Ravens and Steelers Prepare for AFC North Wild Card Battle
After surpassing the Steelers down the stretch of the regular season, making up a two-game deficit to claim the top spot in the AFC North and clinch the AFC’s third seed, the Ravens and Steelers will meet for the third time this season. However, the stakes are even higher this time, as both teams will square off again on Saturday, January 11th, at 8:00 p.m. EST on Amazon Prime Video as part of Super Wild Card Weekend. In their rivalry history, Baltimore and Pittsburgh have faced off four times in the postseason, with the Steelers holding a 3-1 edge in those matchups. Notably, the Ravens won the most recent playoff game in the Wild Card Round in 2015. This season’s meeting will be the first postseason matchup at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, with all previous games at the formerly-named Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Heading into this Wild Card Game, both teams enter the playoffs with completely different feelings in this win-or-go-home matchup.
Following a strong start to the season under head coach Mike Tomlin, the Steelers held a 10-3 record through 14 weeks, good for first place in the division. Both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson started at quarterback at various points throughout the season, with Wilson taking over the role in Week Seven. The Steelers' typically physical defense kept the team in tightly contested games. However, since then, the Steelers have spiraled into turmoil, entering the playoffs with major questions and concerns regarding their offense. When Wilson first took over under center, he gave the offense a jolt, helping Pittsburgh score 25 or more points in five of his first seven starts. However, since then, the offense has collapsed. Over their last four games, against perennial Super Bowl contenders such as the Eagles, Ravens, and Chiefs, along with a surging Bengals team, which missed out on the playoffs, the Steelers went winless. They scored fewer than 20 points in each of those games and allowed 25 or more points in three of the four.
Adding to the challenges, the offense was hit by injuries, including star wide receiver George Pickens, who missed Weeks 14 through 16 due to a hamstring injury. Even with Pickens' return for the final two games, his production was limited, as he recorded just four catches for 50 yards. Along with the Steelers' 11th-ranked rushing attack, which has been up-and-down, recording less than 100 yards in two of their final four games. As a result, the Steelers enter this playoff matchup against their division rival as a nine-and-a-half-point underdog as of Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Ravens, who finished the regular season with a 12-5 record, leapfrogging Pittsburgh for the division title, enter this matchup firing on all cylinders, looking ready to make a Super Bowl run with quarterback Lamar Jackson leading the way. Since their late Week 14 bye, the Ravens' already dominant offense has taken another step forward. Baltimore scored 30 or more points in each of their last four games to conclude the season. Additionally, Jackson finished his best passing season on a high note, making a strong case for a potential third NFL MVP Award in his already record-breaking career.
Along with the Ravens' impressive offensive production, there are injury concerns for their top wideout, second-year receiver and first-time Pro Bowler Zay Flowers, who recorded his first 1,000-plus receiving yard season. In their Week 18 game against the Browns, Flowers left early in the second quarter after his right knee collided with Browns linebacker Mohamoud Diabate. The 24-year-old did not return to the game, and his status for Saturday's matchup remains uncertain. If Flowers is unable to heal in time, the Ravens will rely on their second-best receiver, Rashod Bateman, who has stepped up this season, recording a career-high 756 receiving yards. They will also lean on the NFL’s second-leading rusher, Derrick Henry, especially with inclement weather possible in the forecast.
With the latest chapter in the Ravens-Steelers rivalry set for this weekend, there are many storylines that fans and experts will be watching, particularly regarding the futures of both head coaches. For Pittsburgh, coach Mike Tomlin, who is seeking his first playoff win since 2016, will face heightened pressure to secure an upset victory. Another early playoff exit, despite his impressive 18 consecutive non-losing seasons as Steelers head coach, could fuel growing sentiment among fans for a potential change at the helm. At the same time, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is under equal pressure, as Baltimore tries to overcome the postseason hurdles that have kept them from reaching the Super Bowl with Lamar Jackson at quarterback. Despite finishing as the AFC's top seed in two of the past five seasons, the Ravens have yet to make it to the big game. If they fail to finally reach the summit, calls for Harbaugh's dismissal, following last season's AFC Championship Game loss, could reignite after a quick playoff exit.
