Steelers' have NFL's best ball-control offense heading into AFC North test against Ravens

For obvious reasons, the Pittsburgh Steelers wouldn’t mind getting off to the same kind of start Sunday in Baltimore that they did in Week 7 at Tennessee.

Not just jumping to a 14-0 lead after two possessions or building a 24-7 advantage at halftime.

But also methodically moving the ball down the field, exhausting time off the clock, converting third downs and keeping Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson from entering the game.

After all, the defending NFL MVP can’t extend plays with long runs and create havoc for defenses with his decision making if he can’t get onto the field.

“When you have an offense as good as Baltimore’s with a player as dynamic as him and a lot of guys on offense, you have to try to keep them on the sideline,” quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said Wednesday. “We were able to do that early in the game last week.”

Facing the 5-0 Titans and NFL rushing leader Derrick Henry, the Steelers began with a quick ball-control passing game that included throws on the first eight plays. This was part of a 16-play, 75-yard touchdown march that consumed 9 minutes, 18 seconds and resulted in a 7-0 lead that the Steelers never relinquished.

The second drive lasted 13 plays, covered 61 yards and resulted in another touchdown after lasting 7:05.

It wasn’t until 12:16 remaining in the first half that the Titans got the ball for a second time, and they were staring at a 14-0 deficit.

The Steelers also had a fourth-quarter drive that didn’t result in any points but consumed 16 plays, 7:38 and began at one 9 and ended at the other. Until he threw an interception in the end zone, Roethlisberger was adept at extending the drive with his array of short passes.

“We wanted to possess the ball,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “There are so many ways you can possess the ball – short passes, high-completion percentages allow you to do that along with running it.”

The Steelers possessed the ball for 36:37 – or nearly 14 minutes more than the Titans, who ran 18 fewer plays. Yet, it didn’t represent a season high for the Steelers, who kept the ball for 36:51 in Week 3 against the Houston Texans.

In five of the six games this season, the Steelers have possessed the ball longer than their opponent and the one time they fell short the Steelers still kept it for 29:29. They lead the NFL by possessing the ball for nearly 34 minutes (33:55) each game.

Last year, while playing without Roethlisberger for the final 14 games, the Steelers had an edge in time of possession just six times.

“I can’t say enough about all parties involved from that standpoint,” Tomlin said. “Ben with his accurate throws and decision making, the protection and can’t say enough about the receivers in some instances making combat catches and run after (the catch) – things of that nature, things we need to do collectively well in an effort to be good offensively in this league.”

Converting third downs typically goes hand in hand with lengthy possession times, and the Steelers were successful on 13 of 18 tries against the Titans and rank third in the NFL by converting 51.1% of all third downs.

“They are executing,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “They are protecting the quarterback, and they are executing. They are making throws, they are making catches, they are scheming to get guys open. The handle pressure well, and they are executing on third downs, and that’s why those drives are being extended.”

The 5-1 Ravens now possess the NFL’s top rushing game, with Jackson leading all quarterbacks with 346 yards and leading all runners by averaging 6.9 yards per carry.

“We will have to do everything we can because this is a good football team,” Roethlisberger said, “one of the best in the league.”

Defensively, the Ravens — to no surprise — are a step up in class from the Titans, who rank No. 26 and are the worst NFL team on third downs. With a No. 9 ranking, the Ravens lead the NFL with 12 forced fumbles, nine recoveries and are sixth in opposing third-down percentage. Teams have converted 34.67% of third downs against the Ravens and just 24.4% in the three games since their only loss, 34-20, to the Kansas City Chiefs.

“We hope to drive down every time and put points on the board,” wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster said. “It’s mainly staying positive. We want to come out in the first half and dominate and then come out in the second half and keep dominating and never let up.”