The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens will clash in a winner-take-all game for the AFC North title and a playoff spot on Sunday night. With the Steelers at 9-7 and the Ravens at 8-8, both teams enter the matchup relatively healthy, though illness has sidelined key Baltimore players in practice. Lamar Jackson and T.J. Watt are confirmed to play, heightening the stakes in this pivotal rivalry game.
The 2025 NFL regular season concludes with high drama in the AFC North, as the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday at 8:20 p.m. ET. A win secures the division crown and the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoffs for the victor, while the loser heads home. The Ravens clawed back from a 1-5 start, winning five straight before a late 1-3 skid that included a Week 14 loss to Pittsburgh. They earned this rematch with a 41-24 victory over Green Bay last week, boosted by Derrick Henry's 216 rushing yards and four touchdowns, while watching the Steelers fall 13-6 to Cleveland.
Pittsburgh, which started 6-6 before a three-game win streak, now relies on Aaron Rodgers to steer them to their first division title in five years. Rodgers' future remains uncertain, as he has not decided if 2025 will be his last season. A victory could cap his Steelers tenure memorably, ending the team's nine-year playoff win drought.
Injury-wise, both squads are in good shape. Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt, who suffered a partially collapsed lung from a dry-needling incident after Week 14, practiced fully Friday and confirmed he will play. "T.J. Watt is off the injury report and will play," the report stated. No Steelers players carry game statuses; offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo rested Friday but is available, along with wide receiver Calvin Austin III and cornerbacks Brandin Echols and James Pierre.
For Baltimore, quarterback Lamar Jackson (back) participated fully all week and will start. Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy (quad) was cleared after full practices. However, a flu bug has hit the locker room: wide receiver Rashod Bateman (illness) is questionable after missing Wednesday and Thursday practices and being limited Friday, while cornerback Marlon Humphrey (illness) also sits questionable, missing Friday's session after falling ill recently. Defensive lineman Taven Bryan (knee, from IR) is questionable. Coach John Harbaugh expressed optimism: "Both players should be cleared up by Sunday night."
This matchup tests both teams' resilience amid turbulent seasons, with broader implications for coaches Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh, though their job security appears solid.
