Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey Opens Up About Painful Steelers Loss Streak

The battle for the AFC North is heating up as the Baltimore Ravens prepare to face their fierce division rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, on Saturday afternoon. With playoff implications on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher for both teams. A victory for the Steelers will clinch the division title, securing their spot at the top of the AFC North with two weeks left in the regular season.

However, the Ravens are on a mission to break a painful streak against the Steelers, having lost eight of the last nine matchups, including each of the past four. Baltimore’s cornerback, Marlon Humphrey, expressed his frustration and determination ahead of the game, emphasizing how much this rivalry means to the team.

The Sting of Repeated Losses

The Ravens have been plagued by close losses to the Steelers, with each of the eight defeats in the last nine games being decided by seven points or fewer. Humphrey admitted that this record “bothers” him, especially considering how competitive these matchups have been.

“I didn’t know that it was eight out of the last nine until the last game, but it bothers me,” Humphrey said during a team interview. “When I found out, it was surprising, but I know the guys in the locker room, we want to win this rivalry. Eight out of the last nine [games] — it’s not a good number at all.”

This desire to break the streak is a sentiment shared by many in the Ravens’ locker room, and it’s clear that they’re preparing for a physical, no-holds-barred contest. Humphrey added, “The focus has to be at a premium this week, and it’s going to take a lot to get that back on our side, but you want to be able to beat your rival.”

Key Factors in Past Losses

The Ravens’ struggles against the Steelers have often come down to small, self-inflicted mistakes. In their narrow 18-16 loss to Pittsburgh in Week 11, Baltimore committed three turnovers, missed two field goals, and accumulated 12 penalties. Though the Ravens scored with just over a minute left in regulation, their failed two-point conversion attempt ultimately sealed their fate.

Humphrey is acutely aware that these critical errors have been a recurring theme in the team’s losses to Pittsburgh. “I feel as though it’s kind of been more of them having better success,” he reflected. “There’s been a lot of different things that just seems like it hasn’t gone our way. But it’s not like ‘Oh, we were just unlucky.’ You got to play disciplined football.”

Discipline and Focus are Key

One of the challenges the Ravens have faced in recent matchups against the Steelers is maintaining discipline throughout the entire game. From penalties to missed opportunities, Baltimore’s lack of consistency has allowed Pittsburgh to capitalize on their mistakes. Humphrey stressed that moving forward, the team must be more disciplined to avoid falling into the same traps.

“I think [Steelers head coach Mike] Tomlin wants to just keep the game close, keep the game close and then win it at the end,” Humphrey explained. “And honestly, that strategy works pretty well when they play us.” This “keep it close” strategy has been effective for the Steelers, especially given their ability to close out games in the final moments.

Humphrey also acknowledged the toughness and resilience of the Steelers, which has been a defining feature of their rivalry. “There’s a lot of teams out there that you can say, ‘They weren’t really tough. They didn’t really bring it.’ That’s one thing that I love about the rivalry — there’s not a lot of fare dodging.” He knows the Steelers will come prepared, running the ball and taking their shots downfield, and the Ravens must match that intensity.

A Close Game is Expected

Both teams have a history of playing tight, hard-fought games, and Saturday’s matchup is expected to be no different. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin boasts a 21-15 record against Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, including playoff games. Of their 36 meetings, 28 have been decided by just one score, underscoring how closely matched these teams are.

This rivalry is so intense that Tomlin and Harbaugh’s 36 career matchups are the second-most in NFL history between two head coaches, surpassed only by Curly Lambeau and George Halas, who faced off 49 times from 1921 to 1928. The historic nature of the rivalry adds an extra layer of excitement to this must-watch game.