Matchup of Week: Brown, Bell, Bryant vs. Ravens DBs
When the Pittsburgh Steelers take the field as an offense, they’ll be facing a Baltimore Ravens defensive backfield that made a priority leading into the Sunday night game by head coach John Harbaugh. The Steelers have been fairly well balanced on offense the past few weeks. When they faced the Ravens earlier in the season, they leaned heavily on the run game with Le’Veon Bell. With the way he has been contributing to the passing game as well, the matchup of Week 14 to watch will be between the Ravens defensive backs versus Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant, and Bell.
Major contributions from Brown, Bell
It’s almost impossible for Steelers fans not to remember the huge game-winning play that Brown made against the Ravens last year as a Christmas gift to his team and Steelers Nation. Well, it’s December – and Brown has been on a crazy ride this year as a receiver. He’s played opposite several different teammates – Bryant, JuJu Schuster-Smith, Eli Rogers, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Justin Hunter. The Steelers’ tight ends have contributed here and there, as well. But Brown and the Steelers offense as a whole has also benefitted from the athleticism and nice hands of Bell.
December 25, 2016. #TBT #SteelersHistory pic.twitter.com/kYoOznYclT
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 8, 2017
Brown has stayed busy this season, even when opponents have double-teamed him. Heading into the Week 14 matchup, Brown leads all other receivers in the NFL with receptions (88), receiving yards (1,296), receiving yards per game (108.0) and receiving touchdowns (9). Ravens defensive back Brandon Carr said of Brown, “He’s crafty. He’s a savvy receiver. He gets a lot of targets, and he has incredible chemistry. There are certain times when he cuts his routes off, or makes up a different route, and Ben (Roethlisberger) knows exactly where he’s supposed to be. So, you have to play him from whistle to whistle.”
That is what (Brown) is all about. He has been (playing) at the highest level since he has been in the league. – Ravens coach J. Harbaugh
.@AB84 holds the NFL record for most receiving yards by a player in any five-year span in NFL history, now with 7,611 (Marvin Harrison, 1999-2003: 7,594). pic.twitter.com/UQiQqdzFdq
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 7, 2017
Bell hasn’t slacked off this season, either. He leads all NFL running backs in rushing yards (1.057) and rushing attempts (270). He is second in the league in rushing attempts per game 20.76), third in rushing yards per game (12.07) and seventh in rushing touchdowns (5). Bell’s ability to step in as the Steelers’ second receiver, as necessary, has allowed the Steelers to add on 66 receptions for 502 yards and one touchdown.
Bryant finally on the rise
All season, Steelers fans have been anxiously awaiting a breakout game from receiver Martavis Bryant. Number 10 has had struggles this season with consistency, regaining the trust of his quarterback and dropped balls. In the past two games, Bryant was nearly identical in his play: four receptions for 40 yards, a long of 15- and 17-yards in respective weeks. Against the Green Bay Packers, Bryant scored his first touchdown of the season since Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings.
With Smith-Schuster serving a suspension following the Cincinnati Bengals game that became a bit too physical, the Steelers need to see the Bryant who can stretch the field and take some of the coverage off of Brown and the other receivers to get the Steelers offense moving down the field and into the end zone.
Plenty of eyes on Humphrey, Ravens defensive backfield this week
First-round pick Marlon Humphrey will make his first career start against the Steelers in place of Jimmy Smith who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury and a concurrent suspension due to violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy. In Week 4, Humprey was matched up against Brown a couple times and had no major mistakes and has had a solid rookie season.
“Marlon has a good mindset,” Harbaugh said of the young defensive back. “He’s going to be tested … He’s a very talented guy. I’m looking forward to seeing how he does. I think he’ll do well.”
With Brown potentially lining up at different spots, Humphrey may not be blanketing the league’s top receiver, but he’ll need to play his best coverage to hold off the Steelers when they target him. Harbaugh is correct that Pittsburgh will take their shots, especially if he’s isolated one-on-one with Brown. After Smith went down last weekend, Humphrey recorded seven tackles and an interception. In 12 games, Humphrey has 25 tackles, two interceptions and has batted down eight passes.
“(Marlon) has composure on the field. He has God-given speed,” said Carr. “The ability he has can make up for a lot of things he hasn’t learned yet, as far as technique and the ins and outs of receivers. But he has a knack for just going out there and making plays.”
What does Humphrey feel is one of the hardest things to do at cornerback? “When you let up a big play,” he said, “you have to let that go and move on to the next (play).”
The Ravens have 20 interceptions (number one in the league) on the season. It’s an exceptional number that has been possible because Baltimore focused on depth in their defensive backfield during the offseason. Humphrey won’t be an island on Sunday. He’ll have Carr, Eric Weddle, Tony Jefferson and a supporting cast that includes Maurice Canady, Jaylen Hill, and Stanley Jean-Baptiste. Carr and Humphrey are expected to get the start at corner with Jefferson at strong safety and Weddle at free safety. Whether they use Canady, as expected, in the slot to start remains to be seen.
PICK-6! #RavensFlock https://t.co/3HM9n26RI1
— NFL (@NFL) December 3, 2017
“Our secondary is the strength of our team, so we’re not going to sit back and be sorry for ourselves,” Weddle said. “We’ll step up and play well…”
Ben Roethlisberger talks about our rivalry with Baltimore, and previews the Ravens defense. pic.twitter.com/6Xg2iCD8DX
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 6, 2017
