Five things we learned from Ravens 28 and Steelers 14:

1. Idle

Fifty years ago, the Steelers posted the greatest run-stopping performance in NFL history when they held the Minnesota Vikings to 17 yards rushing on 21 carries en route to a 16-6 victory in Super Bowl IX.

Imagine what Joe Greene, Jack Ham, Jack Lambert, Donnie Shell and Mel Blount must have thought as they watched Saturday’s events at M&T Bank Stadium.

The Steelers allowed the most postseason rushing yards in their proud history, giving up 299 to Derrick Henry, Lamar Jackson and Co. It would have been a decent 300 if Jackson hadn’t kneeled for a one-yard loss on the final play.

What made the defensive performance so difficult to watch was that the Steelers knew exactly what the Ravens were going to do and they were unable to stop it. They tried to focus on stopping one of the Ravens’ dynamic duos, but couldn’t keep it from looking easy against the defense.

For a franchise that once prided itself on stopping the run, it was unsettling to see Henry gain 157 of his 186 yards after contact, according to Next Gen Stats. According to NFL statistics, the Steelers had 12 missed tackles to bring down Henry.

Worse, the Steelers seemed to get back into the game when they scored a touchdown in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 21-7. The Ravens needed just four plays to restore the 21-point lead, with Henry breaking free for a 44-yard score.

2. Changes in advance

Cameron Heyward proved the doubters wrong when he was named to the first-team All-Pro list at age 35. This came after he received a contract extension that was a mystery at the time given his age and injuries in the 2023 season.

Heyward could have sat out the second half after he was diagnosed with a concussion following a blow to the head before half-time. Not only did Heyward return, he finished the game with ten tackles, including two for a loss.

The problem for the Steelers is that they barely support Heyward on defense. It’s time for the Steelers to rebuild the defensive line the way they’ve tried to rebuild the offensive line in recent seasons. Keeanu Benton is a nice addition, but the Steelers need to get younger up front. They found a potential Hall of Fame player in Heyward in the 2011 draft. They must use their draft capital to find new capital in 2025.

3rd field day

So much for leaving no stone unturned on the offensive. The Steelers reportedly had several packages on offer for backup quarterback Justin Fields. But he was only on the field for two snaps.

Fields entered the game at quarterback on the first drive on a third-and-1 and handed off to running back Jaylen Warren. The next time he appeared, the Steelers were down 14-0 late in the second quarter. His pass to tight end Darnell Washington was incomplete.

Afterwards, Fields was put back in storage for the remainder of the game.

It’s hard to find fault with starter Russell Wilson, considering the Steelers only played 18 plays in the first half while the Ravens played 41. And Wilson threw touchdown passes to Van Jefferson and George Pickens in the second half.

Had the Steelers had more possession in the first half, Fields might have played a role. It never materialized.

4. Jones is fine

Dan Moore’s ankle injury suffered late in the first half led to the Steelers calling on Calvin Anderson, fresh from injured reserve, to play left tackle for the remainder of the game.

Broderick Jones, the left tackle of the future, never deviated from his position on the right side of the line. Wouldn’t it have been worth the offense giving Jones some experience on the left side and moving Anderson to right tackle early in the second half? While it’s true that such a move would have given the Steelers two unproven assets on the right side – Spencer Anderson started on the right side – what did they have to lose? It was already unrealistic that the Steelers would win the game. Jones could have benefited from some snaps at his natural position.

5. See you next year?

The Steelers enter the offseason with 19 players on their 53-man roster heading into free agency. This does not include three players on the injured reserve. Jaylen Warren will be a restricted free agent.

The list of impending free agents includes starters Russell Wilson, Najee Harris, Moore, Donte Jackson and Elandon Roberts. Fields and No. 3 quarterback Kyle Allen will also be free agents, meaning the Steelers could have a completely revamped group of passers for the second straight year.

Given the way the defense has performed over time, it might be time for the Steelers to explore a Minkah Fitzpatrick ($15.5 million base salary) trade and a Larry Ogunjobi move , whose firing would result in a savings of $7 million. The $2.8 million allocated for kick return specialist and occasional running back Cordarrelle Patterson could also be spent elsewhere.