5 things we learned: Depleted Steelers defense wilting in stretch run

Five things we learned from Ravens 34, Steelers 17:

1. Disappointing defense

Russell Wilson’s two turnovers, which led to 14 points, were the chief culprit in the loss, but the play of the defense was occupying the next rung on the podium.

Playing short-handed as three starters watched from the sideline, the Steelers were gouged for 418 yards. It was the second week in a row the Steelers yielded more than 400 (the Eagles had 401), the first time that has happened since the 2019 Steelers gave up at least 400 yards in each of the first three weeks of the season. Wilson, by the way, was the quarterback when Seattle shredded the Steelers defense in Week 2 that year.

With the defense missing two starters in the secondary and Joey Porter Jr. spending much of the game out of the lineup, perhaps the Steelers didn’t want Lamar Jackson to beat them with deep passes. Whatever the strategy, it didn’t account for stopping Derrick Henry, who rushed for 162 yards on 24 carries.

The Steelers defense, ranked No. 4 in the NFL coming in, gave up eight runs of at least 9 yards by Henry, and it was guilty of allowing a 25-yard run on the play in which Justice Hill was concussed. That helped the Ravens rush for 220 yards. It was the most allowed by the Steelers since the Ravens rushed for 249 in the final game of the 2021 season.

Larry Ogunjobi’s absence on the defensive line was evident. T.J. Watt playing on a bad ankle didn’t help matters, and Patrick Queen wasn’t much of a factor in the middle as many of his team-high eight combined tackles came after lengthy gains.

Next up are the Kansas City Chiefs, who despite a 14-1 record, are not exactly the offensive juggernaut that usually surrounds Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs have exceeded 400 yards just once in 15 games, a positive stat for the Steelers heading into the Christmas matchup.

2. Russ in danger

Saying Wilson had a good game aside from his two turnovers is like saying that, other than that collision with an iceberg, the Titanic had an uneventful journey across the Atlantic.

The Steelers missed out on a potential seven points courtesy of his fumble that was recovered by Baltimore at the 4. His poor throw that was intercepted by Marlon Humphrey was returned for a touchdown, and the Ravens turned the aforementioned fumble into another seven points.

Wilson, though, did throw two touchdown passes — to the unlikely duo of MyCole Pruitt and Cordarrelle Patterson — and he had a 92.6 passer rating despite his deficiencies.

While it was the second game in a row that Wilson finished with a sub-100 passer rating and was his second-lowest rating of the season, consider that Kenny Pickett achieved a 92.6 rating in three of his 24 starts with the Steelers the previous two seasons. Justin Fields, meantime, had at least a 92.6 rating in four of his six starts.

In other words, Wilson might have played his worst game with the Steelers, but it was better than was witnessed in recent seasons.

3. Growing up

In George Pickens’ absence, Calvin Austin III continues to mature as an NFL receiver. Sure, he lacks the traits to be a No. 1 pass catcher, but Austin has solidified his role as a starter.

For the second game in a row, Austin did his best to pick up the slack while Pickens sat with a hamstring injury. He led the Steelers with four receptions for 65 yards, including a nifty 44-yard toe-tap that set the stage for the Steelers to tie the score in the third quarter.

Austin has nine catches for 130 yards the past two weeks. That matched his production from the previous five games.

Austin also was the target of Wilson’s fourth-down deep heave that Kyle Hamilton broke up on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Austin was at a height disadvantage and couldn’t get into position to make the catch.

Wilson, though, could have made it easier had he not put so much air under his moon ball and hit Austin in stride rather than throw a 50-50 ball.

4. Reduced role

Najee Harris remains the starting running back, but it has been hard to tell judging by the way he has been deployed the past two weeks.

Harris again took a backseat to Jaylen Warren in terms of playing time and touches. It seemed like an aberration when Harris had six carries and played a season-low 14 snaps in the loss at Philadelphia. Then, he played 17 snaps and had nine touches against the Ravens while Warren had the heavier workload. Warren played 40 snaps against the Ravens, an increase from the 23 he logged against the Eagles.

Could it be a changing of the guard at running back with the Steelers going away from Harris’ power running game in favor of Warren’s versatility? Is there an injury that is limiting Harris’ effectiveness?

Either way, Harris’ diminished use is alarming. He has 16 touches combined the past two weeks. Until this stretch, he never had fewer than 16 in a game the entire season.

Harris has 933 yards rushing for the season. At this pace, for the third year in a row he will need that 17th game to reach 1,000.

5. Welcome back

Given the amount of injuries to the secondary, it was imperative for Minkah Fitzpatrick to play like a three-time, first-team All-Pro free safety.

Fitzpatrick had his share of mistakes, notably a facemask penalty that aided the Ravens on their second touchdown drive. Still, he no longer has to hear about his lengthy drought without making an impactful play in the secondary.

Fitzpatrick’s interception of Jackson was his first since Jan. 1, 2023, against the Ravens.

He had gone 25 games without an interception, leading to well-founded questions about whether he was matching his hefty salary.

If Porter, DeShon Elliott and Donte Jackson continue to be slowed by injuries and aren’t available against the Chiefs, the Steelers will need Fitzpatrick to step again in just three days.