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The Ravens were left despondent in the aftermath of a 27-22 loss to the Steelers on Sunday, having let slip a winnable must-win game. Here are five things we learned from the AFC North showdown: Two feet down in the end zone sometimes isn’t enough To directly criticize a referee is (often) a nonstarter. Players and coaches know such scrutiny is subject to a fine. So they danced around answering for a controversial call that could define this season’s home stretch: Tight end Isaiah Likely caught the fourth-quarter go-ahead touchdown with under three minutes remaining — and officials overturned it. NFL vice president of instant replay Mark Butterman explained that Likely needed a third step in the end zone while maintaining control of the football. He told the pool reporter that Likely had his right then left foot down with control. “Then the third step,” Butterman explained, “is an act common to the game, and before he could get the third foot down, the ball was ripped out.” Officials disallowed the touchdown. It sucked the life out of M&T Bank Stadium, which burst with more pep than it had in weeks. Did the Ravens think it was a touchdown? There was a politician’s approach, masking confusion and frustration, in how they handled the most pressing question of the night. Coach John Harbaugh, when asked if he believed it was a clean play, said, “You know what, I believe a lot of things.” He made no other mention of Likely, pivoting to his understanding of a comparable rule for another call that favored Pittsburgh, which was Teddye Buchanan’s overturned interception minutes earlier. “They made a call,” Likely said, “and we have to live with what the referees say at the end of the day.” That sums up the response from much of the locker room. In some form or another, they all said, “It’s not my decision.” Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins waited until reporters cleared out to share his frustration on social media in a since-deleted post: “13 years in this league, how many steps do you need in the end zone for a TD?” That play might haunt the Ravens. It will be hotly debated in Baltimore bars for weeks to come. Images of Joey Porter Jr. popping the ball loose from Likely’s white gloves will circulate Ravens group chats until the end of time — much like his big toe from Week 1 in Kansas City last year, or more recently, his goal-line fumble last week. And yet, Likely’s overturned touchdown wasn’t the only referee ruling worthy of inquiry. In the second quarter, the Steelers lined up for a chip-shot field goal that would have made it a 10-point game. It was called back and Pittsburgh was awarded an automatic first down for unnecessary roughness against Ravens defensive tackle Travis Jones, who, according to referee Alex Moore, made contact with the snapper and “ran him over.” Related Articles Mike Preston: Ravens could learn something from Aaron Rodgers | COMMENTARY Josh Tolentino: A teary-eyed Lamar Jackson represents a Ravens season slipping away | COMMENTARY Ravens react to pair of controversial calls in 4th quarter of Steelers loss The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 27-22 loss to Steelers Ravens’ playoff hopes take crushing blow in 27-22 loss to Steelers Moore told the pool reporter afterward that “it does not necessarily matter who is contacted first,” the center or the left guard, but “the snapper is still by rule a defenseless player.” Thus, one official deemed Jones’ forcible contact unnecessary against a defenseless player. Jones neglected to criticize: “That’s above my pay grade,” he said. The Steelers moved up 15 yards and scored a touchdown the very next play. By the final quarter, the Ravens crawled back within striking distance. Pittsburgh led by six with about seven minutes remaining. Rodgers’ pass was batted down at the line of scrimmage. It landed somewhere between his arms and Buchanan’s. The rookie linebacker wrestled it loose. What was thought to be their first turnover of the day set the home sideline ablaze. Officials called it an interception until they watched it back. Butterworth explained the offense had “initial control of the ball and ended up being down by contact.” Nuances of NFL officiating are confusing. The rulebook, if printed out, would resemble an old phone book. Sunday taught the Ravens a few new wrinkles in the rules, but they learned the hard way. The Ravens have no more room for error Jackson sat hunched over in his locker. A white ski mask covered the better part of his head, leaving some breathing room for his eyes, which stared intently at nothing in front of him. Jackson had already changed out of his cleats and into slides. He wasn’t ready to take off the pads or jersey and concede this night over. Jackson later described his frustration to be “through the roof.” Harbaugh planted himself in the adjacent stall, leaning over to console his star quarterback. Those two were supposed to author what would have been the Ravens’ third Super Bowl in as many decades. Instead, they shared the far corner of the home locker room 14 weeks into the season and confronted collapse. What exactly was said, we’ll never know. Jackson revealed only that his coach encouraged him “to just stay locked in.” With Sunday’s loss, Baltimore’s playoff odds plummeted from what would have been 75% with a win, according to The New York Times’ simulator, to now 31%. ESPN has them even further out of contention. “Four games left,” Harbaugh said. “The season is not over.” Ravens coach John Harbaugh shakes hands with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin following an AFC North showdown in Baltimore. Pittsburgh prevailed, 22-17. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) The Ravens have a rematch with the Bengals next weekend in Cincinnati. They’ll head to Green Bay to face the playoff-bound Packers. Then the Patriots, who own the NFL’s best record, come to town before a season finale in Pittsburgh. It’s an uphill climb that complicates Baltimore’s road to a third straight AFC North title. The Ravens could ill afford to lose two of three straight divisional games. Against the Bengals on Thanksgiving, “it was turnovers” that lost them the game. Five, to be specific. “But this one here,” Jackson said, “I don’t know what happened.” They had a chance late. The Ravens reclaimed possession with two minutes left and one timeout at their own 26-yard line. Sixty-one seconds later, they were stuck in the same spot, having burnt the timeout. Both Harbaugh and Jackson used the word “chaotic” to describe the final drive. A few chunk plays pushed them to Pittsburgh’s 30-yard line. On the final play, eyes upfield toward the end zone, hoping for a miracle, Jackson scrambled. He’d already been sacked once. Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith took a wide angle and corralled Jackson before the buzzer. The clock hit triple zeros with the quarterback on his butt. “I feel like each and every week there’s no room for error,” Jackson said. Now more than ever. Jackson ended his drought. It still wasn’t enough. It had been three months since his last rushing score, Week 1 against Buffalo. Jackson had failed to score, with his legs or his arm, since Week 10 in Minnesota, which was a month ago. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player’s snowballing struggles raised eyebrows about his health. That led to questions concerning Jackson’s ability to lead a playoff push. On Sunday, an imperfect performance offered some optimism. Jackson looked a bit more nimble than he has of late. There were designed runs. “I felt like I was moving pretty well,” he said. And fewer head-scratching throws compared to recent weeks. Harbaugh thought he “played really well.” Jackson threw for 219 yards with one touchdown and an interception. He also picked up 43 yards on seven carries. That second-quarter do-it-himself touchdown allowed Ravens fans everywhere, full of angst about their quarterback’s recent stretch, to sigh a bit of relief. A funny thing happened on the other side of halftime. The Ravens had the ball down in the red zone, which no longer guarantees points. Keaton Mitchell set them up nicely with a 55-yard rush. Three players later, Jackson dropped back to pass. Then he crept up near the line of scrimmage. A confident forward step forced Pittsburgh’s defense, specifically a spying linebacker Patrick Queen, to bite just a smidge. That opened a lane for Likely in the back of the end zone, where the tight end who didn’t just get paid a hefty extension caught his first touchdown of the year. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson used his legs well against the Steelers, but his efforts still weren't enough in a 27-22 loss. Jackson finished with 43 rushing yards and a score on seven carries. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) On a day the Ravens needed the offense to click, Jackson normally would have relied on his security blanket, Mark Andrews. Rather, it was Zay Flowers whom he went back to again and again. Flowers was targeted 11 times. He caught eight of them and dropped one, totaling 124 yards. That’s Flowers’ best outing since Week 1. Jackson thrice found him on a long ball for at least 30 yards. “It was what we’ve come to expect in how he plays,” Harbaugh. He’ll need to be even sharper moving forward. It’s the only thing that can keep this season from spiraling. Aaron Rodgers turns back time Rodgers hadn’t completed a downfield pass since Week 8. The 42-year-old quarterback either misfired or threw an interception every time he uncorked one with at least 20 yards of air distance. His backup, Mason Rudolph, failed, too. On Sunday, Pittsburgh’s drought ended rather quickly. DK Metcalf burned cornerback Marlon Humphrey up the right sideline on the offense’s first play. Rodgers caught him in stride for a 52-yard pickup on a drive that ended in Rodgers’ first rushing touchdown in two years. The old guy’s still got it — apparently. Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers runs into the end zone untouched against the Ravens in the first quarter of Pittsburgh's 27-22 win. