Dowdle rushes for 165 yards, 2 TDs as Steelers win fifth straight

Pittsburgh, PA - Rico Dowdle rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns, giving the Pittsburgh Steelers the defining individual performance in a 27-24 victory over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 15.

Pittsburgh entered the game with four consecutive wins after a 6-7 start. The Steelers extended that run to five and moved back to .500 by leaning on a rushing attack that produced 215 yards. Baltimore, which arrived at 9-4 and riding a two-game winning streak, finished with 64 yards on the ground.

Dowdle carried 23 times, the most rushing attempts by any player in the game, and averaged more than seven yards per attempt. His 45-yard run was also the game's longest. The two rushing scores accounted for half of his season-shaping afternoon in a performance that gave Pittsburgh its clearest statistical edge.

"When you get that many opportunities, you want to make every one count," Dowdle said. "There were yards available, and my job was to run with purpose and finish every carry. The biggest thing is that we got another win."

The Steelers finished with 374 offensive yards, 76 more than Baltimore, and recorded 23 first downs to the Ravens' 13. Their advantage was concentrated on the ground: Pittsburgh had 215 rushing yards compared with Baltimore's 64, while the Ravens held a 234-159 edge in team passing yards.

Aaron Rodgers completed 20 of 31 passes for 174 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His passer rating was 76.5, and his longest completion covered 30 yards. Jaylen Warren was Pittsburgh's leading receiver with nine catches for 58 yards and a touchdown while adding 39 rushing yards on eight carries.

"It wasn't a perfect passing day, and I'd like to have the turnover back," Rodgers said. "But we had production in different areas, Rico had a tremendous number on the ground, and Jaylen gave us a lot as a receiver. Winning five in a row says a lot about how the results have changed for us."

Pittsburgh reached the red zone five times, scoring two touchdowns and making two field goals. Third down was one of the Steelers' weaker categories, as they converted only 3 of 13 attempts, but they went 2-for-3 on fourth down.

Baltimore's offense was driven by Lamar Jackson's passing. Jackson completed 17 of 27 attempts for a game-high 253 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, producing a 115.2 passer rating. He also tied for the team lead with 28 rushing yards on seven carries.

Ja’Kobi Lane delivered the game's leading receiving performance, catching five passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns. His 40-yard reception was the longest catch of the game and matched Jackson's game-long completion. Rashod Bateman added four receptions for 58 yards and another touchdown, giving Jackson two productive scoring targets.

"We had good production throwing the football, but the result is what stays with you," Jackson said. "Three touchdown passes are fine, but the interception matters too. In a three-point game, you look at everything and know there were areas where we needed to be better."

The Ravens made two touchdowns on three red-zone trips and converted 4 of 10 third-down attempts. Both defenses finished with three sacks and one interception, leaving the turnover totals even in those categories despite the teams reaching their offensive production in markedly different ways.

For Pittsburgh, the result continued a sharp change in direction. The Steelers have followed a 6-7 start with five straight victories, and Dowdle's 165-yard performance supplied the statistical centerpiece of the latest one. Baltimore fell to 9-5 after its two-game winning streak ended.

Up Next

The Pittsburgh Steelers will remain home in Week 16 to face the Carolina Panthers and look to extend their winning streak, while the Baltimore Ravens return home seeking a rebound against the Cleveland Browns.