Ravens vs. Steelers: AFC North Showdown with Playoff Fate on the Line
The Ravens and Steelers meet with the AFC North crown and a playoff berth hanging in the balance—an NFL DFS dream and a rivalry nightmare for the loser.
A Rivalry That Never Sleeps
BALTIMORE—The air along the Inner Harbor already tastes different—half adrenaline, half rust—and it has nothing to do with the weather. Inside M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday night, the Ravens and Steelers will collide for the 58th time since 1996, and for once the usual blood feud is only the undercard. The main event: an AFC North title and the last secure chair before the playoff music stops.
“We’re not sneaking in through the back door,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh growled after Wednesday’s practice. “We want to kick the door down and leave no doubt.”
The Stakes, Plain and Simple
Both teams enter 9-7. Both hold wildcard oxygen, but only the victor is guaranteed to keep breathing past Week 18. A loss, and the labyrinth of tiebreakers—conference record, strength of victory, perhaps even a coin flip—decides whether January football includes them.
By the Numbers
- Pittsburgh has taken three straight in the series, the longest streak since 2016-18.
- Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson is 10-2 at home in December, averaging 38.2 points in those wins.
- The Steelers’ T.J. Watt needs one sack to become the first player with 20-sack seasons in multiple campaigns.
DFS Gold Mine
Daily fantasy sharks are circling the under-priced stack of Jackson and rookie receiver Zay Flowers, who has seen 27% of the targets when the Ravens throw on third down. On the flip side, Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth at $4,200 on DraftKings offers salary relief and red-zone security—Pittsburgh has thrown to tight ends on 42% of its touchdowns since Week 12.
Key Matchup to Watch
Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley versus Watt. Stanley has allowed only one sack in his last 280 pass-blocking snaps; Watt has 19.5 sacks in 15 games, seven coming against top-tier left tackles. Something has to give, and it will likely give suddenly.
Bottom Line
Playoff atmospheres are forged in moments like these: division crown on the line, bitter rivals, and a region that bleeds black-and-gold or purple-and-black. The winner earns more than bragging rights; they earn a January life. The loser? A long winter of what-ifs.