3 Takeaways from Steelers' Week 14 Loss vs. Ravens

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a prime opportunity to steal a win from the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, but they couldn't take advantage.

With Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (knee) out, Baltimore was vulnerable to an upset. Unfortunately, Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett suffered an injury of his own, exiting the contest in the concussion protocol.

Pittsburgh held Baltimore to just 16 points, but with Pickett sidelined, the Steelers couldn't muster enough offense to pull ahead. A blocked field goal in the fourth quarter didn't help matters and ultimately made the difference.

With the loss, the Steelers fall to 5-8 and, most likely, out of playoff contention. Here are our three biggest takeaways from Pittsburgh's 16-14 loss to the Ravens in Week 14.

The Steelers came into Sunday on a two-game winning streak and having won three of their last four. The emergence of Pickett was clearly a driving force behind that successful run.

Last week against the Atlanta Falcons, for example, the rookie threw for 197 yards and a touchdown. Those obviously aren't impressive numbers, but Pickett had been protecting the football and helping to open up the running game.

Pittsburgh topped 150 rushing yards in each of its last three victories.

With Mitch Trubisky in the lineup, the Steelers could neither protect the football nor move it on the ground. Najee Harris (2.8 yards per carry) struggled as he did early in the season, and the Steelers rushed for only 65 yards as a team.

Trubisky threw three interceptions, all of them coming in Ravens territory and two of them coming inside the 25-yard line.

While Trubisky did lead a pair of touchdown drives, his mistakes were backbreaking. Pickett might not push the ball down the field consistently, but he does enough to keep defenses honest. More importantly, Pickett hadn't thrown a pick since Week 8.

Teams are willing to let Trubisky try beating them because he'll do what he did on Sunday—cost the Steelers games.

Of course, Trubisky didn't lose this game on his own. Pittsburgh's defense deserves its fair share of the blame.

The Steelers defense has been pretty bad all season, particularly against the pass, but it has done a relatively solid job against the run. Coming into Week 14, Pittsburgh ranked 28th in yards per pass play allowed (6.9) but sixth in yards per carry surrendered (4.1).

This was a dramatic difference from last season, when the Steelers ranked 13th in passing yards and yards per attempt allowed but dead-last in run defense.

This was a good time for Pittsburgh's problematic run defense to return. The Ravens got just 88 passing yards out of backup quarterback Tyler Huntley and 16 passing yards out of third-stringer Anthony Brown—who came in after Huntley suffered a concussion of his own.

Unfortunately, Baltimore largely had its way with Pittsburgh on the ground. J.K. Dobbins averaged a ridiculous 8.0 yards per carry while rumbling for 120 yards, As a team, the Ravens rushed for 215 and 5.1 yards per rush.

Had the Steelers done even a marginal job of slowing Baltimore's ground game, they may have won this game and kept their fading playoff hopes alive.

The Steelers have a better chance of winning games with Pickett than with Trubisky. However, winning may not mean much with a month to play. Making the postseason is highly unlikely, and Mike Tomlin's impressive coaching streak is the only thing truly in jeopardy now.

Tomlin has never coached the Steelers to a losing season. That's a remarkable feat, considering Tomlin took over in 2007. However, that's not enough of a reason to risk Pickett's health.

Pickett took a scary-looking hit from Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith, and though he briefly returned, he was eventually placed in the protocol.

"I think you know when he became symptomatic, he was pulled from the game and evaluated for a concussion," Tomlin told reporters after the game. "I don't know the sequence or details regarding the sequence."

This marks the second time Pickett has exited a game in the concussion protocol, after he did the same against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Concussions must be taken seriously, and the Steelers must at least consider shutting Pickett down for the season.

Pickett has looked, at times, like he can be Pittsburgh's long-term answer at quarterback. The Steelers would be unwise to risk his career, and more importantly, his long-term well-being, by exposing him to a third head injury in as many months.

With little to play for and a shaky offensive line, Pickett should be given time to rest and prepare for the 2023 season—even if that likely means picking up more losses with Trubisky.