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Rodgers targeted Metcalf 12 times. The 27-year-old, two-time Pro Bowl selection caught seven (three deep balls) for 148 yards. That’s the best outing any receiver has had against Baltimore’s secondary so far this season. In all, Rodgers threw for 284 yards. Baltimore’s secondary had its share of highlights. Humphrey got Metcalf back with a pair of crucial pass breakups, one in the end zone and another on third down in the game’s waning minutes. But the Ravens’ defensive backs, who have locked down respectable pass attempts in recent weeks and arrived Sunday at full strength, got picked apart by Rodgers. The Steelers knew this game had do-or-die implications, too. And they ended Baltimore’s run of seven straight games forcing a turnover. “We knew what was on the line today,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “That’s why you go do business with a guy like Aaron. Thick days, like today, he’s a been there, done that guy. Beyond the experience component of it, he relishes it. You can just tell. That’s the benefit of having a guy like him.” ‘The AFC North is the mid division’ One team has to make the playoffs. Thems the rules. So here’s a question worth chewing on: Through 14 weeks, which team — Ravens, Steelers, Bengals or Browns — looks best equipped to make the playoffs? And which looks most ready to win a playoff game? They’re probably different answers. The former now appears to be the Steelers, who stole sole possession of first place in the AFC North with four games left on the schedule. The latter is up for debate, but just might be the Bengals, whose odds to reach the postseason are seemingly out of reach. By that logic, the team representing the hardened AFC North, a division that prides itself on toughness and sustained success, described by Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton as “the purest form of football,” might be represented by a team with single-digit wins. Before Sunday, none of the four were above .500. Now, the Steelers are 7-6. The Ravens are below .500. The 4-9 Bengals lost a shootout in snowy Orchard Park, New York, against the Bills, letting slip their last chance at a miracle climb up the standings. And the Browns are the Browns (3-10). “It’s weird,” Humphrey said last week. “Maybe I’m on ESPN a little too much, and I guess the AFC North is the mid division. I think that’s not normal, but it is two teams that literally can control their own narrative.” Much of this season’s home stretch consists of the four teams duking it out. The Ravens will see Cincinnati and Pittsburgh once more each. Both the Steelers and Bengals have another game against the Browns. Amidst the handshake line after the final whistle on Sunday, CBS cameras followed Tomlin. The Steelers coach blew a fat kiss to the camera. It was reported before kickoff that the Steelers won’t fire Tomlin no matter how this season ends. It’s never a good sign when that has to be verbalized. Still, it’s his team, which hadn’t won a road game since September, that now has the leg up in the North. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

As Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers walked off the field, he was embraced with a hug from coach Mike Tomlin. It was a touching moment, symbolic of Pittsburgh’s hard-fought 27-22 victory against the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. The victory gave the Steelers (7-6) a one-game lead over Baltimore (6-7) in the AFC North, but more importantly, it showed why Tomlin and the organization signed Rogers to a one-year, $13.65 million contract during the offseason. After several recent failures in the postseason, Pittsburgh needed to figure out how to win, and Rodgers led the way Sunday. He completed 23 of 34 passes for 284 yards and one for a touchdown and then ran for another score, a 1-yard scamper on a great play fake midway through the first quarter. This wasn’t all about his performance, but his snarky attitude. After the Steelers lost to Buffalo last week, Rodgers had all the receivers over and talked to them about making adjustments and corrections. Rodgers, who turned 42 on Tuesday, always has to prove that he is the smartest guy in the room. When it comes to football, he just might be. Are you listening, Lamar Jackson? When asked about the win Sunday, Rodgers replied to the media: “It means maybe you guys will shut the hell up for the week.” Typical Rodgers. He screamed at running back Kenneth Gainwell when he didn’t stop and Rodgers misfired on a 10-yard pass that resulted in a 28-yard field goal by Chris Boswell in the third quarter. He complained to officials about a pass that they ruled was intercepted by Ravens rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan in the fourth quarter before being overturned on replay review as a catch by Rodgers on the deflection. At one point, Rodgers just strolled back on the field to take possession. “I did,” Tomlin said of seeing Rodgers taking control. “But again, we knew what was on the line today. That’s why do we business with a guy like Aaron. Thick days, like today, he’s been there, done that. Beyond the experience of it, he relishes it.” It was absolutely brilliant, but that’s also what separates Rodgers from other quarterbacks as he eventually heads into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. He oozes with confidence, and he isn’t afraid to call out his teammates. Tight end Isaiah Likely caught what was initially ruled a 13-yard touchdown pass from Jackson with 2:47 left in the game that might have sealed the win for Baltimore. Likely appeared to take three steps, but he didn’t tuck the ball away before it was broken up, and it was ruled incomplete on replay. I could see Rodgers giving Likely an earful, especially after he had a similar fumble on the goal line against Cincinnati on Thanksgiving night. That’s what great quarterbacks do. They don’t care, and it’s their team. Rodgers was in full control Sunday. Not only did he work the officials, but he also chewed out his offensive linemen when he got hit. It didn’t faze him. At one point, he was jawing with Ravens coach John Harbaugh after Harbaugh called a timeout in the first half. That’s leadership, and the Steelers seemed unfazed. It probably got some of them pumped up playing against their top contender in the division. As for Rodgers play, he was pretty impressive, the best I’ve seen him in recent weeks. The Steelers rolled him to his right several times. When the Ravens got pressure on Rodgers, he escaped, much like he did when he was the starting quarterback in Green Bay after backing up Brett Favre for the first three years of his career. Related Articles Josh Tolentino: A teary-eyed Lamar Jackson represents a Ravens season slipping away | COMMENTARY Ravens react to pair of controversial calls in 4th quarter of Steelers loss The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 27-22 loss to Steelers Ravens’ playoff hopes take crushing blow in 27-22 loss to Steelers Instant analysis from Ravens’ 27-22 loss to Steelers in Week 14 Rodgers was expected to throw a lot of short passes against the Ravens, but he had completions of 52, 38 and 31 yards. Also, can the Ravens please find someone to fill in for cornerback Marlon Humphrey when he has to play on the outside? Receiver DK Metcalf had seven caches for 148 yards, averaging 21.1 yards per reception. Meanwhile, Rodgers controlled the game, yapping, growling, consoling and at times cussing out folks. It was a great day, and he continues to cap off a Hall of Fame career that includes a Super Bowl title and four NFL Most Valuable Player Awards. He seems to be in the right place at the right time. Unfortunately, it’s Pittsburgh. “I think we were in an aggressive posture all day,” Tomlin said. “I just think that’s how we got out of bed this morning. That’s what is required when you’re playing these guys in their venue.” Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

Lamar Jackson sat quietly at his corner locker, still in full uniform and pads, his teary eyes offering a blank stare across the room. Thirty minutes after taking a game-ending sack that dropped the Ravens out of first place in the AFC North, the franchise quarterback attempted to gather himself. Coach John Harbaugh pulled up and sat to his left, consoling the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, offering a few words only Jackson could hear. It was a symbolic snapshot of where the Ravens stand right now. With four games left to play, Baltimore’s chaotic season took another turn with its 27-22 loss to Pittsburgh. The Ravens no longer control their playoff destiny after they found another way to unravel in their latest chapter of a massively disappointing campaign that is beginning to rapidly slip through their fingertips. To be clear, the Ravens had no business losing to the Steelers on Sunday. Yet here they are, now sitting at 6-7 and sliding in the division race. Baltimore’s playoff odds dropped to 31%, according to the New York Times’ simulator, while the Steelers’ (7-6) odds jumped to 66%. “[My frustration] is through the roof,” Jackson said. “Thanksgiving game, we shouldn’t have lost that game. But this one here, I don’t know what happened.” Despite playing in seven fewer games, Jackson already has exceeded his interception and sack totals from last season. He was officially hit five times, but surely endured much more contact in a game that saw Jackson run more frequently than he had over the past month. Jackson finished with seven carries for 43 yards, while recording his first rushing touchdown since Week 1 at Buffalo. “We are still turning it around,” he said. “I believe this loss to a divisional opponent was a tough loss because I felt like we could have put more points on the board, and unfortunately, we didn’t. Time ran out, and those guys do what they’re supposed to.” Why exactly didn’t the Ravens do what they’re supposed to do? Well, they actually sort of did. Aside from getting gashed through the air, the Ravens, by and large, dominated across