Steelers' Mike Tomlin looking for right 'answer' to stopping Ravens QB Lamar Jackson

Sure, the Pittsburgh Steelers confused and harassed Lamar Jackson into his worst individual performance of an MVP season in 2019.

Just don’t ask coach Mike Tomlin about the secret to keeping the Baltimore Ravens quarterback in check.

“I wish I had an answer to that,” Tomlin said Tuesday. “I think I wish the National Football League had an answer to that.”

Mindful that Jackson led the Ravens to a 26-23 overtime victory last year despite throwing three interceptions and being sacked five times, Tomlin doesn’t consider what the Steelers accomplished at holding the quarterback “in check.”

He also doesn’t like that phrase.

“ ‘In check’ is a strong term, one I choose not to use,” he said. “We’re just going to play to our best abilities, play within our personality. We need to be on our details. We need to play fast and play collectively together and, hopefully, that is enough.”

It wasn’t enough last October when Jackson threw half of his 2019 interceptions against the Steelers. The five sacks also were the most any team got against Jackson, who was brought down only eight more times in his final 10 starts en route to the Ravens earning the top seed in the AFC.

Jackson completed 19 of 28 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown in that matchup. He also rushed 14 times for another 70 yards and brought the Ravens back from a pair of three-point deficits in the fourth quarter.

With injured inside linebacker Devin Bush no longer available to “spy” on Jackson, the Steelers will have to adjust their blueprint for dealing with Jackson.

“We are just going to work to win this game and look at what he is doing right now and how he’s utilizing his skills and talents and the people at his disposal in an effort to win,” Tomlin said. “Each week is different. It may be the same guy. We might have different challenges the next time we play him.

“That’s just how these things evolve and go over the course of the season. Sure, there are some lessons to be learned. There’s some things to look back at, but we better be prepared for what he is doing and doing in the present.”

It is Jackson’s ability to extend plays with his feet that helped him earn the NFL MVP honor last year and get the Ravens off to a 5-1 start this season.

Jackson has gained 346 yards on 50 carries, maintaining a 6.9 average yards per carry that he amassed last year when he rushed for 1,206 yards. When the Ravens held off the Philadelphia Eagles, 30-28, in their most recent game, Jackson ran nine times for 108 yards and a touchdown.

Jackson complements a running game that includes Mark Ingram, Gus Edwards and rookie J.K. Dobbins. Together, they have helped the Ravens average 164.3 rushing yards and 5.4 yards per carry, both tops in the NFL.

“They have some designed runs,” Tomlin said. “(Jackson) can also get you by scramble or improv. They have quality backs, man. … They utilize all three. They utilize Lamar. They’re a tough nut to crack.”