Welcome back to BTSC’s “One random Steelers play” series. (Here’s the first edition if you’d like a reminder of how this works).

The TL:DR? We’re using a random number generator to find a singular play from the Steelers’ 2024, then using it as an excuse to talk about last season and some general football insights in this dead part of the summer.

This time, the random number generator chose Week 16 and play 137 of the Steelers’ Dec. 21 34-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

That play happened to be the Ravens gaining one yard on a fourth-quarter, third-and-one tight end sneak to Mark Andrews. The short-yardage sneak is one of the more straightforward plays in football, and there wasn’t much to discuss.

So instead, I decided to exercise my right to quality control and skip forward one snap to the 138th play of the game. This one also wasn’t a good result for the Steelers, but at least it was interesting…

The context: Ravens ball on the Steelers 28-yard line. Baltimore is up 31-17 with 5:19 left in the fourth quarter. It’s first and 10.

Here’s the play:

As always, let’s start by hitting pause pre-snap:

In 12 personnel (two tight ends, one running back) and up two scores late in the fourth quarter, it’s pretty clear right off the bat that the Ravens are focusing on the run game. And the Steelers seem aware, with four defensive linemen on the field to go along with four linebackers.

Six defenders are at the line of scrimmage, with eight in the box — one more than the number of Ravens blockers.

While Dean Lowry, Montravius Adams, and Cam Heyward are in three- or four-point stances, Isaiahh Loudermilk is lined up as a 5-tech in a two-point stance, poised to help Alex Highsmith hold the edge on the left side of the formation.

You can see the middle linebackers, Patrick Queen and run-stuffer Elandon Roberts, shading the other side of the formation to help out Nick Herbig.

And while this is a run play, there’s a cool quirk in coverage from the Steelers here. Cory Trice Jr., the left side cornerback, follows Zay Flowers’ motion across the formation in what looks like he’s mirroring his assignment in man coverage.

However, he and Minkah Fitzpatrick simply switch spots on the field, with Trice taking over middle-field free safety duties to keep the cover-3 shell.

Now for the actual play.

The play side of the Steelers defense does a good job walling off what looks like left outside zone for the Ravens. Cam Heyward powers through a one-on-one block. Loudermilk and Highsmith win outside. Roberts flows over to help.

Pittsburgh pushes the line of scrimmage back. But look at Derrick Henry’s feet the moment after he gets the ball:

He’s already heading towards the cutback lane on the right side of the line — something he and the Ravens probably knew would happen before the play even started given the Steelers’ pre-snap alignment.

Baltimore’s play design also helps out Henry here. The Ravens have three receivers running towards the numbers on the right side of the field, pulling Trice, outside cornerback James Pierre — and most importantly, Patrick Queen — away from the play.

With Queen out of the way, the Steelers now have fewer defenders left in the box to stop the cutback. Nose tackle Montravius Adams, combo-blocked and flowing left, has no chance at getting to the ball. Roberts, who helped cut off the initial angle of the run, can’t get across traffic in time. Only Nick Herbig and Dean Lowry have a real shot at Henry.

But Herbig, on a beeline for Lamar Jackson, is too far wide to make it to Henry in time. While not ideal, it’s not a horrible rep — it just shows how the gravity of Jackson’s talent as a runner opens up opportunities for the rest of his offense.

Lowry, lined up at 4i, is the most to blame. Left one-on-one with Ravens right tackle Roger Rosengarten, he only works off the one-armed block once Henry already has a full head of steam down the field.

Like last time, while the Steelers certainly had a chance at stopping the play (more on that later), it’s also a great play call by the opposition. By sending blockers towards the left sideline and receivers towards the right, the Ravens spread out the Steeler defense and get a gaping hole between the hashes to run through. If Rosengarten wins against Lowry, it doesn’t take much to spring a chunk play.

The Ravens gain 13 yards before the Pittsburgh defensive backs bring Henry down.

What’s interesting is that the Ravens try a near-identical play on the next snap (yep, you’re hearing about THREE plays in this edition of “One random Steelers play). This next snap serves as an alternate reality of what could’ve happened on the first play had the Pittsburgh defense done a better job.

Herbig, having learned his lesson, quickly reacts to Henry’s cutback. Isaiahh Loudermilk doesn’t lose as much ground to Rosengarten and is able to disengage from the block. Elandon Roberts doesn’t over-pursue, and the three defenders converge on Henry, who gains just one yard.

The Baltimore drive would eventually stall, but it ended with a field goal. The Ravens would win 34-17.