PITTSBURGH, January 5, 2026 – The Pittsburgh Steelers clinched the AFC North title and a playoff berth sunday night, defeating the Baltimore ravens 26-24 in a thrilling finish to the 2025 regular season.
The Steelers,led by a late-game performance from quarterback Aaron Rodgers,secured their first division title since 2020 and ended the Ravens’ season.
- Aaron rodgers completed 31 of 47 passes for 294 yards and one touchdown.
- A missed extra point by Chris Boswell nearly cost the steelers the game, but a last-second field goal attempt by Baltimore’s Tyler Loop was unsuccessful.
- The Ravens’ season ended without a playoff appearance, marking the first time as 2021 they will not compete in the postseason.
Pittsburgh, playing without suspended No. 1 receiver DK Metcalf for a second straight game, struggled to generate offense early, falling behind 10-0. The Ravens scored an opening-drive touchdown and added a field goal in the second quarter. Pittsburgh trailed 10-3 at halftime after failing to score on the final play of the first half from Baltimore’s 1-yard line. Derrick Henry surpassed 100 rushing yards in the first half, according to the game broadcast.
the steelers rallied after halftime, taking a 13-10 lead before the teams traded touchdowns. With just under nine minutes remaining, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson connected with Zay Flowers for a 64-yard touchdown on a third-and-4, giving Baltimore a 17-13 advantage. Rodgers responded by leading a go-ahead drive capped by a 2-yard touchdown run by Kenneth Gainwell, putting Pittsburgh ahead 20-17 with less than four minutes to play.
Jackson answered quickly, finding flowers again for a 64-yard touchdown on a third-and-1, after a blown coverage by the Steelers defense.Rodgers then orchestrated a 65-yard drive, culminating in a 26-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III with 55 seconds left. Though, Chris Boswell missed the ensuing extra point, leaving the door open for the Ravens.
Baltimore drove downfield, and a 26-yard completion to Isaiah Likely set up rookie kicker Tyler Loop for a 44-yard field goal attempt to win the game. The kick sailed wide right as time expired, securing the Steelers’ victory.
Rodgers finished the game with 31 completions on 47 attempts for 294 yards and one touchdown. Jackson was 11-for-18 for 238 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception, which was caught by T.J. Watt on a deflected pass.
The Steelers’ victory capped off an extraordinary late-season turnaround after a 2-5 stretch in october and November. They had previously defeated the Ravens in Baltimore one month ago, initiating a three-game winning streak. Despite an upset loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 17 that prevented an earlier clinch, Pittsburgh completed a season sweep of Baltimore on Sunday night.
As the AFC’s No. 4 seed, the Steelers will host the Houston Texans in a wild-card game on “Monday Night Football.”
Why it matters
This victory represents a notable turning point for the Steelers, who faced considerable scrutiny earlier in the season. the team’s aggressive roster overhaul, including trades for DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey, and Jonnu Smith, was intended to build a contender, and this late-season surge suggests those efforts may be paying off. As Steelers beat writer Mike DeFabo noted, the team acquired rodgers specifically “for thick days like today,” and he delivered when needed. While the Steelers are not favored in the playoffs, their ability to overcome adversity and secure a division title positions them as a possibly dangerous opponent in the AFC playoff field.
The Ravens’ loss, meanwhile, underscores a season of inconsistency. According to Ravens beat writer Jeff Zrebiec, the team struggled to play complementary football throughout the year, and their inability to close out games proved costly. The loss of Kyle Hamilton, the Ravens’ best defensive player, in the third quarter also appeared to significantly impact their performance, as Rodgers exploited the middle of the field after Hamilton’s departure.
