5 things we learned: Let the scoreboard watching begin for Steelers

Five things we learned from Steelers 17, Ravens 10:

1. Scoreboard watching

Steeler Nation rightfully will have its eyes fixed on the 1 p.m. game between Jacksonville and Tennessee. A Jacksonville victory means the Steelers will have to wait until the outcome of the Buffalo-Miami game Sunday night to see whether they are going to the postseason or staying home for the rest of the winter.

A Jacksonville victory means the Steelers will open the playoffs in Miami provided the Dolphins take care of the Bills. A Jacksonville loss guarantees the Steelers a playoff berth. It’s just a matter of whether they would be the No. 6 or No. 7 seed.

In that event:

• A Buffalo victory at Miami would send the Steelers to Orchard Park, N.Y. for the wild-card round against the Bills.

• A Buffalo loss would send the Steelers to Kansas City and a date with the Chiefs and Taylor Swift as the No. 6 seed.

2. Causing a Rowe

Eric Rowe’s forced fumble midway through the fourth quarter paved the way for the Steelers to run down the clock and get a 25-yard field goal from Chris Boswell that gave them a 17-7 lead.

Rowe also led the Steelers with 12 tackles, including 10 solo stops. And he did it despite leaving for a portion of the game with a neck injury.

Related:

• Steelers hold on against Ravens, hope for help to reach playoffs
• Feats of strength: Mason Rudolph, Diontae Johnson help Steelers outlast Ravens
• 'It's not up to us': Steelers' playoff fate in hands of AFC foes on final day of regular season
• Steelers lean on Naje Harris, running game in win at Ravens

Not a bad day’s work for a veteran who was unemployed until the Steelers signed him to the practice squad Nov. 20. Until Minkah Fitzpatrick injured his knee at Indianapolis and Damontae Kazee was suspended for the rest of the season for a hit in that game, Rowe was a bystander on game days.

Since then, he has started the past three games and led the Steelers in tackles or finished second in all three instances. Fitzpatrick could return if the Steelers make the postseason, and Kazee would be eligible to play in that case. Still, it will be difficult for Kazee to unseat Rowe in the lineup based on what has transpired the past three weeks.

3. Elemental play

Mindful of the weather conditions they would face, the Steelers prepared a game plan that heavily featured the running game. With rain falling the entire game, the Steelers didn’t deviate from the script, and it turned out to be a smart decision even though they fumbled six times, losing two.

Najee Harris carried 26 times for 112 yards, and the Steelers called 39 running plays as opposed to 20 passes. Most of those throws were conservative, too.

The Steelers showed their intentions on their second possession when they embarked on a 12-play, 76-yard touchdown drive. The Steelers ran the ball 10 times for 69 yards, with Harris finishing it off with a 6-yard touchdown run.

Overall, the Steelers totaled 155 rushing yards, marking the seventh time in the past 10 games they rushed for at least 130. In the first seven games of the season, the Steelers never rushed for more 114 in a game and reached triple digits just twice.

4. Much ado about Mason

By completing 18 of 20 passes, Mason Rudolph set the franchise single-game completion percentage record at 90 (minimum 20 attempts). Rudolph also has two of the three highest completion percentage games in Steelers history. He completed 85.7% of his throws (24 of 28) against Cincinnati on Sept. 30, 2019.

In three starts, Rudolph has recorded a passer rating of 112 or higher. That hasn’t happened for the Steelers since 2014 when Roethlisberger had a sizzling three-game stretch in which he threw 14 touchdown passes and no interceptions in wins against Houston, Indianapolis and Baltimore.

5. On the mark

Inside linebacker Mark Robinson was on the field for just 13 defensive snaps. He made the most of them.

Robinson had his first career sack when he brought down Tyler Huntley for an 8-yard loss in the second quarter. On the previous Ravens possession, he knocked the ball from running back Melvin Gordon III’s grasp. Larry Ogunjobi recovered the loose ball.

Despite his limited playing time, Robinson finished with five tackles, which ranked third on the team.