Pittsburgh Review

In the 1980s and early 1990s, the Detroit Pistons famously implemented the "Jordan Rules" to counter Michael Jordan's prowess on the court. This physical strategy was designed to disrupt Jordan's game and was notably effective in his early career. The Pistons managed to eliminate the Bulls from the playoffs for three consecutive seasons until 1991 when Jordan and his team finally overcame them.

This historical reference draws a parallel with how the Pittsburgh Steelers have managed to handle Lamar Jackson, a two-time MVP, during his young career. Jackson has struggled against the Steelers, with a record of 1-4 in five starts, throwing five touchdown passes and eight interceptions. His passer rating against Pittsburgh stands at 66.7 compared to a significantly higher 104.1 against other teams.

Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward acknowledged Jackson's talent: "Lamar is the most electric guy in the league right now." The Steelers' success might be attributed to their ability to pressure Jackson effectively without relying heavily on blitzing, as he excels when blitzed but struggles under pressure.

T.J. Watt plays a crucial role in this strategy with his impressive sack record against Jackson and other opponents. Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin emphasized tackling as a key component in limiting big plays by Jackson: "We did a really good job in terms of eliminating a lot of really big plays."

The Steelers also focus on controlling Ravens tight end Mark Andrews, who has yet to score against them despite being Baltimore's top red-zone target. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick often matches up against Andrews, neutralizing one of Jackson's favorite options.

On offense, Pittsburgh has faced challenges without George Pickens due to injury but found success with Calvin Austin III stepping up in his absence. Austin has shown significant improvement this season with increased receptions and yardage.

The upcoming game between long-standing rivals Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh will mark their 37th meeting as head coaches, adding another chapter to this storied rivalry.