Quarterback Joe Flacco threw as well as he has in recent memory in the Ravens’ 27-14 victory over the Denver Broncos. Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg called an excellent game, emphasizing quick throws to a wide variety of targets, and the offensive line contained one of the league’s best pass rushers in Von Miller. Rookie tight end Mark Andrews has emerged as a key target in the middle of the field, and first-round pick Hayden Hurst could join him as soon as this week.

The Ravens ran more persistently in Week 3 but again struggled to break substantial gains. They’re averaging 3.1 yards a carry, compared with opponents’ 4.2. And their longest run was a 16-yarder by backup quarterback Lamar Jackson. All of their starting linemen have graded worse at run blocking than pass blocking. The team’s efficiency near the goal line has been a bright spot, with Alex Collins and Buck Allen combining for five touchdowns.

Despite playing without middle linebacker C.J. Mosley and defensive tackle Michael Pierce, the Ravens avoided big-play damage from Denver’s runners, Royce Freeman and Phillip Lindsay. Overall, they’ve allowed opponents to average 4.2 yards a carry, decent but not overwhelming. Defensive tackle Brandon Williams and defensive end Brent Urban have both played stout run defense, and rookie linebacker Kenny Young has held his own.

This will be the key to the game as the Ravens have traditionally struggled to cover Brown without their No. 1 cornerback, Jimmy Smith, who won’t return from suspension until Week 5. Former defensive coordinator Dean Pees said he made a mistake not using Marlon Humphrey to shadow Brown in the Ravens’ 39-38 loss last December.The Ravens have excelled against the pass in both of their victories this season, with Humphrey shining in coverage.

The Ravens committed two unusual lapses against Denver, allowing a blocked punt because of a whiffed block by second-year linebacker Tyus Bowser and a blocked field-goal attempt because they failed to account for a vaulting defender. Tim White avoided mistakes in his debut as the team’s primary kick returner. Justin Tucker made a pair of 52-yard field goals.

The Ravens have put themselves in good position with two double-digit victories at home. But their trip to Pittsburgh begins a stretch in which they’ll play four of five games on the road. They’re used to these Sunday night dates with the Steelers at Heinz Field, and the teams have played nip-and-tuck classics in that setting each of the past two seasons. With the pass offense clicking, they’re better equipped for a shootout with Roethlisberger and Co.

Ben Roethlisberger threw three interceptions in a season-opening tie with the Cleveland Browns, but he’s returned to productive form in the past two games. He threw for 506 yards the last time the Ravens played the Steelers. Receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster leads the team with 27 catches for 356 yards. Antonio Brown has averaged just 8.8 yards a catch, but he torched the Ravens for 213 yards last December.

All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell continues to hold out, but James Conner has filled in ably with 352 total yards, 15 catches and three rushing touchdowns in three starts. Pittsburgh’s offensive linemen have also graded worse as run blockers than pass blockers, according to Pro Football Focus.

Pittsburgh has struggled badly here, allowing 4.6 yards a carry through three games. Individually, linebacker Jon Bostic and tackles Stephon Tuitt and Cameron Heyward grade as good run defenders. But collectively, the Steelers have been outgained by almost 100 yards on the ground this season.

Pittsburgh allowed Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to throw for 326 yards and six touchdowns in Week 2 and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to throw for 411 yards on Monday night. The Steelers intercepted three passes against Fitzpatrick and sacked him three times, but they’re vulnerable to a hot quarterback. Joe Haden is the their best cover corner, and Heyward was one of the best interior pass rushers in the league in 2017.

Kicker Chris Boswell is off to a dreadful start — 1-for-4 on field-goal attempts with two missed extra-point tries. Boswell made 35 of 38 field-goal tries last year, including all four of his attempts from 50 yards or more. Ryan Switzer has averaged an excellent 11.1 yards on punt returns and a less impressive 19.6 yards on kick returns. The Steelers sometimes use Brown to return punts when they’re looking for a spark, though he’s yet to return one this season.

The Steelers have coped with persistent off-field turmoil between Bell’s holdout and Brown’s seeming dissatisfaction with his role in the Week 2 loss against the Chiefs. They’ve also played shoddy defense and led the NFL in penalty yardage by a whopping margin. That said, we’ve seen this group right its ship before under coach Mike Tomlin, and recent records rarely seem to matter when the Ravens and Steelers match up.