the board in total plays (77 to 51), total yards (420 to 318), time of possession (33:44 to 26:16) and first downs (22 to 13). Pittsburgh also punted four times compared to just two punts from Jordan Stout. Suffering from yet another slow offensive start — this has become an all too familiar line — the Ravens commanded the exact type of game plan that was drawn up heading into the Week 14 showdown. A few doses of untimely misfortune didn’t aid the home sideline. Defensive tackle Travis Jones was penalized for running over long snapper Christian Kuntz, which gifted Pittsburgh with a new set of downs, and ultimately seven points rather than the initial three in a game that was decided by four. Related Articles Ravens react to pair of controversial calls in 4th quarter of Steelers loss The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 27-22 loss to Steelers Ravens’ playoff hopes take crushing blow in 27-22 loss to Steelers Instant analysis from Ravens’ 27-22 loss to Steelers in Week 14 Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell ruled out vs. Steelers with knee injury Linebacker Teddye Buchanan also saw his interception, briefly representing the defense’s only takeaway, called back following a questionable review that ruled Rodgers had legally caught his own pass instead of it being wrestled away by the rookie Buchanan. Isaiah Likely’s would-be go-ahead touchdown reception that was reversed to an incompletion completed Baltimore’s triple threat of critical misfortune. Until Baltimore regains control of its playoff destiny, many fans will express anger toward the Likely touchdown that was ruled incomplete by officials. Those calls will undoubtedly sting. However, rough luck and misfortune are only part of Baltimore’s symptoms rather than the problem itself. If a borderline replay decides your fate at home against a rival barely above water, the moment is more indicative of the underachieving product. Why even put yourself in that position, trailing in the waning moments of a home game over your longtime rivals? The once-Super Bowl favorite Ravens mustered just nine points in the first half against the NFL’s 28th-ranked defense. Sunday marked two consecutive games in which the Ravens’ secondary was exposed, leaving little room for error for an offense that has frequently spelled disaster for a majority of the season. Rodgers, who hadn’t completed a pass longer than 20 yards in more than a month, dropped a 52-yard dime down the right sideline and into D.K Metcalf’s bread basket on Pittsburgh’s first(!) play. Metcalf, who led all pass catchers with 148 receiving yards, beat veteran cornerback Marlon Humphrey on Rodgers’ opening shot. “Over the years, that’s kind of usually the Steelers’ thing against us, is to take a lot of shots downfield,” Humphrey said. “So, it didn’t necessarily surprise me.” While Harbaugh insisted there will be no finger pointing inside the organization, some leaky hints from Sunday’s disaster say otherwise. When asked what it’ll take for the Ravens to turn things around, linebacker Roquan Smith pointed to an overused phrase: “It’s about … each and every individual taking control of their 1 of 11, and doing it play in and play out. I think if you do that, and if every single person does that, you will get what you want. The talent’s there, but it’s not about the talent. … It’s about playing, doing your 1 of 11, and if No. 10 is doing their job and No. 1 is not — it’s not good enough.” Mark Andrews, four days after securing $26 million in new guaranteed salary, was a no-show, finishing with one catch for nine yards across five targets. Wide receivers Rashod Bateman and Zay Flowers and Likely each had drops, while Jackson completed 19 of 35 throws with a passer rating of 71.0. Ravens tight end Mark Andrews fails to catch a high pass in Sunday's 27-22 loss to the Steelers. Andrews had just one catch in the defeat. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) And then there’s the offensive line. Oh, boy, that offensive line. Perhaps the group most responsible for Jackson still basking in his thoughts long after the final whistle. According to the CBS broadcast, Jackson, following his turnover, was spotted barking toward embattled right guard Daniel Faalele near the home bench. Baltimore ran for 219 yards, an impressive bounce-back outing that masks another reality. The battered Steelers arrived without multiple key defensive linemen, and lost additional defenders to injury throughout the contest, yet still pressured Jackson a whopping 19 times. The final knockout, delivered by linebacker Alex Highsmith, sealed the loss and Jackson’s postgame stare. “I just saw chaos,” Jackson said of the game’s final play. “I just tried to move around as much as I could.” General manager Eric DeCosta bet on continuity up front, while offensive line coach George Warhop banked on progress. Both should face the music in the nearing offseason for employing a regressing unit that struggles to keep their quarterback upright on a weekly basis. “I always have so much respect for him and the way he plays, the way he fights and competes and everything else out there,” Harbaugh said of Jackson. “When the game starts, and the lights come on, there’s nobody you’d rather have.” The Ravens are running out of time. Jackson’s boiling emotions all but confirmed it. “Each and every week there’s no room for error,” he said. “We’ve just been talking about the [final] four-game stretch. You just have to lock in and put it all on the line.” Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article

For a moment, it was a catch. And a touchdown. And a go-ahead score for the Ravens with just over two minutes remaining against Pittsburgh on Sunday. Isaiah Likely leaped forward to corral a 13-yard pass in the end zone from quarterback Lamar Jackson. The tight end landed on his right foot, then took another step with his left, before attempting to squeeze in one more with his right foot while cornerback Joey Porter wrapped around him. Likely extended the ball forward the entire time with his 32-inch arms. Even while Porter knocked it out, it was a touchdown. For about a minute. Collective groans cast over M&T Bank Stadium after officials ruled it was an incomplete pass following a short review. The Ravens turned it over on downs three plays later at the 8-yard line following the punched out, and overturned, score from Likely’s grasp and couldn’t muster a game-winning drive with a minute remaining, losing 27-22. “I thought it was a touchdown,” running back Derrick Henry said. “13 years in this league, how many steps do you need in the end zone for a TD?” wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins wrote in a since deleted social media post on X. “If you were on the field with us, you would’ve thought it was a touchdown, too,” Jackson told reporters postgame. NFL vice president of instant replay Mark Butterworth explained postgame a three-step process to secure a catch. Likely obtained both control and two-feet inbounds, but did not have an “act common to the game” proceeding it — which would have been getting his third foot down. The tight end refrained from criticizing the officiating, and said he hadn’t seen a replay of the reversed call. “They made a call, got to live with what the refs say at the end of the day,” Likely said. It’s the second consecutive week a would-be touchdown from Likely was overturned. Against the Bengals on Thanksgiving, he fumbled a potential 44-yard score at the goal line as safety Jordan Battle punched it away. The tight end said the two plays are different. Against the Bengals, he said he got “lackadaisical” while scampering in. This week, he has to “live with what the refs called.” Likely didn’t cite anything he would have changed on the play. Related Articles The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 27-22 loss to Steelers Ravens’ playoff hopes take crushing blow in 27-22 loss to Steelers Instant analysis from Ravens’ 27-22 loss to Steelers in Week 14 Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell ruled out vs. Steelers with knee injury Ravens vs. Steelers, December 7, 2025 | PHOTOS Coach John Harbaugh said officials told him the tight end’s third foot didn’t touch down until the ball was tapped out, but was also frustrated with an overturned Aaron Rodgers turnover in the same frame. Defensive tackle C.J. Okoye batted down a Rodgers pass midway through fourth. The ball hung in the air before the 42-year-old signal caller tapped it back to himself with his right hand — grabbing it above his helmet. Linebacker Teddye Buchanan also seemingly grabbed it, and ripped it out of the quarterback’s hands as the two fell to the ground. Initial ruling: interception. So the Ravens offense began to take the field, trailing by five and at the Pittsburgh 32-yard line. Then came the first rash of boos at M&T Bank Stadium that quarter as officials ruled Rodgers was down with possession of the ball before Buchanan snagged it. “The offensive player had control of the ball as he was going to the ground,” Butterworth said. “There was a hand in there, but he never lost control of the ball and then his knees hit the ground.” Even while the Steelers punted two plays later, Baltimore began its drive at the Ravens’ 22 rather than the Pittsburgh 32. The Likely fumble occurred on the ensuing drive. “I saw the replay and it looked like he was probably down,” Buchanan said. “We’re not going to use it as an excuse or anything like that.” Harbaugh wasn’t as forgiving. He argued that a receiver must “survive the ground” for a catch to stand, and Rodgers didn’t. He also stressed the decision wasn’t a local officiating error — final calls come from the NFL office in New York. “He didn’t survive the ground. He’s not down by contact. He was catching the ball on the way down with another person,” Harbaugh said. “I don’t know why it was ruled the way it was on that one.” The fourth-quarter calls came in a game where Baltimore lost its grip on the AFC North lead and fell a game behind Pittsburgh. Four games remain for a team suddenly searching for answers — and if the Ravens want to make a playoff run, they’ll have to overcome more than just a pair of fourth-quarter whistles. Have a news tip? Contact Michael Howes at mhowes@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Mikephowes. View the full article

