PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers lost a battle of attrition on Sunday, and it may have cost them their hopes for the 2022 season.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett was injured on the first offensive possession, backup Mitch Trubisky threw three interceptions, and the Steelers lost to the Baltimore Ravens, 16-14, at Acrisure Stadium.
The loss moves the Steelers to 5-8 on the 2022 season. They must now win in their final four games to preserve a chance at a winning season and have a hope of making the postseason.
JK Dobbins made the big plays for Baltimore offensively, with 44-yard first-quarter run setting up his own 4-yard touchdown plunge. Dobbins finished with 14 carries for 120 yards, gashing the Steelers’ sixth-ranked run defense to the tune of 8.6 yards per carry.
Gus Edwards and quarterback Tyler Huntley chipped in as the Ravens eclipsed 200 yards rushing as a team. Even when Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick knocked Huntley out of the game and he was replaced by third-stringer Anthony Brown, the Steelers run defense could not contain the Ravens.
The Steelers offense was able to move the ball well under Trubisky, with his first drive ending in a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Najee Harris after a long pass to George Pickens set the Steelers up in the red zone.
The next five Pittsburgh drives all crossed into Baltimore territory, but Trubisky threw three interceptions, Mike Tomlin opted to punt on a 4th and 3, and on the fifth drive, Chris Boswell’s 40-yard field goal was blocked by Calais Campbell.
Brown then led the Ravens on a 13-play, 57-yard drive that chewed 7:55 of clock and a Justin Tucker field goal made it a two-score game.
Trubisky led the Steelers back down the field, with a long pass to Diontae Johnson setting them up near the red zone and a 10-yard scoring strike to Pat Freiermuth bringing the Steelers to within one score.
But the Steelers defense again couldn’t come up with a stop. Gus Edwards ran three times for 13 yards when Baltimore got the ball back to gain a first down and secure victory.
Trubisky finished 22 of 30 for 276 yards, one touchdown and the three interceptions. Johnson led all receivers with six catches for 82 yards.
The Steelers running game, which had been trending upward in recent weeks, struggled to find its footing. Harris had 12 carries for 33 yards. Pickett, who had two runs for 16 yards before leaving with his early injury, was the second-leading rusher.
Pittsburgh will go back on the road next Sunday, when they visit the Carolina Panthers for a 1 p.m. kickoff.