NFL Update: Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens Wild Card Game

This weekend’s Wild Card Round features a Pokes-heavy matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens. Unfortunately, that single game features all the former Cowboys whose teams made the postseason.

Let’s take a look at the game, where each of the OSU alums factor in and how and when to watch.

Note: Malcolm Rodriguez’s Detroit Lions secured the top seed in the NFC, but “Rodrigo,” unfortunately, is out for the year with a torn ACL. 

Pittsburgh Steelers (6 Seed) at Baltimore Ravens (3 Seed)

When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Watch: Prime Video

A Divisional Matchup

This will be the fifth time the division rivals have met in the postseason and the first time since 2014-15. The Steelers have won three of the previous four which were all played in Pittsburgh. The two teams split their regular season meetings this season, each home team coming out on top. The Ravens won the AFC North, while the Steelers finished second.

Despite finishing second in a tough division, the Steelers find themselves stumbling into the postseason, having lost four-straight. Conversely, the Ravens enter Saturday night’s tilt on a four-game winning streak. Let’s see where our rooting interests factor in.

Justice Hill | Baltimore Ravens

Hill has worked his way into a versatile, and valued, role in the Ravens’ stout offense, evidenced by the two-year, $6 million contract they signed him to this past fall.

Behind running back Derrick Henry and dynamic QB Lamar Jackson, rushing yards are tough to come by, but Hill has still carved role in both the rushing and receiving games. He’s amassed 228 yards and a score on the ground and 42 catches for 383 yards and three TDs through the air.

Hill missed the last couple of games with a concussion and then due to illness, but he was “trending in the right direction” as of Monday.

Tylan Wallace | Baltimore Ravens

Wallace has made the majority of his impact on special teams, though he did recreate his famous Iowa State TD this season with an 84-yard sideline score. This season, Wallace has caught 11 of his 12 targets for 193 yards and a score. How big an opportunity he gets could have a lot to do with the status of one his fellow wideouts.

Baltimore’s No. 1 receiver Zay Flowers is dealing with a knee injury. He hasn’t been ruled out yet, but according to the above-linked injury report, Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh “was far from sounding optimistic.” If Flowers is out or limited it could provide more opportunities in the receiving game for both Wallace and Hill.

Jaylen Warren | Pittsburgh Steelers

Warren was hampered a bit in his third season due to nagging injuries, but they didn’t keep him from appearing in 15 games and being productive. He currently sits at 511 rushing yards and one touchdown as well as 38 catches for 310 receiving yards. He was productive against the Ravens as well, logging 92 and 68 scrimmage yards, respectively, in the teams’ two meetings behind Steelers RB1 Najee Harris.

Warren will look to improve on his one game of playoff experience, a loss to Buffalo last season. Warren rushed for 38 yards, caught two passes for 16 and logged a 21-yard kickoff return.

A Trip to KC on the Line

Whichever team comes out on top will have the unenviable job of heading to Kansas City to face the AFC’s top-seeded Chiefs. The Ravens and Steelers combined to go 0-2 versus the Chiefs, who are undefeated at home this season.