Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh: Can Steelers Stop 'Little Munchkin' Zay Flowers?

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh: Can Steelers Stop 'Little Munchkin' Zay Flowers?

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Patrick Peterson is too smart, and has been around too long, to have meant the remark as a bulletin-board-material jab. So let's not portray it that way.

But let's do have some fun with Peterson labeling Baltimore Ravens rookie wideout Zay Flowers a "little munchkin."

Patrick Peterson vs. Zay Flowers

"He's very shifty, very, very fast," Peterson said of Flowers. "He can get behind the defense. He's kind of like the guy that can do it all for him, run the screens, run the reverses and still also run the big post as well. 

"So it's going to be fun trying to keep our eye on that fast, little munchkin there."

"Fun.'' See? There is no maliciousness here on the part of the long-time standout Peterson; he's not trying to mock Flowers. He is using the "Wizard of Oz'' characterization while praising him for his talents, all of which come in a 5-10 package that has produced 24 receptions for 244 yards in four games in the Lamar Jackson-led offense.

Ravens Prepare For 'Soft' Steelers

Flowers, a first-round pick out of Boston College, has been consistently good for the Ravens this season as Baltimore preps for a Sunday early game in Week 5, trying to build on their 3-1 record while pushing the 2-2 Steelers - a bitter AFC North rival - farther down in the standings. 

Lamar Jackson / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Flowers' contributions have been all the more valuable as other Ravens receivers like Odell Beckham Jr. and Rashod Bateman have dealt with injuries in this early season. Both of them should be ready to roll here, though ... as should the Baltimore "munchkin'' Flowers.