### Steelers Hold Narrow 9-7 Edge Over Ravens in Defensive Battle at Halftime

In a match tailor-made for staunch defense enthusiasts, the Pittsburgh Steelers have eked out a slim 9-7 advantage over the Baltimore Ravens by halftime. Chris Boswell has been pivotal, converting three field goals as the Steelers capitalize on Baltimore's mistakes.

The Ravens committed multiple turnovers, one notably deep in their own territory when Keeanu Benton stripped the ball from Isaiah Likely. The fumble was promptly recovered by former Raven Patrick Queen, now wearing Steel City's colors. Despite the chaos, the Ravens briefly seized the lead when Derrick Henry’s short touchdown run capped a six-play, 80-yard drive, highlighting key contributions from Lamar Jackson, Rashod Bateman, and Henry.

The first half was marked by defensive dominance, with both teams struggling immensely on third downs. The Steelers managed to convert just one out of nine attempts on third down, while the Ravens were unsuccessful in all five of their tries. The Steelers finally broke the third-down drought 20 minutes into the game with a Russell Wilson pass to George Pickens, though the play was marred by altercations resulting in offsetting penalties for Pittsburgh's Broderick Jones and Baltimore's Marlon Humphrey.

Midway through the second quarter, Boswell nailed a 52-yard field goal to put the Steelers ahead. This scoring drive was highlighted by Najee Harris' impressive performance, including a 20-yard catch and an 11-yard run. Harris has been the standout offensive player, amassing 59 yards on nine touches.

Justin Tucker, normally a reliable leg for the Ravens, missed two critical field goals from 50 and 47 yards, costing his team valuable points. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s defense showcased resilience by stopping the Ravens on a fourth-and-1 attempt after Tucker's first miss.

Both teams have had sporadic offensive sparks, but consistency has been elusive. Baltimore’s offensive woes continued as Jackson completed just five of his 15 pass attempts, grappling with accuracy issues compounded by Pittsburgh’s relentless pass rush and receiver struggles. Steelers also had their share of missed opportunities, exemplified by Calvin Austin III’s dropped deep pass on a third-and-1, following a fortunate offsides penalty against Baltimore.

As the game rolls into the second half, both teams will need to address their offensive inefficiencies and third-down woes if they hope to turn their flashes of brilliance into sustained success.