Here’s how the Ravens graded out at every position in their 27-22 loss to the Steelers on Sunday: Quarterback Lamar Jackson keeps getting better, but it might be too late to help save the Ravens’ season. He made some decent runs Sunday, even threatening to go out on the perimeter several times on option keepers. But it took the Ravens way too long to realize that outside linebacker T.J. Watt kept crashing down on every play and finally in the second half they figured out how to attack Watt with fullback Patrick Ricard. Regardless, whatever the reason, Jackson isn’t as fast or as quick as he used to be and he completed only 19 of 35 passes for 219 yards with one touchdown and one interception and finished with a passer rating of 71. Overall, it’s an improvement from what we’ve seen in the past four weeks. Grade: C+ Running backs Starter Derrick Henry pounded the Steelers for 94 yards on 25 carries, and Keaton Mitchell had six carries for 76 yards, including a 55-yard burst. Mitchell might have made a difference late in the game, but he left in the second half with a knee injury. He is a good change-of-pace back for Baltimore. The Ravens had 40 carries for 217 yards but waited too long to punish the Steelers up front. Pittsburgh entered Sunday allowing 117 rushing yards per game. Baltimore, though, should have committed to running the ball in the first half. They had 19 carries for 73 yards and clearly the Steelers’ defensive line was gassed in the second half. Jackson rushed seven times for 43 yards. Grade: B+ Offensive line Pittsburgh had only two sacks and five quarterback hits, but it kept constant pressure on Jackson, who still can’t decide if he wants to run or pass in tough situations. Both tackles Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten had trouble with outside linebackers Alex Highsmith and Watt, and Jackson was under duress because both guards, Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele, got beat inside. There were times when Faalele looked lost simply because of his foot speed. Overall, though, the Ravens had opportunities to win and the best shot to pull that off was by running the ball. Baltimore did that, but it still continues to struggle as far as pass blocking. Grade: C Receivers The Ravens finally accomplished one thing: they got slot receiver Zay Flowers more touches. Flowers had eight catches for 124 yards, but this group seemed uninterested, and maybe that’s because the Ravens ran the ball so much. Tight end Isaiah Likely’s near 13-yard touchdown reception with 2:47 left in the game should have been confirmed, but instead it was ruled incomplete. The worst part is that after Likely fumbled on the goal line against the Bengals on Thanksgiving Day, he should have known to tuck the ball. There are no more excuses. Jackson was simply off on some of his throws, like the one to DeAndre Hopkins out of bounds or his overthrows of Rashod Bateman and Flowers. It wasn’t a great day for the receivers, but this group didn’t need to be great, just adequate. Grade: C- Defensive line Pittsburgh had only 34 yards on 17 carries, but that was enough to complement the offense. The Steelers simply had a running game only to keep Baltimore’s defensive line honest. The Ravens, though, didn’t get their hands up to knock down a lot of short passes thrown by quarterback Aaron Rodgers. They got some pressure on Rodgers, but he showed his best mobility in recent weeks. Tackle John Jenkins had only one tackle and Travis Jones finished with one, too. Tackle C.J. Okoye almost had the play of the game when he tipped a Rodgers pass in the second half, but a Teddye Buchanan interception was nullified because Rodgers caught the ball first and had one knee on the ground. That was actually the correct call. Unfortunately, the Ravens didn’t have a sack on Rodgers and had only three quarterback hurries. Grade: B– Linebackers Middle linebacker Roquan Smith had 10 tackles to lead the team, but there were times when he looked lost on the field, like on Kenneth Gainwell’s 6-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. The linebackers still can’t cover well, as exemplified on Jaylen Warren’s 38-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter. It was a short pass in the flat, and how many times have we seen that this season? And one more thing, outside linebacker Mike Green, he went that way. The Ravens tried several different blitzes up the middle, but that stuff doesn’t work against proven quarterbacks like Rodgers. Grade: C- Related Articles Ravens react to pair of controversial calls in 4th quarter of Steelers loss Ravens’ playoff hopes take crushing blow in 27-22 loss to Steelers Instant analysis from Ravens’ 27-22 loss to Steelers in Week 14 Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell ruled out vs. Steelers with knee injury Ravens vs. Steelers, December 7, 2025 | PHOTOS Secondary Pittsburgh came into the game with a small ball offense but completed passes of 52, 38 and 31 yards. The Steelers took the Ravens to task, especially on the outside with cornerback Marlon Humphrey trying to play against DK Metcalf, who had seven catches for 148 yards. As far as tackling, it was an atrocious day for this group. Starting cornerback Nate Wiggins missed a bunch of tackles even though he finished with six, and the Ravens need to find a way to get Humphrey help when he is isolated on the outside. Rodgers made this group look really bad. There were times when the secondary looked lost. Again. Grade: D Special teams Rookie Tyler Loop converted on field goal attempts of 36, 28 and 36 yards, but how does he miss an extra point try? Also, I thought the Ravens had gotten over the mishaps with the directional kickoffs, but they continue to flounder. Whenever rookie LaJohntay Wester returns a punt, you just kind of hold your breath. This is the NFL, not college football. One move, and then go north and south, not east and west. You’re not outrunning anybody in this league. Wester averaged 4.7 yards on three punt returns. Not good. Jordan Stout averaged 51 yards on two punts. Grade: C- Coaching The Ravens were ready for a physical game, and they got one. Unfortunately, Pittsburgh was willing to gamble early and had success, which resulted in a 17-9 halftime lead. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken tried several new combinations with Henry and Mitchell both playing, but he waited too long to to go with the ground game. As for the Ravens’ defense, there isn’t much to be said. They can’t cover, and they don’t have a pass rusher. End of conversation. Grade: C- Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

The past met the present Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium, where the Ravens’ inaugural Super Bowl championship team celebrated its 25th anniversary. More than 50 members were on hand, from Trent Dilfer to Ray Lewis, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker had an enthusiastic parting message for the current team before departing the halftime festivities. “Baltimore! Baltimore!” he bellowed. “Time to go to work, baby!” Instead, the Ravens were left looking for answers again, this time from the officials. Trailing 27-22 with just over three minutes remaining, Lamar Jackson drove the Ravens to the Pittsburgh 13-yard line before connecting with Isaiah Likely over the middle for what appeared to be his second touchdown of the game. But the call was overturned by replay, with Likely ruled as not having completed the catch as the ball was ripped out of his hands, despite having taken at least one step with control. Ravens coach John Harbaugh, the crowd and Baltimore’s sideline disagreed vehemently. Baltimore then failed to convert on fourth-and-5, and Jackson was sacked on the Steelers’ 39 on its next series on the final play as the clock struck zero. Pittsburgh (7-6) hung on for the victory and moved into first place in the AFC North, a game ahead of Baltimore (6-7) with just four games remaining in the regular season. It was a surreal setting and finish in many ways. The game marked the first time since 1999 the two had met in December with neither above .500. Still, first place in the AFC North was on the line for the longtime and bitter rivals, and someone had to claim it. That it was close was also not a surprise — 28 of the past 38 games between these two had been decided by a single score, and this would be no different. There was plenty of drama and controversy to go with it. With just over seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (23-for-34 passing, 284 yards, one touchdown) dropped back to pass from his own 41, the ball was tipped at the line of scrimmage and appeared to be intercepted by linebacker Teddye Buchanan. But replay overturned that call, with Rodgers ruled down after he initially caught his own pass. It resulted in a 9-yard loss and Pittsburgh punted two plays later, but instead of the Ravens having the ball at the Steelers’ 33-yard line, the crowd in full throat and a chance to surge ahead, they were denied. Ravens coach John Harbaugh shouted, “That’s wrong! That’s wrong!” at the referees. But it was to no avail. Baltimore had plenty of other things to be frustrated with. The Steelers and Rodgers hadn’t completed a pass of more than 20 yards through the air in over a month. It took all of one play for that streak to end. On the game’s first play, the 42-year-old went 52 yards up the right sideline to Metcalf over Marlon Humphrey. Then Rodgers scored his first rushing touchdown since Jan. 1, 2023, on a run around the right end to cap the scoring drive for a 7-3 lead. It was a precursor of things to come. After Baltimore’s defense stopped Pittsburgh on a third-and-1 from the 13 in the second quarter to limit the damage to a field goal, Travis Jones was flagged for a questionable unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for running over