If you were watching the Week 18 finale at Acrisure Stadium on January 4, 2026, you saw more than just a game. You saw the end of an era. The ravens football play by play during that final 26-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers wasn't just a sequence of downs; it was a microcosm of a season that spiraled out of control.
Lamar Jackson stood there on the 26-yard line with two seconds left, watching Tyler Loop’s 44-yard field goal attempt sail wide. It was a weird, gut-wrenching way for the John Harbaugh era to die. Honestly, nobody expected an 8-9 finish when September started. But the tape doesn't lie.
The Play by Play Breakdown of the Week 18 Collapse
The game started with so much promise. 10:54 left in the first quarter, Lamar hits Devontez Walker for a 38-yard beauty. Touchdown. The Ravens looked like the juggernaut we thought they’d be. Then, things got "Ravens-y."
You've seen this movie before if you follow Baltimore closely. They dominate the yardage—359 total yards to Pittsburgh's 390—but they can't close the door. By the fourth quarter, it was pure chaos. Zay Flowers was basically the only reason they stayed in it, hauling in a 50-yard bomb to take the lead 17-13, and then a massive 64-yarder later to make it 24-20.
But then, Aaron Rodgers—now in Pittsburgh, which still feels wrong to type—did what Aaron Rodgers does.
That Final Defensive Melt
With exactly one minute left, Rodgers found Calvin Austin III for a 26-yard touchdown. The Ravens' defense, coached by Zach Orr, just looked gapped. They had no timeouts. Lamar got the ball back with 55 seconds. He did his best, moving the sticks with a 26-yard dart to Isaiah Likely on 4th and 7. That play was insane. Likely went up over Jalen Ramsey, who mistimed the jump.
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Then came the mistake that haunted the season. An illegal formation penalty on Ronnie Stanley. Five yards back. A few incomplete passes later, and Tyler Loop—the rookie kicker who had the impossible task of replacing the legendary Justin Tucker—stepped up for the winner.
He missed.
The season ended. Two days later, Steve Bisciotti fired John Harbaugh after 18 seasons.
Why the Ravens Offense Kept Stalling
If you look at the ravens football play by play across the whole 2025 season, a pattern emerges. They led the league in rushing again, mostly thanks to Derrick Henry, who finished with 1,467 yards. But the passing game was... different.
Lamar Jackson’s stats were his lowest since 2022. He threw for 2,448 yards and had a 121.5 passer rating in that final game, but the consistency just wasn't there during the middle of the year.
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- The Sack Problem: Lamar took the 9th most sacks in the league.
- The Guard Rotation: Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees struggled to find a rhythm.
- The Red Zone: They settled for too many field goals.
Honestly, the offensive line felt like it was playing on ice sometimes. According to Sharp Football Analysis, the Ravens allowed a 42.3% pressure rate. You can't ask a QB to win an MVP under those conditions. Eric DeCosta admitted in his post-season presser that "the pieces didn't gel." That’s a polite way of saying the protection was a sieve.
The Ghost of Justin Tucker
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. This was the first season since 2011 without Justin Tucker. After his release in May 2025 following those off-field investigations, the Ravens felt human on special teams for the first time in a decade.
Tyler Loop did okay. He went 30-for-34 on the year. But in the NFL, "okay" doesn't win you the AFC North. When the ravens football play by play comes down to a 44-yarder in the snow against your biggest rival, you want the guy who used to make those in his sleep. Loop’s miss wasn't just a miss; it was the final nail in a season defined by "what ifs."
Looking Toward the 2026 Reset
What happens now? The head coaching search is wide open. Names like Kevin Stefanski are floating around, but the culture in Baltimore is shifting.
Lamar Jackson is still the centerpiece. Despite the 8-9 record, he’s healthy and, as CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards put it, "As long as Lamar is around, Baltimore is in the conversation." They have a young core. Zay Flowers is a legit WR1, finishing with over 1,100 yards. Kyle Hamilton is a First-Team All-Pro.
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But they need a new voice. Todd Monken is out. Harbaugh is out. The identity of "Ravens Football" is being rewritten as we speak.
Actionable Steps for the Offseason
To get back to 12-win seasons, the front office has to stop being cute with the offensive line.
- Fix the Guard Spot: They need a plug-and-play veteran, not another project.
- Lamar's Extension: They need to restructure or extend his deal to lower that $74.5 million cap hit for 2026. This is the only way to afford a real WR2 to help Zay Flowers.
- Identify the Identity: Are they a run-heavy Derrick Henry team or a Lamar-led spread team? Trying to be both in 2025 resulted in a confusing mess.
The ravens football play by play for next year starts now in the draft room. With Malaki Starks and Emery Jones Jr. getting a year of experience under their belts, the talent is there. It’s just about who’s calling the plays.
For fans, it's a bitter pill to swallow. Watching the playoffs from the couch isn't something this city is used to. But history shows the Ravens don't stay down for long. They'll likely be the most aggressive team in free agency this March. Keep an eye on the coaching hire—it’s the most important decision Bisciotti has made since 2008.