s game promises hard-hitting action and high drama in Baltimore.