the center. Harbaugh was livid over the call and had a case, but the first down led to an easy 6-yard Kenneth Gainwell touchdown as he pranced through the left side of the defense unbothered. Related Articles Instant analysis from Ravens’ 27-22 loss to Steelers in Week 14 Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell ruled out vs. Steelers with knee injury Ravens vs. Steelers, December 7, 2025 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Steelers live updates: Postgame reaction, analysis from 27-22 loss Ravens vs. Steelers staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Baltimore? That four-point swing put the Steelers up 17-3 with the Ravens looking discombobulated in every phase of the game. They did get some help, though. Their best offense of the first half turned out to be the yellow flag. Pittsburgh’s kickoff came up short of the landing zone, resulting in a penalty and the ball at Baltimore’s 40 to start its next possession. Two more penalties on third down then helped extend the drive, and the Ravens marched 60 yards in 13 plays with Jackson (seven carries, 43 rushing yards, one touchdown) scoring his first rushing touchdown since Week 1 on a 6-yard scramble on third and goal. Then Loop missed the extra point. Things weren’t any better in the second half and in some ways mirrored the first. Loop’s kickoff to start the third quarter went out of bounds. On the first play from scrimmage, Rodgers had all day to throw, allowing Metcalf to get open and haul in a 41-yard catch. That helped set up another Chris Boswell field goal to extend the lead to 20-9. Despite the two-score deficit, the Ravens stuck with their running game. It finally paid dividends. After two straight runs set up a third-and-1, Keaton Mitchell popped loose through left side and raced 55 yards before being surprisingly caught by defensive back James Pierre at the 7-yard line. But just when it appeared another red zone opportunity might go by the wayside on third-and-goal from the 4, Jackson (19 of 35, 219 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception) broke toward the end zone, sucking the Steelers’ defense in, only to find a wide open Likely for a touchdown. Rather than go for a 2-point conversion to pull within a field goal, Baltimore opted for an extra point, and this time Loop connected to cut the deficit to 20-16. The score energized the crowd. But the celebration was short-lived. Rodgers again capitalized on another one-on-one matchup on the outside, connecting with Calvin Austin III, who got behind Chidobe Awuzie, for a 31-yard gain on third-and-5 from his own 25. Three plays later and again on third down, he then dumped a short pass off to an open Jaylen Warren, who raced 38 yards down the sideline for the score to put Pittsburgh up 27-16 with 3:38 left in the third quarter in what ended up being the decisive score. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Ravens tight end Isiaiah Likely can't hang on to what would've been a go-ahead touchdown catch in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Steelers. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 27-22 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 14 of the NFL season on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore: Brian Wacker, reporter The Ravens (6-7) won’t like the overturning of Isaiah Likely’s touchdown catch, and they have a beef. But there were also plenty of other shortcomings to be frustrated about, most notably their pass defense against a Steelers (7-6) offense led by 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers that has struggled to move the ball. But as often has the case been, Baltimore’s defense proved to be a welcome tonic to an ailing offense. Too many times the Ravens didn’t get pressure on Rodgers and too often it allowed him to find open receivers downfield. Now comes an uphill climb with games against the Bengals’ Joe Burrow, the Patriots’ Drake Maye, the Packers’ Jordan Love and Rodgers again. That’s a tall task and it might be too much to overcome to make the playoffs. Mike Preston, columnist The Ravens made this game closer than most of us expected. The Steelers came into this game reeling and the Ravens had every opportunity to win, but not even the magic of quarterback Lamar Jackson could pull out the victory for Baltimore. Jackson was sacked by Cameron Heyward on the game’s final play in Pittsburgh territory. Sure, there was some questionable officiating in this game, but that’s standard in the NFL. Tight end Isaiah Likely should have tucked the ball, even though he took two steps in the end zone. But Pittsburgh was willing to gamble in the first half and built a nice lead to hold off the Ravens at the end. Regardless, the Ravens are a mess. Their offensive line can’t pass block and the secondary can’t cover. They deserve to be 6-7 at this point. Josh Tolentino, columnist Well, at least Todd Monken got the memo. After abandoning Derrick Henry in the team’s Thanksgiving night loss to the Bengals, Baltimore fed the future Hall of Fame running back to the tune of 25 carries for 94 yards (3.8 average) against Pittsburgh. Henry’s efforts, though, weren’t enough as Zach Orr’s defense failed to record a takeaway against one of the league’s worst offenses, while quarterback Lamar Jackson saw his season interception total rise to five. There have been plenty of disappointing moments this season, but if the Ravens fail to secure a playoff berth, they’ll look back at this Week 14 loss and remember a prime opportunity they flushed down the drain. Baltimore commanded the exact type of game plan it wanted against its division rivals, between dominating time of possession, 33:44 to 26:16, and outgaining the Steelers, 420-318. Yet timely mistakes, along with a questionable reversed touchdown call on Isaiah Likely’s would-be go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter, proved to be detrimental. Sam Cohn, reporter Baltimore’s undoing, on Sunday and perhaps in the greater context of this Ravens season, will be haunted by a few metaphorical kicks squarely to the groin, courtesy of the men wearing stripes. Fair or not, the Ravens were this close. Travis Jones was flagged for unnecessary roughness after breaking through the middle of the line on a Steelers field goal attempt. Gifted a fresh set of downs, Pittsburgh scored a touchdown one play later. Rookie Teddye Buchanan registered the first interception of his career, only for officials to rule Aaron Rodgers down with his hands on the ball upon review. Then, the one that Ravens fans will take to the bars to debate with friends, was Isaiah Likely’s touchdown catch. Officials negated the score, ruling it incomplete. Still, the Ravens had a chance. They got the ball with two minutes left and one timeout. That drive never reached the end zone, ending with the quarterback on the ground. Because of it, Baltimore’s odds to reach the playoffs plummeted. Michael Howes, reporter The immediate chatter postgame will be on the two consequence calls against the Ravens in the final minutes. First, an interception overturned that would’ve moved Baltimore into Pittsburgh territory. Then, another Isaiah Likely touchdown overturned. Did the Ravens deserve to win the game, though? Probably not. Related Articles Ravens’ playoff hopes take crushing blow in 27-22 loss to Steelers Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell ruled out vs. Steelers with knee injury Ravens vs. Steelers, December 7, 2025 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Steelers live updates: Postgame reaction, analysis from 27-22 loss Ravens vs. Steelers staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Baltimore? An Aaron Rodgers who entered M&T Bank Stadium struggling and looking like a 42-year-old quarterback passed for a season-high 284 yards with a 67.6% completion rate. DK Metcalf torched the recently stout Baltimore secondary for 148 yards and seven catches, both season highs. And there were still chances for Baltimore to win the game. After the Likely score was overturned, the Ravens stalled at the Pittsburgh 8-yard line on fourth down after they couldn’t pick up two yards on third down. The clock ran out on Baltimore on its final drive as Lamar Jackson was sacked. The Ravens’ grasp on the division lead is gone. Will they be able to overcome that adversity in the final four games? C.J. Doon, editor That felt like the Ravens’ entire season wrapped into one game, didn’t it? We saw more mediocre play from quarterback Lamar Jackson, continuing an alarming stretch for the two-time NFL MVP. The offense was just as frustrating as ever, at times sticking to the running game to keep the chains moving but often stalling out in the red zone. (Side note: Keeping Derrick Henry on the sideline for a couple plays here and there in the first half, while curious at the time, might have paid off in the second half.) Some brutal drops didn’t help. There are no trustworthy pass catchers on this team, not even Zay Flowers. DeAndre Hopkins and Rashod Bateman have been MIA. Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely are inconsistent at best. The offensive line is in shambles. Jackson doesn’t have the explosiveness to bail the Ravens out the way he used to. Even a burst from Keaton Mitchell was immediately followed by a trip to the medical tent with a worrying knee injury. Starting 1-5 was a crisis that the Ravens admirably fought through. Now, trailing the division leader by one game with four games left, is another. The Bengals, who embarrassed the Ravens on Thanksgiving and held a late lead at Buffalo on Sunday before collapsing, host Baltimore next week to continue a brutal stretch of games to finish the season. Right now, there isn’t much confidence that it will end with a playoff berth. We thought this was one of the best rosters in Ravens history. Instead, it has all the makings of a historic flop. Tim Schwartz, editor The Ravens have not looked like a legitimate playoff team in months. Sunday was no different. Against a reeling Steelers team that had lost five of its past seven, Pittsburgh brought the juice at M&T Bank Stadium and took control of the AFC North, the NFL’s worst division. The fourth quarter wasn’t without controversy, with a touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson to Isaiah Likely wiped out after being ruled incomplete and a would-be interception of Aaron Rodgers overturned by replay, but Baltimore had plenty of opportunities beyond that. This team will make you rip your hair out. There’s a good chance that ends with the regular-season finale in Pittsburgh. The postseason feels like a long shot. Bennett Conlin, editor The Ravens have reason to be upset with the officials. A pair of crucial late calls both went against Baltimore, including what seemed to be a game-changing interception and a potential go-ahead touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely. The interception reversal felt particularly egregious. Still, Baltimore had chances to win and made a few terrible mistakes. Why is Todd Monken calling for a delayed handoff on third-and-2 on the Ravens’ penultimate drive? It resulted in a 3-yard loss and doomed what should’ve been a touchdown drive. How does the secondary get cooked so badly for the first three quarters against an aging Aaron Rodgers? The ill-timed penalties in the final two minutes essentially killed the team’s final chance at scoring. Losing this game at home is brutal, and it could signal the end of John Harbaugh’s tenure. This doesn’t look like a playoff team despite the roster’s significant individual talent. It’s inexcusable. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell was ruled out of Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh at the beginning of the fourth quarter with a knee injury. Mitchell rushed for 76 yards on six carries before his exit, including a 55-yard rush to set up a Ravens touchdown to cut the Steelers’ lead to 20-16 in the third quarter. He hobbled off the field after that play and was examined in the medical tent on the sideline before heading to the locker room. The third-year running back was on the injury report ahead of Baltimore’s week 11 matchup against the Browns but participated in the game. He hadn’t been on the report since. It’s been nearly two years since Mitchell tore his ACL, PCL, LCL and hamstring against the Jaguars on Dec. 17, 2023. Mitchell, 23, was Baltimore’s most productive back ahead of his exit, averaging 12.7 yards per carry. Running back Rasheen Ali should receive more carries in his absence behind Derrick Henry. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Michael Howes at mhowes@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Mikephowes. View the full article

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell scores on a 6-yard run during the second quarter in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Steelers’ James Pierre intercepts a pass by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in the 2nd quarter. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III drops a pass initially ruled a catch before the Baltimore Ravens successfully challenge the play. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is sacked by Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Brandon Echols during the first quarter in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is sacked by Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Brandon Echols during the first quarter in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Brandin Echols breaks up a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers during the first quarter in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers makes a diving catch for a long gain in 1st quarter of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers makes a diving catch for a long gain in 1st quarter of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens’ Lamar Jackson interviews with TV sideline reporter before game against the Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens tightends Isaiah Likely, right, warms up with Mark Andrews before game against the Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Players from the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers go through pregame warmups at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, left, greets Kyle Hamilton during warm up before game against the Steelers in the quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson warms up before game against the Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during pregame before an AFC North division showdown of NFL football against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen, formerly with the Baltimore Ravens during pregame before an AFC North division showdown of NFL football against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers passes during pregame before an AFC North division showdown of NFL football against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during pregame before an AFC North division showdown of NFL football against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

The Ravens and Steelers are fighting for first place in the AFC North on Sunday. Baltimore trails, 20-9, in 3rd quarter. Follow along here for live coverage and analysis. View the full article

Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Sunday’s Week 14 game between the Ravens and Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore: Brian Wacker, reporter Ravens 23, Steelers 14: Look for the Ravens to lean on their running game and Derrick Henry. The Bills gashed Pittsburgh last week, and even with an offensive line that has struggled this season, Baltimore should have success on the ground. Aaron Rodgers is banged up and so is Lamar Jackson, but not nearly as badly. There will be turnovers and this will get a little sloppy at times, but expect this one to decided by the Ravens’ defense and their rushing attack. Sam Cohn, reporter Steelers 17, Ravens 14: This doesn’t feel like the type of AFC North matchup in which both sides are fighting to win a spot in the playoffs. It reeks of two teams trying to avoid the humiliation of missing the postseason via abject disaster. Neither quarterback is at full health for this must-win game, which means it could be decided by defense. Expect a few turnovers; the Ravens have forced at least one in each of their past seven games, and the Steelers lead the NFL in forced fumbles. Another close ending seems all but certain in a rivalry in which 28 of 38 matchups have been decided by one score. Although the Ravens seem better equipped on paper, this one might end in a fourth straight Jackson clunker feeding a narrow loss because the Steelers do barely enough. Mike Preston, columnist Ravens 27, Steelers 14: Pittsburgh might be 6-6 and tied with the Ravens for first place in the AFC North, but the Ravens have a pulse with Lamar Jackson at quarterback while the Steelers answer with Aaron Rodgers. This matchup clearly works in the Ravens’ favor because Jackson can move as opposed to Rodgers, who at 41 is more of a statue. Plus, Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has very little imagination and Rodgers seldom throws the ball over the middle. The Ravens should be able to run Derrick Henry at will against Pittsburgh’s rush defense, which is ranked No. 17 in the league allowing 117.7 yards per game. This really shouldn’t be much of a contest. Pittsburgh is a really bad team, and even though the Ravens have their own problems, they should be able to handle the Steelers at home even with a struggling offensive line. Josh Tolentino, columnist Ravens 21, Steelers 17: Sunday’s renewal of the Ravens-Steelers rivalry comes with both teams nursing quarterback injuries and clinging to postseason hopes. Remarkably, the AFC North is the only division in the NFL without a winning team. That’ll change Sunday, with the victor walking away with a significant boost in playoff odds over the final month of the regular season. Despite Baltimore’s season-long offensive inconsistencies, there’s still a slight sense of optimism that the Ravens can heat up at the right time. Lamar Jackson gave fans a scare this week with his Thursday absence; the two-time NFL MVP might not reach full health again this season, but Jackson’s ability to protect the ball should be a top priority after the Ravens coughed up a season-high five turnovers in the Thanksgiving night loss to the Bengals. Mike Tomlin, Aaron Rodgers and Pittsburgh have authored a whacky season, losing five of their past seven. If there’s been one constant between both teams in recent games, it’s Baltimore’s defense. C.J. Doon, editor Ravens 20, Steelers 16: Lamar Jackson and company have struggled against the Steelers even during the best of times. Now that they’re down in the dumps, all bets are off. You could tell me just about anything happens Sunday — Jackson has a perfect passer rating, Jackson throws three interceptions, Derrick Henry rushes for 250 yards, Henry only gets 10 carries — and I would believe it. One thing that’s all but certain? It will be close. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is 13-4-2 against the spread against Baltimore as an underdog. On the most basic level, I trust Jackson and the Ravens’ offense to figure it out against a slumping and banged-up Steelers defense than I do Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf and Jaylen Warren to get the best of a Ravens defense that had been playing really well before a Thanksgiving letdown. Kickers Tyler Loop and Chris Boswell could end up being the stars of the game. Bennett Conlin, editor Ravens 24, Steelers 20: Baltimore’s offense looks out of sorts, but a few extra days of rest should help Lamar Jackson and the unit sort out some issues. The Steelers are an average football team with issues of their own. A vintage Ravens-Steelers rivalry matchup, this is not. Give me the Ravens in an ugly game between two teams trying to find their way. Tim Schwartz, editor Ravens 24, Steelers 17: As messy as things are in Baltimore, it’s even worse in Pittsburgh. I don’t think it’s going to get any better up north this weekend. The Ravens are healthy again and reinforcements are on the way, and one has to assume quarterback Lamar Jackson will turn things around as he deals with perhaps the worst stretch of his career. I think the Steelers are just what Derrick Henry’s doctor ordered, considering they allowed 249 rushing yards to the Bills last weekend. If Baltimore doesn’t give Henry and Keaton Mitchell at least a combined 25 carries on Sunday, it will come to regret it. The more the merrier. It’s time the Ravens reclaim their identity as the NFL’s most potent rushing attack. This is a good place to start. Patrice Sanders, FOX45 Morning News anchor Ravens 27, Steelers 17: This is a battle for first place in the division. Many people counted the Ravens out earlier this season, but they came back and won five straight. Now Baltimore moves past its Thanksgiving loss with an eye on the playoffs, and the only way to get there is to win the AFC North. This is a must-win game. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. View the full article

