BALTIMORE -- Our football staff predicts the Steelers' game against the Ravens here today, 1:02 p.m., at M&T Bank Stadium:
Dale Lolley (6-0): This is an extremely tough game to pick because the Steelers have played so well at times you wonder if anyone can beat them. See their entire game against the Browns and the first half last week against the Titans. They'll most certainly be up for this game. But they're also not going to go 16-0. And the Ravens are clearly a good team, as well, even if they aren't quite as good as they were last season when they went 14-2. And when you start looking at the rest of the schedule, there aren't a lot of losses there. The Ravens are rested and could have some of their offensive issues solved. It will be a slugfest, but I'll favor the home team. Ravens, 26-24
Ramon Foster (6-0): I might've worried about the Ravens coming off a bye week last year. Not this year. These Steelers are a damned good football team. I'd take a second look at this Baltimore defense. In years past, that defense always found ways to close out games. I don't think that's the case this year. On the other side of the ball, I don't know that I'm trusting Lamar Jackson's passing game. Last year, I thought, they were more of a threat with three solid tight ends. This year, they've got one in Mark Andrews. The plan that you're seeing people around the NFL use now to contain that offense is a Mike Tomlin/Keith Butler plan, and they've been waiting to showcase it again. Steelers, 28-24
Chris Carter (6-0): The Steelers match up very well with the Ravens' strengths and weaknesses. What the Ravens do well in running the ball and targeting the tight end, the Steelers excel at stopping. For Jackson to beat the Steelers with his arm, he's going to either hope Andrews puts on a performance no tight end has this season against the Steelers or finally develop a chemistry hitting his receivers outside the numbers. The Steelers' run defense is second-best in the league and they have the personnel to contain mobile quarterbacks like Jackson. Meanwhile the Steelers are one of the most balanced offenses the Ravens' defense will have faced this season. Steelers, 31-23
Tom Reed (6-0): The Ravens cannot ask for a more favorable circumstance in COVID-19 times. They have the undefeated Steelers at home before a few thousand fans coming off a bye, while Pittsburgh needed to put a lot into last week's win in Nashville. The rivalry has a history of producing close games and I don't expect this one to be any different. This game feels a lot more important to Baltimore. Ravens, 21-20
Dejan Kovacevic (6-0): The Ravens will get after Ben like no other opponent, not even the Eagles. That's a problem. Because if Ben's counter is to keep releasing the ball within milliseconds of the snap, he'll never attack Baltimore's very real weaknesses beyond the front line, notably that they'll allow their corners -- possibly without Jimmy Smith -- to stay in solo coverage against Chase Claypool and James Washington deep downfield. I'd rather see the protection in place for Ben to take some shots, but I can't be sure it's there. Finally going the other way on this one. Ravens, 16-13