5 things we learned: Steelers running game became an afterthought following Kenny Pickett's early exit

Five things we learned from Ravens 16, Steelers 14:

1. One-dimensional offense

After having five consecutive games with at least 100 yards rushing, the Steelers totaled just 65 on the ground against the Ravens. That is the second-lowest total of the season.

The fewest rushing yards came in Week 5 in a 38-3 loss at Buffalo when the Steelers, who trailed by multiple scores in the second quarter, had to abandon the run and compiled 54 yards on 17 attempts.

Did the Steelers, who attempted 20 runs Sunday, also abandon the run against the Ravens despite being within one score for the entire second and third quarters and part of the fourth? While Mitch Trubisky attempted 30 passes after replacing Kenny Pickett with 2:31 left in the first quarter, the Steelers ran the ball 14 times after Pickett’s exit.

At halftime, the Steelers had 52 yards rushing, led by Najee Harris’ 32 on 10 carries. It was a departure from the previous four games since the bye week when the Steelers had at least 71 at the break. Still, it wasn’t unreasonable to think Harris in particular and the running game in general could find some traction in the second half.

It didn’t materialize.

Harris carried just two more times for 1 yard, and the running game as a whole totaled 13 yards on six attempts. Trubisky, meantime, attempted 19 passes on the first three possessions of the second half when the Steelers were within one score of the Ravens.

2. So, you’re telling me there’s a chance

For a team that has won back-to-back games just once this season, it’s lunacy to expect the Steelers to win four in a row to close out the year. But what if it actually happened and the Steelers ended the season with a 9-8 record?

They still probably wouldn’t make the playoffs. According to the New York Times playoff simulator, the Steelers have less than a 1% chance of reaching the postseason as the No. 7 seed. The website fivethirtyeight.com has it more clearly defined at 0.2%.

The Steelers occupy the No. 13 spot in the conference seedings. The Los Angeles Chargers currently hold the seventh spot with a 7-6 record. The New York Jets are on the outside looking in at 7-6. New England has six wins entering its game Monday night.

Then there are the Steelers, who have the same record as the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders. Although the Steelers have the Raiders and Browns on their schedule, they are hurt by a 2-7 conference record and head-to-head losses to the Jets, Patriots and 8-5 Miami Dolphins.

3. Going backwards

In a game that featured three interceptions by Trubisky and a blocked field goal in Chris Boswell’s first game back from injury, it was another special teams gaffe that was a turning point in the game.

Trailing 3-0, the Steelers faced a fourth-and-4 from their 31. Pressley Harvin III was called on to punt and delivered his worst kick of the year. A week after pinning the Falcons at their 2 in the waning moments, Harvin shanked his punt. The ball hit the ground about 25 yards downfield and began bouncing backward. It was downed at the Steelers 48, resulting in a 17-yard punt.

J.K. Dobbins ripped off a 44-yard run on the first play, then got the remaining 4 yards on the second to give the Ravens a 10-0 lead.

Harvin punted just one more time, after the opening possession of the second half. This time, punting from the Ravens 48, he put the ball into the end zone for a touchback.

4. Welcome back

T.J. Watt got his first full sack since the season opener when he dropped third-string quarterback Anthony Brown for a 4-yard loss late in the third quarter. The Steelers finished with two sacks, which has been about their average for a game this season.

The numbers weren’t better because, well, the Ravens didn’t provide many opportunities to rush the passer. When you run 42 times and gain 215 yards, there isn’t much reason to throw the ball and put your quarterback at risk of being sacked. Tyler Huntley and Brown dropped back just 19 times in the game.

5. Best of the best

When Boswell received his four-year, $20 million contract during training camp, it briefly tied him with Justin Tucker as the league’s highest-paid place kicker. A few days later, Tucker reset the bar with a four-year, $24 million deal.

Against the Steelers, Tucker showed again why he’s in a league of his own. Tucker made field goals of 42, 35 and 30 yards to remain perfect on kicks attempted from inside 50 yards. Another factor that makes Tucker the best is reliability. He has yet to miss a game due to injury in his 11-year career.

Boswell, of course, was returning from a five-game absence because of a groin injury. His only field goal attempt, from 40 yards, was blocked by Calais Campbell. It was his fourth miss from inside 50 this year.