The Ravens will go into Sunday’s crucial game against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers fully healthy. The only players ruled out on the final injury report of the week for Baltimore are outside linebacker Tavius Robinson (foot) and safety Ar’Darius Washington (Achilles tendon), both of whom are still working their way back from injured reserve and the physically unable to perform list, respectively. No other players have an injury designation for the game. That is meaningful news after quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has been mired in perhaps the worst slump of his career over the past month, had his foot stepped on during Wednesday’s practice and was absent the following day. He returned Friday, was a full participant and does not have an injury designation for the game. The Steelers, meanwhile, are a bit more banged up. They will be without rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (knee), starting safety Kyle Dugger (hand) and reserve offensive tackle Calvin Anderson (knee). All three players were officially ruled out Friday. The loss of Dugger, whom the Steelers acquired in a trade with the New England Patriots in late October, is a blow to a Pittsburgh secondary that is already without former Ravens safety DeShon Elliott and a defense that ranks 28th in total yards (365.1) and passing yards (247.4) per game. The Steelers will also be without rookie cornerback Donte Kent, who returned to practice earlier this week from a knee injury that landed him injured reserve but suffered a new injury. He is expected to miss the rest of the 2025 season. That means that Chuck Clark, a 2017 sixth-round draft pick who played his first six seasons with the Ravens, is expected to get extended playing time against his former team. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers (left wrist), on the other hand, was a full participant in practice for a second straight day, does not have an injury designation and will start. Former Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen (glute) also fully practiced for the second day in a row after being limited earlier in the week and does not have an injury designation. Safety Jalen Ramsey (rest) practiced for the first time this week as a limited participant. The game marks the first time since 1999 that the teams, both 6-6, have met in December when neither was over .500, but first place is on the line Sunday. Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson returns to practice, addresses slump: ‘I still be me’ Ravens vs. Steelers scouting report for Week 14: Who has the edge? Ravens TE Isaiah Likely reacts to Mark Andrews contract extension READERS RESPOND: Most fans say the Ravens will win the AFC North Ravens QB Lamar Jackson absent from practice Thursday with Steelers looming Baltimore has won five of its past six games but is coming off an embarrassing 32-14 defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals at home on Thanksgiving night. Pittsburgh has dropped four of its past six, including a 26-7 pounding at the hands of the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. The significance of the game is not lost on Jackson. “It’s like a playoff game, and right now, for the situation we’re in, it’s definitely a playoff game for us,” he said. “If we weren’t in this situation, it would still be [like] a playoff game just because of the rivalry.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

A day after being absent from one practice for a fourth straight week, Lamar Jackson returned to the field Friday in Owings Mills. The Ravens quarterback confirmed that he got his foot stepped on during Wednesday’s session, leading to his absence the following day, though he declined to name which player was the guilty party. He also said that Wednesday was supposed to be a rest day for him. Either way, coach John Harbaugh said that Jackson is good to go for Sunday’s critical AFC North showdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium. The two-time Most Valuable Player also said that he’s “feeling good” and that Friday was a “productive” day, though he acknowledged that he has not been pleased with his play of late. Over his past three games, Jackson has failed to produce a touchdown. Baltimore won two of them, but he’s also coming off the worst performance of his career. In a 32-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Thanksgiving night, he turned the ball over a season-high three times and completed a season-low 53.1% of his passes. It was also the fourth consecutive game that he failed to complete at least 60% of his passes, which is also the longest such stretch of his career. “I’m not ecstatic about that at all,” he said about his lack of scoring. “I’m mad but I’m happy we got the wins when we did. But this past Thursday, Thanksgiving night, I’m not happy at all. We had turnovers, missed assignments and we wasn’t us, so I’m not happy about that at all. But if I’m not scoring a touchdown and we winning, I’m not gonna be mad at a win. I be mad at the losses.” He also indicated that he isn’t panicking over his play. Asked if he has done anything different amid the slump, he said that he’s just staying the course. “I don’t change up anything,” he said. “I still be me at the end of day, do what I was supposed to do and do my job.” Still, he felt compelled to clap back last week at a Pittsburgh radio host’s comment on social media that said that the quarterback is “overrated,” responding on X with “Sayless” followed by a laughing emoji. Related Articles Ravens healthy, Steelers without key starters for AFC North showdown Ravens vs. Steelers scouting report for Week 14: Who has the edge? Ravens TE Isaiah Likely reacts to Mark Andrews contract extension READERS RESPOND: Most fans say the Ravens will win the AFC North Ravens QB Lamar Jackson absent from practice Thursday with Steelers looming “There’s always gonna be noise,” he said, adding that it fired him up. “Most of us NFL players are built off noise, little adversities, little rivalry, little tactics.” On Thursday, offensive coordinator Todd Monken said that it’s “hard to judge” how much the missed practices have impacted Jackson’s recent play, however. Jackson has also had several injuries this season, including to his hamstring, knee, toe and ankle. Tight end Mark Andrews added that he is there if Jackson needs support during what has been a trying year but added that he doesn’t need it. “He is Lamar Jackson, and he is that great of a player,” Andrews said. “So, [I have] full confidence in him, always and forever.” Jackson also understands the importance of Sunday’s game and what’s at stake. Pittsburgh and Baltimore are both 6-6 and tied atop the division. “Every game is big,” he said. “It don’t matter who we playing. “But it’s different because it’s the Steelers. It’s a rivalry game.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Happy Steelers week to all who celebrate. This one’s a doozy. The Ravens and Steelers are both 6-6, tied atop the AFC North. Winner earns a one-game leg up. Playoff implications abound. In fact, Sunday’s game holds more playoff leverage than any other NFL game so far this season. According to ESPN’s Aaron Schatz, a Ravens win would catapult them to 70% odds of making the postseason. A loss plummets their chances to 21%. The Steelers are a tick better: a win gives Pittsburgh a 75% chance to take the division, a loss drops it to 23%. Who will have the advantage Sunday? Ravens passing game vs. Steelers pass defense Is Lamar Jackson fully healthy? Has the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, coming off the most productive season of his career, regressed? Will that spoil any shot at postseason redemption for the Ravens? All fair questions, none of which we have much clarity on. Jackson and coach John Harbaugh say that he’s healthy, despite him missing one practice each of the past three weeks during a stretch without a passing touchdown. Jackson’s production is down, turnovers are way up and some of his throws are head scratchers, chalked up to an “off day” by his coach and teammates. Over the past four weeks, Jackson’s expected points added per play — a statistic measuring one’s impact on a given play — ranks 28th out of 32 quarterbacks and his clean pocket success rate is 27th. Both figures, according to ESPN data scientist Sam Hoppen, paint a bleak picture. Another telling figure, from Next Gen Stats: Jackson has 20 designed runs this season and has not forced a single missed tackle. That, after leading all quarterbacks with 104 over the first seven years of his career. Once a bastion of consistent superhuman feats, Jackson looks beatable. “Just be me,” he said. “Be Lamar,” and everything else will fall into place. Pittsburgh’s secondary isn’t a steel curtain, but the defense has forced 12 fumbles, more than any other team in the NFL. That’s a bad sign for the Ravens, who coughed it up four times last week, bringing their total to 10, second worst in the league. EDGE: Steelers Steelers passing game vs. Ravens pass defense By kickoff Sunday, it will have been 42 days since