The Baltimore Ravens face the Pittsburgh Steelers in a decisive AFC North showdown on Sunday Night Football, with the winner clinching the division title and a playoff berth while the loser is eliminated. Lamar Jackson is expected to return from a back injury, boosting Baltimore's chances against a Steelers team missing suspended wide receiver DK Metcalf. This marks the first such high-stakes finale in the rivalry's history.
The AFC North title hangs in the balance as the Ravens (8-8) travel to Acrisure Stadium to battle the Steelers (8-8) in Week 18. A victory for Baltimore secures the division crown and a wild-card spot, while a loss ends their season. Pittsburgh needs a win to advance, having clinched nothing yet despite earlier opportunities.
Lamar Jackson, the two-time MVP, missed Week 17 due to a back injury but returned to full practice participation on Wednesday and Thursday, declaring himself "a hundred percent" ready to play. He told reporters he has never quit on his team and affirmed his commitment to the Ravens. Jackson's return is crucial, as Baltimore went 2-0 without him in Weeks 16 and 17, averaging 35.5 points per game behind running back Derrick Henry's 216-yard, four-touchdown performance against Green Bay.
The Steelers, however, will be without star wide receiver DK Metcalf, serving the second game of a two-game suspension for an altercation with a fan. Metcalf's absence was evident in Week 17, where Aaron Rodgers threw for just 168 yards in a 13-6 loss to Cleveland. Rodgers, 42, has incentives worth $500,000 for a playoff berth, but Pittsburgh's offense struggled without Metcalf's deep-threat ability, posting zero touchdowns in that game.
Historically, winner-take-all games in Week 18 have produced memorable moments, such as Aaron Rodgers' 48-yard game-winning touchdown to Randall Cobb in 2013. The Ravens and Steelers have met five times in the playoffs but never in this scenario. Baltimore is favored by 3.5 points, with historical data showing the home team winning 18 of 31 such games since 2000.
This matchup underscores the rivalry's intensity, with both teams motivated to end the regular season on a high note. The Ravens' balanced attack, led by Henry's resurgence (1,469 rushing yards, 15 TDs), contrasts Pittsburgh's reliance on Rodgers amid defensive strengths but offensive inconsistencies without Metcalf.
