5 players to watch when the Steelers and Ravens collide Sunday night
If you thought last Monday’s game was “AFC North Football” you haven’t seen anything yet. The Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Baltimore Ravens for another primetime battle this Sunday night, as the Ravens return to Heinz Field for the first time since losing in the waning moments of Christmas night 2016, forfeiting any claim they had to the division title.
Online betting sites currently have the Steelers as a five-point favorite Sunday with a rather pedestrian over/under set at 44 points. The Baltimore Ravens will enter the game with one of the league’s weakest pass offenses (currently ranked 31st) but could benefit from a slew of injuries to the Steelers defense.
Likewise, there are some changes on the Ravens D which could affect the outcome of the game.
Here are five players to keep on eye out for on Sunday Night Football.
Eli Rogers
While Antonio Brown‘s toe still heals and JuJu Smith-Schuster sits out with a one-game suspension, Eli Roger’s number will be called upon again.
Rogers had an uptick in playing time recently but saw JuJu eat into his offensive snaps last week. Expect Rogers to get a healthy amount of looks this week, as he did two weeks ago against the Packers (when Smith-Schuster was out as well).
Rogers may also return punts in place of Brown, as he did Monday night against the Bengals. All eyes will be on Eli, as he muffed a punt earlier in the season which led to him being benched for multiple games.
Marlon Humphrey
Humphrey, a first-round draft pick this season, was the corner everyone thought the Steelers might select. Instead, he went earlier in the round to their division rival, and will now start in place of the injured (and suspended) Jimmy Smith.
Smith is a special talent, but it’s unknown how Humphrey may step into his spot. Furthermore, he will draw the thankless of assignments of covering either Antonio Brown or Martavis Bryant.
Welcome to the NFL Humphrey!
Arthur Moats (and Sean Spence)
Reports say the Steelers are running with both Moats and Spence on the first team inside linebacker position in place of the injured Ryan Shazier.
The assignment isn’t new to Moats, at least during his career, where he played inside for the Buffalo Bills before joining the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014. Versatility and veteran leadership are big with the Steelers coaching staff, and Moats provides both to the defense.
Unfortunately, Ryan Shazier (who’s wish is for the Steelers to defeat the Ravens Sunday) may not be available anytime soon, and his usual backup, Tyler Matakevich, is also nursing an injury. This prompted the Steelers to bring back their former 2012 third-round pick, Spence, who has been out of football for nearly two months, and last played with Pittsburgh in 2015.
However, Spence did play under current defensive coordinator Keith Butler and shouldn’t have a hard to acclimate himself to the defensive schemes. Whether or not he or Moats can maintain the “standard” is why they are on the radar as players to watch this Sunday.
Danny Woodhead
The oft-injured running back has become a big addition to the Ravens running game since returning from IR in Week 11. Woodhead already has 11 receptions on 12 targets for 58 yards since coming back, and with a banged up Steelers defense, where the interior linebacker depth is thin and the cornerback depth is no better, I’d expect Baltimore to protect their weak passing attack by targeting Woodhead early and often.
Brandon Williams
The run-stuffing defensive tackle didn’t play in the first Steelers/Ravens game earlier this season and figures to be a huge (HUGE) factor in this one.
Williams is such an impact player that the Ravens broke the bank to re-sign him during free agency this offseason. The tackle took home a five-year, $54 million contract extension, but was absent between weeks three and six, when the Ravens initially hosted the Steelers.
You can expect this 6-1, 335lb. monster to be a difference maker for Baltimore’s defense.