the last time the Steelers completed a downfield pass. The 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers and his backup, Mason Rudolph, have combined to throw 13 passes at least 20 yards downfield. Three of them were picked off. The other 10 fell incomplete. Rodgers hasn’t been much sharper on intermediate throws (10-19 air yards), completing one-third of his attempts over his past four starts, according to Next Gen Stats. The final score of the Ravens’ loss to the Bengals didn’t do Baltimore’s defense any favors. Yes, they let up 32 points. But in the first half, Cincinnati took five trips within 25 yards of the end zone (two of them a result of Ravens fumbles) and never punched it in. Where Rodgers can hurt Baltimore is by getting rid of the ball quick on short and intermediate throws to drive down the field. EDGE: Ravens Ravens running game vs. Steelers run defense When the Steelers drafted Derrick Harmon earlier this year, they did so with their AFC wild-card loss in mind. Derrick Henry took 26 carries for 186 yards and two touchdowns that day. Pittsburgh used their first-round pick on Harmon because, as coach Mike Tomlin put it this week, “If you run out of bigs in AFC North ball, you’re running on the beach.” Needling the point even further, the defensive tackle out of Oregon went on a podcast and said that he was most excited to meet Henry in the trenches. But a recent knee injury to the Pittsburgh run stuffer will delay their first encounter. So the Steelers won’t have Harmon to stop Henry, but they should have Patrick Queen, who missed one practice this week for a glute injury. Queen, the former Raven turned Pittsburgh defensive signal caller, has not missed a game in his six-year career. Tomlin emphasized this week that stopping the run is the team’s number one priority. Last week, in a loss to the Bills, Pittsburgh’s defense allowed 249 rushing yards, the most by a visiting team since 1975. Whether the Ravens can get Henry going could decide Sunday’s outcome. EDGE: Ravens Steelers running game vs. Ravens run defense Pittsburgh running backs have the pleasure of four 300-pound players paving a lane: guard Spencer Anderson (6 feet 5, 305 pounds), tackle Broderick Jones (6-5, 311), tackle Troy Fautanu (6-4, 317) and tight end Darnell Washington (6-7, 311). Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith once likened their ground game to Alexander the Great riding into battle on elephants, which is all well and great but the Steelers are among the least productive rushing teams in the NFL this season. They rank poorly in average rushing yards and explosive run rate. The Steelers’ eight rushing scores rank better than only seven teams. And they’ve rushed for a touchdown in less than half their games. Baltimore’s defense has only allowed one rushing touchdown in five weeks. EDGE: Ravens Ravens special teams vs. Steelers special teams By defense-adjusted value over average, the Baltimore’s special teams unit is better than Pittsburgh’s. The Steelers, according to FTN, own a middle-of-the-pack group in the NFL. The Ravens are top-10 in special teams DVOA. Their kicker, Tyler Loop, kept the Ravens within striking distance when the offense started slow, and their punter, Jordan Stout, has flipped the field enough times to warrant All-Pro attention. Outside of a muff by LaJohntay Wester, Baltimore’s special teams unit has been its most consistent phase of football this season. EDGE: Ravens Ravens intangibles vs. Steelers intangibles Related Articles Ravens TE Isaiah Likely reacts to Mark Andrews contract extension READERS RESPOND: Most fans say the Ravens will win the AFC North Ravens QB Lamar Jackson absent from practice Thursday with Steelers looming Staff picks for Week 14 of 2025 NFL season: Bears vs. Packers, Eagles vs. Chargers and more Are Harbaugh and Tomlin coaching for their jobs? Pressure is on. | COMMENTARY Harbaugh and Tomlin meet Sunday for the 39th time. That’s the second most meetings between a pair of coaches in NFL history. Both the Ravens and Steelers, consistent playoff contenders who have failed to get over the hump in a decade, are toiling through disappointing campaigns. One will back their way into the playoffs, while the other’s job comes under fire. The Baltimore Sun columnist Josh Tolentino writes, “Both coaches and franchises have built their identities around punishing trademark defenses. But those foundations have been shaken this season.” Perhaps this coaching showdown is the last between these two. As it stands, Harbaugh’s job is safer than Tomlin’s. Just ask the two guys who piloted Pittsburgh’s last Super Bowl — Ben Roethlisberger and James Harrison. EDGE: Ravens Prediction This doesn’t feel like the type of AFC North matchup in which both sides are fighting to win a spot in the playoffs. It reeks of two teams trying to avoid the humiliation of missing the postseason via abject disaster. Neither quarterback is at full health for this must-win game, which means it could be decided by defense. Expect a few turnovers; the Ravens have forced at least one in each of their past seven games, and the Steelers lead the NFL in forced fumbles. Another close ending seems all but certain in a rivalry in which 28 of 38 matchups have been decided by one score. Although the Ravens seem better equipped on paper, this one might end in a fourth straight Jackson clunker feeding a narrow loss because the Steelers do barely enough. Steelers 17, Ravens 14. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. View the full article

Imagine being in a room with a few co-workers, all of you with the same job and on expiring contracts. Some are perhaps more skilled than others, but some are younger and offer a potentially longer career. This is the world that Ravens tight ends Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar have lived in this season and it’s the kind scenario that could have frayed the dynamic between the group and potentially the locker room. Then on Wednesday, Baltimore made a somewhat surprising decision, giving Andrews, 30, a three-year, $39.3 million contract extension that includes $26 million guaranteed. The deal makes him the sixth-highest paid player at his position in the league and will keep him in Baltimore through the 2028 season. Likely’s reaction? He said that he was “gassed” and texted Andrews telling him that he loves him, is proud of him and there’s more work for them to do. “I just watched my brother get paid, so I just see joy,” he said Thursday. The deal also means that the future of Likely, 25, and Kolar, 26, both of whom are in the final year of their rookie contracts, is suddenly much more murky than it was a few months ago. It hasn’t helped that they haven’t put up the kind of numbers that some expected, particularly Likely, who also missed the first three games of the season after breaking a bone in his foot during training camp. Since returning, he has just 18 catches for 223 yards and no touchdowns across nine games. Kolar, meanwhile, has just eight catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns this season. This past offseason, Baltimore had entertained the idea of trade offers for Andrews, who is in his eighth season and has seen a dip in his production over the past couple of seasons. But the right deal never materialized. Now the two are wedded for the foreseeable future. It’s something that Andrews, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, one-time All-Pro and the franchise leader in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, is ecstatic about. “Just super grateful, just excited for this moment,” he said. “It means a lot being part of this organization and part of this community, this city. Just being drafted here eight years ago it means the world to me to be able to go out on the field to be able to fight and compete with these guys and this team. I couldn’t ask for a better situation.” The signing capped a busy week for the former third-round pick out of Oklahoma after he got engaged last week. The deal also came together in about the span of two weeks. “It felt like kind of four years ago,” he said, alluding to his 2021 contract extension. “It happened extremely fast then.” Still, it took patience, he added. On neither occasion did Andrews choose to entertain free agency and instead becomes the rare player to sign a third contract with the Ravens. “It was extremely important for me [to stay here],” he said, adding that he’d like to retire as a Raven whenever that day comes. “I’d say I was very patient in this process and not try to control things I can’t control. … But it was extremely import to me, and I expressed that to them, to be able to stay here.” He has certainly had an impact, too, beyond his numbers on the field. Related Articles READERS RESPOND: Most fans say the Ravens will win the AFC North Ravens QB Lamar Jackson absent from practice Thursday with Steelers looming Staff picks for Week 14 of 2025 NFL season: Bears vs. Packers, Eagles vs. Chargers and more Are Harbaugh and Tomlin coaching for their jobs? Pressure is on. | COMMENTARY Mike Preston: Ravens needs to run the dang ball vs. Steelers | COMMENTARY “Even as a rookie, he formed my work ethic and probably doesn’t even know it, just by observing him, lifting with him, watching how he practices,” All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton said. “As a 21-year-old rookie, you’re the man at whatever school you’re at, a first-round [pick], you see guys like that who are the man in the league, working how he works and it’s hard for that not to be contagious.” Likely echoed similar sentiments, noting that Andrews has influenced how take care of his body, understanding of defenses and not relying on athleticism as well as how to study. He also said there’s more to be done, for however much longer they’re together. “I am just living in the moment, knowing that you have everything in front of us,” Likely said. “We try to win Super Bowl this year, one game at a time, one opponent at a time and knowing that I’ll let the rest take care of itself.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article