Sunday marks the fourth time in seven seasons that the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens close the regular season against one another.
The stakes haven’t been higher than they are for this Week 18 clash.
Pittsburgh (9-7) can clinch the AFC North title with a win or tie, while Baltimore (8-8) takes the division crown with a victory. There’s no wild-card consolation prize for the team that doesn’t take the division.
“We need to play smart but not play timid,” Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton said.
Baltimore did just that in order to stay in the hunt for its third straight AFC North championship. The Ravens rebounded from a 1-5 start with a five-game winning streak after their bye.
While Baltimore is just 2-3 since Thanksgiving — including a home loss to Pittsburgh on Dec. 7 — the Steelers’ recent scuffles have created an opportunity.
A victory last week over a 3-12 Cleveland Browns squad would have clinched Pittsburgh’s first division title since 2020. But the Steelers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers struggled to find a rhythm offensively with top wide receiver DK Metcalf serving the first of a two-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the NFL.
Tight end Darnell Washington suffered a broken arm in the first half of the 13-6 defeat and has been placed on injured reserve. Wideout Calvin Austin III (hamstring) returned to practice Wednesday after missing the Browns game while linebacker T.J. Watt (lung) also was a limited participant.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (back contusion) practiced Wednesday and Thursday after missing last week’s victory in Green Bay.
Jackson proclaimed himself as ready to play against the Steelers.
“One hundred percent,” Jackson said Thursday on whether he’ll play. “I’m gonna be out there.”
Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said he’s “very optimistic” Jackson will be ready to play.
He shares similar sentiment about the entire Ravens locker room.
“I think this team has a lot of character, a lot of grit, a lot of toughness,” Harbaugh said.
Steelers counterpart Mike Tomlin acknowledged the disappointment of missing the chance to earn a playoff berth last week, but said he has “learned to always move forward” and that “frustration doesn’t get the job done.”
Tomlin added: “It’s an honor to be in these games, to be in these hotly contested matchups. It seems like Baltimore is always a dance partner. I’m respectful and appreciative of that relationship and some of the historic things we’ve been able to do when these two teams have come together.
“It’s humbling and an honor to be a component of it. But to be a component of it is just that. Our job is to win.”
Doing so would ensure Rodgers at least one more game with Pittsburgh. The 42-year-old veteran, who joined the Steelers on a one-year deal, said he preferred not to discuss his looming decision whether to retire or continue playing.
“I’ve enjoyed this experience,” Rodgers said, “and everybody in Pittsburgh has been fantastic to me on and off the field. … What I was hoping for from this experience, it’s been even better.”
Visiting Pittsburgh edged Baltimore 27-22 in Week 14, prevailing despite a big afternoon from the Ravens’ ground game. Baltimore rushed for 217 yards (5.4 yards per carry) as Derrick Henry led the attack with 94 yards on 25 attempts.
Rodgers went 23-for-34 for 284 yards and a touchdown pass to Jaylen Warren that stretched the lead to 27-16 late in the third quarter. Metcalf contributed seven catches for 148 yards, both season highs in his first campaign with the Steelers.
–Field Level Media
