The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers have been heading in different directions over the past month. The Ravens, champions of the AFC North, have been blowing teams out over the past four weeks. Their average margin of victory was 23 points per game over that span, with the closest of those four being a 34-17 win over Pittsburgh on Dec. 21, in which the Ravens took control of the division on their way to a wild-card round home game. Lamar Jackson turned in an historic regular season, becoming the first quarterback in league history to throw 40 or more touchdown passes with four or fewer interceptions and the first player to throw for 4,000 yards while rushing for 800 yards, all on his way to becoming the NFL’s all-time leading rusher at the quarterback position.
The Steelers, meanwhile, are limping into the playoffs, having lost four in a row — including double-digit losses to both the Chiefs and Eagles, in addition to the blowout loss in Baltimore — and scoring just 14.3 points per game in those losses. To say the Steelers’ pass offense is struggling might be an understatement. They haven’t topped 200 passing yards since Dec. 1 and have been under 165 passing yards in four of their last five games to finish the year.
The Steelers won the first matchup between these teams 18-16 back in Week 11 in Pittsburgh before the Ravens got their win in Week 16 in Baltimore.
How to watch Steelers vs. Ravens AFC wild-card game
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: M&T Bank Stadium | Baltimore
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
Live23 updates
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Ravens are utilizing their running game much more than last year
Ravens already have more rushing attempts (17) with 8:45 left in the 2nd quarter, than they had in the entire AFC Championship game loss last year to the Chiefs (16).
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) January 12, 2025
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Ravens and Steelers open the second quarter with a pair of punts — with Pittsburgh opting to punt despite being down and at fourth-and-inches. Things are snoozing a bit so far…will both teams wake up before halftime?
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Ravens 7, Steelers 0 at the end of the first quarter
It’s been a pretty one-sided game so far, but Baltimore is still only one score ahead. We’ll see if they get another at the start of the second quarter.
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Isaiah Likely stretches to bring in a big pass from Lamar Jackson
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Russell Wilson sacked again
It’s three-and-out for Pittsburgh, after Russell Wilson is sacked on first down and is unable to get things going from there. Michael Pierce got there for the Ravens to get the big defensive play.
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Lamar Jackson connects with Rashod Bateman for a touchdown
The Ravens score first, picking up a touchdown on their first drive. Lamar Jackson throws a beautiful pass down the middle to Rashod Bateman, who holds on to get Baltimore on the board.
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Back-to-back big runs for Derrick Henry
RB Derrick Henry gets Baltimore across the midline with two huge carries in a row, picking up a 12-yard run and a 34-yard run back-to-back.
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Lamar Jackson goes for a run a gets a first down
Lamar Jackson gets five straight rushes for a total of 22 yards, with the QB picking up a first down and throwing for another. Who needs a running back when you have Lamar?
Lamar’s mom calling the plays tonight
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) January 12, 2025
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Steelers kick things off with a punt
On third-and-six, Russell Wilson did his best to move the ball for Pittsburgh, but Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy took him to the turf. Steelers are forced to punt their first possession after failing to cross midfield.
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Steelers and Ravens face off for the third time this season — here’s how the other meetings went
Baltimore and Pittsburgh have met many times before, but the AFC North rivals are about to meet for the third time this year. Prior to today, the two have had two memorable meetings so far this season.
The teams first met up on Nov. 17, where Pittsburgh earned the 18-16 win by only scoring field goals. Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, meanwhile, struggled mightily in the two-point loss, missing two field goal attempts in the first quarter.
The second matchup was on Dec. 21, where Baltimore made up for the earlier loss by handily defeating the Steelers 34-17 and securing the AFC North title in the process. It was a win that the Ravens really needed, and one that gives them plenty of confidence coming into today’s Wild Card game.
