The Pittsburgh Steelers shut down Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens’ offense, which entered Sunday as one of the most explosive offenses in the league.
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens’ passing game managed just 207 passing yards with one touchdown and one interception as the Steelers pulled off a 18-16 victory that propelled them to the AFC North lead.
Teryl Austin’s Steelers defense, in a lot of ways, made an emphatic statement by holding the Ravens to just 329 yards of total offense and a pair of touchdowns.
One Steelers defender in particular stood out for Pittsburgh, and that’s cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
Joey Porter Jr vs the Ravens
86.4 PFF Grade
3 targets
0 catches allowed
2 forced incompletions pic.twitter.com/nuk2EJaej9— PFF (@PFF) November 18, 2024
In addition to breaking up two passes and not allowing a reception, Porter also posted one total tackle.
Porter Jr. is in the midst of a career-year, with 39 total tackles and five pass breakups through the first 10 games of his second NFL season.
As the Steelers improved to 8-2, there’s a belief inside the league that Pittsburgh has the pieces in place to make a run towards a championship this season.
“Pittsburgh has a head coach with a winning track record,” the scouting director tells me Sunday. “A defense with an elite pass rush and dominant coverage. They have an improved running game, offensive line, and a veteran quarterback who’s won on the biggest stage.”
For More Football News:
Follow Matt Lombardo on Threads at @MattLombardoNFL. To read more of our articles and in-depth NFL coverage, click here.