The Pittsburgh Steelers are 2-2 through the first four weeks of the 2023 NFL season, which means they’re currently in the race for the playoffs. However, they will face a stiff test on Sunday when they host the 3-1 Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens are looking like dark-horse Super Bowl contenders, especially after they dismantled the Cleveland Browns, a team with a strong defense, 28-3 in Week 4. Quarterback Lamar Jackson looks revitalized after his protracted contract dispute and rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers is blossoming into a stud.
So far this season, Flowers has put up 244 receiving yards, and he has given what was a very weak Ravens passing attack last year some much-needed oomph.
Veteran Pittsburgh cornerback Patrick Peterson praised Flowers ahead of his team’s Week 5 matchup with Baltimore, but he still managed to throw a bit of shade at the wideout.
Zay Flowers may be just 5-foot-10 and about 170 pounds, but he is looking like he will be a Pro Bowler in the near future. The No. 22 pick in April’s draft, he posted 1,077 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns last year while at Boston College, and he reportedly ran the 40-yard dash in just over 4.4 seconds at the draft combine.
The Fort Lauderdale, Fla. native is currently on pace to surpass the 1,000-yard mark by the end of the regular season. In 2022, Baltimore didn’t have a single wide receiver who reached 500 yards, and it was therefore heavily dependent on Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews, who clocked in at 847 yards and five touchdowns.
Even though it has a .500 record, Pittsburgh has been struggling in multiple facets of the game, including pass defense. It has allowed 30 points twice already this year, and it gave him 30 points and 312 passing yards to the rebuilding Houston Texans last weekend.
It will be fun to watch the Patrick Peterson vs. Zay Flowers matchup this week when the Steelers and Ravens face off.
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