Calais Campbell wasn't supposed to be in the A-gap. The Ravens hadn't practiced with him there on a field goal attempt all season.
The Steelers had seen this look before. It just happened in 2021.
Trailing 13-7 with 11:24 remaining in the fourth quarter Sunday, Chris Boswell lined up for a 40-yard field goal attempt to bring the Steelers back to within three, but Campbell put his left hand up and got a piece of it after lining up right over the middle:
"I think the [pushback] was fine," J.C. Hassenauer, who along with Christian Kuntz tried to block Campbell, told me. "He just timed it perfectly."
It would be the biggest swing play in the game. The Ravens embarked on a 13 play, seven minute and 55 second drive after the attempt, putting up three of their own to make it a two score game. While Pat Freiermuth would find the endzone on the next possession, it would be the last time the Steelers touched the ball in a 16-14 loss.
That biggest play in the game wasn't in the Ravens' playbook. Special teams coordinator Chris Horton audibled and told Campbell to get in the A-gap and try to make something happen up the middle.
"We did it last year against them, but [we] haven't worked on it since last year," Campbell said.
Campbell did a swim move on the snapper Kuntz, went up against Hassenauer and made the play.
It got the desired result. This time, at least. In Week 18 last year, the Ravens again moved Campbell to the A-gap to try to get the block. That time, though, he couldn't make a move.
The audible was the right call, and it's easier to do when you have a great kick blocker on your team.
"I think he's a Hall of Fame player," John Harbaugh said about Campbell. "He's definitely a Hall of Fame field goal blocker. There's no doubt about that."
Mike Tomlin feels similarly.
"We allowed a known legendary guy to block a kick," Tomlin said. "He's probably the leading kick blocker, active kick blocker in the NFL, just gets in there in the gap and blocks the kick... You do those things, you don't win. We understand that. We're disappointed."