Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris has let it be known that his team was not playing around in its 17-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens in it’s season finale on Saturday afternoon.
The Ravens opted to rest Lamar Jackson and some of their starters, as they had already clinched the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC going into Week 18.
However, Harris said that even if Baltimore’s main guys played, they may not have finished the game.
“Whoever was in there, we wanted to play so physical that if they did play their ones, their guys, we wanted [head coach John] Harbaugh to say ‘We’ve got to get them out of there’ because of how physical we’re playing,” Harris said, via the Steelers’ official team website.
Harris keyed Pittsburgh’s victory, carrying the ball 26 times for 112 yards and a touchdown while also logging five catches for 21 yards. He helped the Steelers keep their playoff hopes alive in the process.
On the season overall, Harris ultimately rushed for 1,035 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 4.1 yards per carry. In addition, he caught 29 passes for 170 yards.
The 25-year-old, who played his collegiate football at the University of Alabama, was selected by Pittsburgh with the 24th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.
He enjoyed a solid—but inefficient—rookie campaign, rushing for 1,200 yards and seven scores while registering 3.9 yards per attempt. Plus, he hauled in 74 receptions for 467 yards while reaching the end zone three times. He made the Pro Bowl for his efforts.
Then, last year, Harris recorded 1,034 yards and seven touchdowns while tallying 3.8 yards per tote. He also snared 41 balls for 229 yards and three scores as a receiver.
Efficiency has never been a part of Harris’ game, but the 242-pound halfback brings significant value in his ability to wear down the defense with his bruising style of running.
Najee Harris and the Steelers have wrapped up their regular season with a record of 9-8. Their most direct path to a playoff berth is a loss by either the Buffalo Bills or Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
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