Ravens @ Steelers Film Room - Cam Heyward & Calvin Austin III
Screenshot via NFL+
At 36 years old, I feel confident in saying that Cameron Heyward is the best interior defensive lineman in the National Football League right now; certainly against the run. Let this season, and really his body of work as a whole, be a lesson to fans of the Steelers to keep their contract opinions to themselves. I’m not sure we’re AFC North Champions this season if not for his contributions.
Derrick Henry ran for 126 yards on Sunday, for an average of 6.3 yards per carry, so I’m going to refrain from saying that we shut down their run game - that’s simply not true. Henry was able to break a few against us, including a 47 yard run on the first play of the game, but we were able to do enough on early downs to get them off schedule at times, which was massive for getting our defense off the field. You’ll live with Derrick Henry breaking one every once in a while if you’re consistently stopping him for three-or-less yards, and we were able to do that pretty often.
Cam Heyward (#97) played a MASSIVE role in that, seemingly winning his rep on every single running play in this game. In the play above, we can see him working against Ravens LT Ronnie Stanley, simply walking him down the line of scrimmage, waiting on Derrick Henry to pick his hole so Heyward can make the stop. He does a really awesome job of using Stanley’s own momentum against him to shed the block and make the stop. An ageless wonder.
Andrew Vorhees vs. Cam Heyward is a straight-up mismatch. The play above comes on 2nd & 10, midway through the third quarter. Lamar Jackson is targeting Mark Andrews (#89), but Heyward wins easily on his bull rush and is able to hit Lamar as he throws, forcing an incompletion. Andrews comes open, but even if the ball gets there, there would’ve been a flag thrown for the pick that happens in the clip. Still, I love the QB hit to force a 3rd & long on the next play, which ended up being the T.J. Watt interception. That was a significant stand by our defense with the game tied, giving us an opportunity to take our first lead, which we did.
Like I said, Heyward seemingly wins every single rep against the run, even this one (above) where he initially gets pushed back a little bit. That doesn’t matter, though - he just keeps his head up and stays with the play. Obviously, Alex Highsmith (#56) is the one that makes the stop here, but I still wanted to include this play, because what if Highsmith wasn’t there? That play is still going for a one-yard loss either way, in my opinion. Once again, good things happen when you can get the Baltimore Ravens off schedule - this play happened on 1st & 10, and the Ravens punted three plays later.
I really just wanted to write this post to shahtaht Cam Heyward’s super human effort from Sunday, but I fear I didn’t show enough love to Calvin Austin III in my Ravens/Steelers recap. He finished this game with 3 receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown, the game-winning touchdown, and his first since week 3 in New England. Obviously, it couldn’t have come at a better time, but that probably goes without saying. No DK Metcalf, and you’re the only guy on the team that can separate…what’re you gonna do? - He waited for the biggest moment in the game, and put Chidobe Awuzie on a t-shirt. Any time you see a DB with both hands and both feet on the grass at the same time, you know that something disastrous has happened.
I’m just so happy for Calvin. I’ve been saying all season long that he’s the best route runner on this team (including DK), and for the nation to see that on display in that moment like that is just awesome. Probably the biggest catch of that dude’s life. Optically, CAIII has had some tough moments this season, but what a way to cap it off. Good night, Baltimore. We’re on to the Wild Card Round.
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