:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67982200/1229431394.0.jpg)
For the past two days, talk about the Baltimore Ravens quickly pivoted from a brutal overtime loss at the hands of the Tennessee Titans to multiple positive tests of COVID-19.
Now, after days of NFL sources saying the game is on as scheduled, with just over 24 hours until gameday, the NFL has announced it will no longer be played on Thanksgiving night.
It's official: The NFL has announced that the Ravens' game Thursday vs. Pittsburgh has been moved to Sunday afternoon.
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) November 25, 2020
Game time and broadcast network will be announced later today.
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Ravens would have been without both Patrick Mekari and Matt Skura, their starting center and backup center.
The #Ravens would’ve been severely limited on the offensive line. Sources say they were set to rule out multiple players because of close contacts, including centers Patrick Mekari and Matt Skura. The NFL tried to play the game as scheduled but had to make the change.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) November 25, 2020
ESPN’s Dan Graziano reports the Ravens have had seven players test positive for COVID-19.
Ravens have had 7 players test positive over the last three days - Ingram, Dobbins, McSorley, McPhee, Skura, Campbell, Mekari, per source. League wants to use the extra days to continue testing, tracing. So game postponed.
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) November 25, 2020
While this is a safer move for the Ravens, Steelers and the NFL, Pittsburgh players have taken to Twitter to voice their frustrations over the game being moved.
The #Steelers players are very upset. But if this keeps them safer, that is a win for all. COVID forces everyone to adjust whether they like it or not. Now, for the first time in weeks, a game is pushed a few days.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 25, 2020
i’m not gone lie @NFL THIS IS BULLSHIT...
— Eric Ebron (@Ebron85) November 25, 2020
First the NFL takes away our bye week because another team can’t get their Covid situation together, now they take away our Thanksgiving primetime game for the same reason. Smh.
— JuJu Smith-Schuster (@TeamJuJu) November 25, 2020
In all, the Steelers are likely better off with this change of schedule, seeing as they are sitting at 10-0 and with a light-work schedule, the worst thing that could derail them would be a COVID-19 outbreak.