Why Derrick Harmon Is The Steelers X-Factor Against Baltimore

Photo: AP Photo/Matt Durisko

In many ways, there is a clear connection between rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon and the Baltimore Ravens.

Almost a year ago, the Ravens embarrassed the Pittsburgh Steelers in their Wild Card playoff matchup. The defining aspect of that game was what they did to the Steelers’ defense on the ground, piling up nearly 300 rushing yards — 188 of them from All‑Pro running back Derrick Henry. That performance essentially forced the organization to rebuild the interior of its defensive line, a process that included selecting Harmon in the first round.

Fast‑forward to this upcoming weekend, and Harmon not only has the opportunity to help push the Steelers into the playoffs, but also to show exactly why the team invested in him. In their Week 14 win over the Ravens, Harmon was sidelined with an injury. Though Pittsburgh escaped with a tight 27–22 victory, Henry still came close to the 100‑yard mark. With Henry now on a hot streak following his dominant performance against the Green Bay Packers in Week 17, Harmon will likely play a significant role in trying to neutralize him.

One major reason Harmon’s role becomes pivotal is his ability to stack and shed at a level the Steelers haven’t consistently shown — outside of veteran Cameron Heyward. Harmon’s natural leverage, heavy hands, and willingness to anchor against double teams give Pittsburgh a much better chance of muddying interior rushing lanes early. Even when he isn’t the one making the tackle, his ability to disrupt blocking schemes can force Henry to hesitate or bounce runs wider than the Ravens prefer, buying time for pursuit defenders to rally.

Harmon’s impact is also reflected in the numbers. When he is on the field, the Steelers’ defense allows an average of 86 rushing yards per game. In the five games he has missed, opponents have averaged 166 yards — a stark contrast that underscores how important he is to Pittsburgh’s run‑stopping efforts.

With the Steelers heading into Sunday night fighting not for the AFC North, but simply to punch their ticket to the playoffs, every defensive snap carries extra weight. That’s why Harmon’s presence up front matters so much. His ability to steady the interior and disrupt Baltimore’s run game gives Pittsburgh a real chance to keep Derrick Henry from dictating the night. If the Steelers are going to survive this win‑and‑in scenario, a rookie like Harmon doing the gritty, unglamorous work in the trenches might be one of the biggest reasons why.