Playoff football, baby. Playoff football. Football is hard enough as it is, but the playoffs are a whole different beast. What better way to cap off the Wild Card action this Saturday night than with what we hope to be another classic game between division rivals, as the Pittsburgh Steelers travel to take on the Baltimore Ravens?
The Steelers have struggled to the finish line here, losing four straight games. Meanwhile, the Ravens are hitting their stride in that exact same span. What are our favorite game lines and player props for this Wild Card showdown?
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens Player Props and Game Lines
Note: All lines are from DraftKings, and are taken at the time the article was published. Odds are subject to change after the article is published.
Remember, for lines above -150, we generally don’t take these straight up (odds are too high), but we like to mix these into two or three-leg parlays. Also, in the same light, it’s worth noting that if you like several of these lines, it could be worth teasing them down a bit before combining them if you’re building a parlay.
Ravens -8.5 (-112)
We know it, you know it, and Lamar Jackson knows it. It’s time to officially put an end to the narrative that the Steelers are the kryptonite to Jackson and the Ravens. After all, the last time these two teams met, he toasted the Steelers in a 34-17 drubbing.
As mentioned, Pittsburgh has lost four straight games and didn’t score more than 17 points in any of them. Baltimore, meanwhile, has scored 31+ in each of its last four games.
We get that it’s a division rivalry, but these two rosters are just not comparable. We like the Ravens to put an end to the Russel Wilson era in Pittsburgh.
Pat Freiermuth | Over 40 Receiving Yards (-110)
Pat Freiermuth may be the best and most consistent pass catcher on the Steelers’ roster. This comes as a bit of a surprise, given Wilson’s prowess at passing deep and to the outside. Yet, Freiermuth has caught a career-high 65 passes on just 78 targets this season.
Freiermuth has gone over 40 yards receiving in five of his last seven outings, hitting his season high and more than doubling that mark with 85 receiving yards just last week. If the Steelers want to keep up with the Ravens in any way, shape, or form — they’re going to need Freiermuth to step up in a big way.
Isaiah Likely | Over 2.5 Receptions (-145)
The 24-year-old Isaiah Likely has caught seven of eight targets for 104 yards and a score against Pittsburgh this season on just 35 routes. That’s a tiny sample, but Likely’s 56.9% snap share and 20.5% on-field target share at least have my interest in this specific matchup.
We know the TE position has touchdown equity, given Mark Andrews’ success, and I don’t think the market is properly valuing Likely’s potential to walk into an advantageous role. Given Baltimore’s potential to win multiple games, this is a path I’m interested in taking for postseason-long formats.
In addition, Baltimore is without its top pass catcher, Zay Flowers. This bodes well for Likely and the potential for the Ravens to attack Pittsburgh with two-TE sets.
George Pickens | Over 3.5 Receptions (-165)
Similar to how we talked about Freiermuth, if the Steelers want to win this game, they’ll need to find a way to get the ball to their best offensive players. And for better or worse, George Pickens is the best option Pittsburgh has for a dynamic play.
Pickens has 3.5+ catches in more than half of his games this season, and in his last game against the Ravens, he totaled eight receptions on 12 targets for 89 yards.
Baltimore’s defense is no joke, ranking eighth in the NFL according to our Defense+ metrics, which is exactly why the Steelers will need Pickens to reel in more than three balls to stay competitive.
Lamar Jackson | 2+ Passing TDs (-140)
According to our QB+ metrics, Jackson is the top-ranked quarterback in the NFL. Boasting 41 touchdown passes and just four interceptions, he has multiple passing scores in 12 of his last 14 games.
To say he’s been “hot” would be the understatement of the year. On top of this, Pittsburgh’s defense is actually one of the worst in the league, according to our Defense+ metrics, with a season grade of D+ (25th overall).
Coming off four straight losses to the Eagles, Ravens, Chiefs, and Bengals, respectively, the Steelers have proven their vulnerability against top talent. Look for Jackson to make a statement in this matchup.