NFL Week 12: Trends which will decide each game

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JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 22: Chase Claypool #11 and JuJu Smith-Schuster #19 of the Pittsburgh Steelers react after Claypool’s touchdown during the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on November 22, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Baltimore Ravens (6-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-0), 1:15 pm

Ravens: Due to some COVID-19 issues, the league opted to move this game from Thanksgiving night to Sunday afternoon. And as of this writing (via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo), the slumping Ravens will be without running backs Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins for this rematch. When the team met earlier this year, Baltimore rolled up 265 yards on the ground but could not protect a 17-7 halftime lead. These days, it’s the Ravens’ run defense that is cause for concern. The club has dropped consecutive games to the Patriots and Titans (the latter in overtime) and in each setback Baltimore defenders permitted 173 rushing yards. Baltimore is 1-3 since opening the year at 5-1.

Steelers: The club looks to sweep the rival Ravens for the second time in four years. Of course, Mike Tomlin’s club is also off to the best start in the franchise’s 82-year history. A team that owned a combined 17-14-1 mark the previous two seasons has already won 10 games. The defense has taken advantage of struggling clubs in their last three outings. In the wins over the Cowboys, Bengals and Jaguars, the team has allowed a combined 32 points, has totaled eight sacks and eight takeaways. And after 11 weeks of play, the Steelers rank fourth in the league in total defense, are allowing a NFL-low 17.4 points per contest and lead the league with 38 sacks and 21 takeaways.

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