The Baltimore Ravens season didn't just end; it sort of imploded in the freezing Pennsylvania air. If you're looking for the score of today's ravens game, well, there isn't one—because the Ravens aren't in the playoffs. Their season wrapped up on January 4, 2026, in a game that felt like a microcosm of their entire year: flashes of absolute brilliance overshadowed by a crushing, last-second mistake.
They lost 26-24 to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
It was a "winner-takes-the-North" scenario that lived up to every bit of the hype, right until rookie kicker Tyler Loop's 44-yard attempt drifted wide right as time expired. Honestly, seeing Lamar Jackson’s face after that miss told the whole story. The Ravens finished the season at 8-9, a record that feels almost impossible given the talent on this roster.
Breaking Down the Ravens Final Score and What Went Wrong
The game was a rollercoaster. Baltimore actually jumped out to a 10-0 lead. Lamar was humming, finding Devontez Walker for a 38-yard strike early in the first quarter. It felt like the Ravens were going to cruise. But Aaron Rodgers—who, at 42, somehow still looks like he's playing in his backyard—steadied the Steelers.
By the fourth quarter, it turned into a total shootout.
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Zay Flowers was the clear bright spot for Baltimore. He finished with 138 yards and two massive touchdowns, including a 64-yarder that briefly gave the Ravens a 24-20 lead with just over two minutes left. But the defense couldn't hold. Rodgers marched Pittsburgh down the field, eventually hitting Calvin Austin III for the game-winning 26-yard score with 55 seconds on the clock.
Even then, Lamar did Lamar things. He scrambled, he dinked, he got the team into field goal range. But the score of today's ravens game (or rather, the final score of the season) remained 26-24 because of that missed kick. It’s the kind of loss that lingers in a locker room all through the spring.
Key Stats from the Season Finale:
- Lamar Jackson: 11-of-18, 238 yards, 3 TDs.
- Derrick Henry: 126 rushing yards (hitting the 13,000 career yard milestone).
- Zay Flowers: 4 receptions, 138 yards, 2 TDs.
- The Killer Stat: Pittsburgh had nearly 10 more minutes of possession time.
Why This Score Means No Playoffs in 2026
Because of that loss, the Ravens fell to second place in the AFC North and ninth in the AFC overall. In the NFL's current format, 8-9 just doesn't cut it. While the Steelers are currently preparing for their next postseason matchup (ironically, they just got hammered by the Texans 30-6 in the Wild Card round), the Ravens are already looking at draft boards.
It’s a tough pill to swallow for a team that has Super Bowl aspirations every single August. The consistency just wasn't there this year. They beat Green Bay 41-24 in late December, looking like world-beaters, then turned around and lost to a struggling Patriots team 28-24.
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Looking Ahead: The 2026 Opponents are Already Set
Since the Ravens aren't playing today, fans are already pivoting to next year. One silver lining of a second-place finish? You don't have to play a first-place schedule in 2026.
The NFL has already finalized who Baltimore will face. They’ll get the usual AFC North suspects twice, obviously. But they also draw the NFC South and the AFC South. On paper, the NFC South looks like a bit of a break, considering not one team in that division finished with a winning record this past season.
However, they still have to deal with the Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Chargers, who finished second in their respective divisions. And don't forget the Dallas Cowboys—that 17th game is never easy.
What’s Next for the Ravens?
The front office has some serious work to do. The score of today's ravens game being a "Final" from two weeks ago means the offseason started way too early. Priority number one is likely looking at the special teams unit. You can't have a rookie kicker in a winner-take-all game without a backup plan if things go sideways.
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Also, the defense, which was ranked highly for most of the year, crumbled when it mattered most against Rodgers. Expect some movement in the secondary during free agency.
Basically, the 2025-2026 season was a year of "what ifs." What if the kick went in? What if they hadn't dropped that game to New England? For now, Baltimore fans are stuck watching the rest of the AFC playoffs from the couch.
Actionable Next Steps for Ravens Fans:
- Watch the Senior Bowl: Keep an eye on kicker prospects and edge rushers; the Ravens will be scouting heavily there.
- Review the Salary Cap: Check out OverTheCap to see how much room the Ravens have to restructure Lamar’s or Roquan Smith’s deals to bring in more help.
- Key Dates: Circle February 24th on your calendar—that’s when the NFL Scouting Combine kicks off in Indy.