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Payton Wilson Makes Huge Impact in First Steelers-Ravens Game
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie linebacker Payton Wilson made a huge impact in his first game against the Baltimore Ravens.
PITTSBURGH — In the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, the Ravens busted out a play call that should have worked, with wide receiver Rashod Bateman and running back Justice Hill running a twisting route combination that was nearly perfectly designed to beat the man coverage the Steelers were in. It failed because of Payton Wilson.
Wilson and Porter were lined up on the right side of the Steelers defense, the only two defenders over there with safety Minkah Fitzpatrick 15 yards off the ball in the deep center of the defense.
Bateman was lined up on the numbers and Hill was the sidecar to Jackson in the shotgun. Bateman ran a slant, straight at Wilson, playing off the ball at inside linebacker. Hill ran a wheel route, first going to the flat before taking it upfield.
Bateman running at Wilson makes him choose whether he wants to go over or under interference. Going over would give Jackson and easy, quick completion to Hill in the flat before Wilson could get back to him.
Going under would take away both players in the short term, but make the angle all wrong for Wilson to turn and run up the field with Hill. Hill cut up field. Wilson put his foot in the ground and ran for all he was worth. The Baltimore offensive line kept Jackson free just long enough for him to drop a lofted pass right on the shoulder of his streaking linebacker.
Wilson intercepted it.
The Steelers’ rookie put his right arm between Hill’s, preventing him from securing the catch. When Hill hit the ground, the ball popped free, and Wilson pulled it right into his body to make a spectacular first career interception.
PAYTON WILSON RIPS IT AWAY. WILD @STEELERS INT.
📺: #BALvsPIT on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/lisvTk1lt7— NFL (@NFL) November 17, 2024
It’s safe to say, Baltimore wasn’t expecting that outcome, when it looked like Hill had Wilson cooked coming out of his break. Hill ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash coming out of Oklahoma State in 2019 — one of the fastest running backs in his class. Wilson ran him down from behind, then made a spectacular play on the ball.
The Steelers haven’t had that kind of linebacker coverage play in years, so it’s no wonder the Ravens weren’t expecting it.
“We were talking all week, he and I, about his matchup with 43 [Hill],” head coach Mike Tomlin said. “He is a pass situation linebacker. 43 is a pass situation runner. [Wilson] is a young guy. … So we knew that they were going to go at him. He needed to be prepared. We worked him all week in terms of that matchup. That rail route that he picked off, the screen game that’s associated with it, Payton did a nice job preparing himself and not blinking and communicating in-game and understanding the urgency of that matchup. I think that’s why he was successful.”
Wilson was well aware of the risk he was taking when he undercut the hard-charging Bateman to take away the easy throw to the fact.
“Once you go under a pick route, you’re in chase mode,” he said. “Once his hands go up, I played through his hands and just ball happened to be there and I took it from him. … I had it the whole time. My hands were through his and the ball hit me right in my palms.”
The team’s third-round pick out of NC State, the team has been bringing Wilson along slowly. In his first nine games, he’s had 40 tackles, one TFL and two quarterback hits, despite a limited role. There’s been impact. But it hasn’t come out yet in the way it did Sunday.
“Playing against the best offense in the world, best quarterback in the world, best running back in the world,” Wilson said. “For me, especially to play against those guys and get the confidence, understand that no matter who is out there, you can play with them, it’s super cool.”
The Steelers have a tailor-made set of mentors for their youngster, as well, in Elandon Roberts and former Ravens backer Patrick Queen.
“It’s just really cool to see PQ and E-Rob, guys I look up to every single day, the first people to celebrate with me are them,” Wilson said. “Just kind of shows you the culture of the team and the culture of the LB room. It’s not who makes the play. It’s we’re gonna make a play and everybody celebrates.”
Wilson has now put his stamp on the Steelers-Ravens rivalry in his first game. You can be sure the Ravens will know all about his abilities next time.
“It’s awesome,” he said. “It kinda takes you back. With the physicality, it’s a whole different world. Just the energy and the motivation, it kinda take you back to college, when you have those intense rivalries. It was just super cool to be a part of.”
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