Steelers' Teryl Austin Drops Bombshell: Team Unleashed A Strategy He Never Used In Seven Seasons Against Ravens

The Pittsburgh Steelers needed a win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14 of the 2025 NFL season and they got just that. They headed into Baltimore at 6-6 and walked out at 7-6 with a 27-22 win. Pittsburgh made life relatively difficult for Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson for most of the game, keeping him uncomfortable and forcing him into tight windows. Even with that pressure, Jackson still had his offense in position to come back and win, but an Isaiah Likely dropped touchdown on a controversial play helped the Steelers escape with the victory.

One thing that stood out was how different the defensive approach looked. According to Steelers Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin, the team used a strategy he had never deployed in his seven seasons in Pittsburgh. The Steelers dropped their big defensive tackles into coverage, something that goes completely against what fans expect from the interior of the Steelers' defense. 

Austin revealed this adjustment to Steelers insider Chris Adamski on Thursday and explained that it was designed to disrupt Jackson’s quick reads and force confusion in the middle of the field. Austin said the idea came from wanting to break tendencies that Baltimore had studied on film. He added that surprising Jackson with unexpected looks was critical in a game with so much on the line.

"Teryl Austin says that dropping his big DTs into coverage, the Steelers hadn't done in his seven seasons he'd been here," Adamski said. "Cam Heyward had two coverage snaps and Keeanu Benton one in the win at Baltimore."

Adamski pointed out that Cam Heyward had two coverage snaps and Keeanu Benton had one in the win at Baltimore. The numbers were small, but the effect was noticeable because Jackson hesitated on several plays where he expected standard interior pressure. 

Instead of finding open lanes, he found large bodies clogging throwing paths and forcing him to adjust on the fly. The creativity from Austin and the willingness of veterans like Heyward to embrace something new played a meaningful part in securing a crucial rivalry win and keeping the Steelers firmly in the playoff race.

Many Steelers fans will wonder just how much the adjustment truly helped or worked. While the Ravens’ offense still managed to put up 420 total yards, the Steelers were able to slow down the two-time league MVP quarterback, Jackson, in key moments. Pittsburgh’s defensive line disrupted timing and forced Jackson to make quicker decisions than he was likely comfortable with. 

Steelers' Defense Created Situational Advantages Against Baltimore

Even when the Ravens moved the ball effectively between the 20s, the Steelers’ defensive strategy tightened in the red zone and on third downs, making it harder for Jackson to complete critical throws. The combination of pressure and unexpected coverage snaps caused hesitation that led to incomplete passes and stalled drives. 

While the raw yardage totals suggest Baltimore still moved the ball well, the situational impact of dropping big defensive tackles into coverage cannot be overlooked. In the end, the scheme created enough disruption at the right moments to give the Steelers the edge they needed to walk out of Baltimore with a win. 

With the Steelers now back in control of the AFC North, they will be eager to carry their winning momentum into their Week 15 Monday Night Football matchup against the Miami Dolphins at home.

Do you think Teryl Austin’s bold defensive adjustment is the blueprint the Steelers should use against elite quarterbacks moving forward, or was it just a one-game gamble? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me. I will respond!

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