BALTIMORE — Through his first eight games of his Pittsburgh Steelers tenure, quarterback Russell Wilson turned the ball over just six times, helping the Steelers to become the top turnover differential team in the NFL this season.
Saturday against the Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers quarterback had two huge turnovers that twice turned the tide against the Black and Gold, as they lost 31-17 to their AFC North rivals, squandering a chance to clinch the division.
In the first half, Wilson was leading a drive that would have given the Steelers their first lead of the game, when he took off for a scramble from the Baltimore 23-yard Wilson. Wilson got within the 5-yard line, when he cut back behind MyCole Pruitt and was hit by Baltimore safety Ar’Darius Washington, fumbling the ball. Baltimore linebacker Kyle Van Noy recovered the ball.
The Ravens responded with an eight-play, 96-yard drive that ended in a Lamar Jackson to Rashod Bateman touchdown that gave the Ravens the lead with 7:33 to play in the second quarter.
Baltimore then extended that lead with a Justin Tucker field goal, making it 17-7 late in the first half. The Steelers battled back with a Chris Boswell field goal before the break and then Wilson hit Cordarrelle Patterson late in the third quarter to tie the game back up again.
The Ravens responded with a Jackson to Mark Andrews touchdown to put the home team back on top by a touchdown.
Then the critical sequence of the game occurred. With the ball at the Baltimore 46, the Steelers elected to go for it on a 4th and 6. Wilson threw for the end zone, but his pass to Calvin Austin III was broken up by Kyle Hamilton.
Derrick Henry broke off a 44-yard run on the next play, setting the Ravens up at the Steelers 11.
But then Minkah Fitzpatrick intercepted Jackson, giving the Steelers new life. It was Fitzpatrick’s first interception since the 2022 season, and seemed to come at a crucial time.
Just two plays later, Wilson gave it back. He was rolling to his right and looking for tight end MyCole Pruitt, but the throw was well behind the veteran pass catcher, and went right into the hands of Baltimore cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who returned it 37 yards for a touchdown.
Down two scores on the next drive, the Steelers called a wide receiver screen to Austin on 3rd and 11, which got one yard, and then punted the ball away with 9:29 remaining.
Tucker added another field goal to give Baltimore their final margin of victory.
Wilson finished 22 of 33 for 271 yards and two touchdowns. He was sacked three times in addition to the two turnovers.
Austin was his favorite target, catching four of five passes for 65 yards. Jaylen Warren caught five passes for 44 and rushed 12 times for 48 yards to lead the Steelers on the ground. Najee Harris had 42 yards on nine carries.
The Steelers defense generally kept Jackson bottled up. The reigning NFL MVP threw 23 times, completing 23 for 207 yards and three sores. He rushed seven times for 24 yards and was sacked once, losing nine.
Henry did most of the damage. The bruising back ran 24 times for 162 yards and did everything except break the plane of the end zone. He also caught two passes for 27 yards, giving him 199 yards from scrimmage on the evening.
After the loss to the Ravens, the Steelers will have a short turnaround following their return to Pittsburgh. They’ll host the Kansas City Chiefs for their Week 17 game with a 1 p.m. kickoff on Christmas Day this Wednesday.