What they're saying about the Ravens after their 19-16 loss to Steelers

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It's too early to write off the Baltimore Ravens, even though this is the first time they have a losing record this late in a season in their six years under John Harbaugh. But let's be honest: Their 19-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers was further evidence it's time to have serious doubts whether the Ravens are physically and mentally good enough to turn around their season.

... Players and coaches talked about how the bye week can give this team the time it needs to improve. But can an extra week fix the same Ravens' problems that keep coming up week after frustrating week?

Ray Rice couldn't get going on the ground again and the running game remains a concern. Joe Flacco wasn't stretching the field well on Sunday.

Massive win for Pittsburgh to hang around in the AFC North. Le'Veon Bell ran the ball well and Ben Roethlisberger had some big plays as well as an efficient game.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Jason Mackey had a Ravens notebook leading with the team's 'mixed bag for defense'

The Ravens entered Sunday's game with 22 sacks in six games, second in the NFL.

That trend continued, as Baltimore registered three sacks. Yet two other areas where the Ravens had been proficient took a hit.

The Steelers ran for 141 yards, nearly 43 more than what the Ravens were allowing (98.2, tied for seventh).

Baltimore had held opponents to a 31.2 percent success rate on third down, fourth in the league. Pittsburgh converted 7 of 12 (58 percent).

Chris Wesseling writes at NFL.com that this win for the Steelers puts them right back in the thick of the AFC North.

After their first 0-4 start since 1968, the Steelers have reeled off back-to-back victories to pull into a three-way tie with the Ravens and Browns in the loss column. Now that [running back Le'Veon] Bell and tight end Heath Miller have injected life into the offense, there's a strong argument to be made that this is the second-best team in the AFC North.

A playoff run isn't out of the question.

Gene Collier of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote that this game was physical enough to live up to Ravens-Steelers standards:

Told later it appeared as though he'd nearly killed the kicker, Sylvester said, "I tried to."

Tucker went to the sideline bleeding from the ear, but by then it had long since been decided that in every way for which this series is famous or infamous, Sunday's game easily met the standard.