Score of Steelers vs Ravens: Why This One Felt Different

You know how some games just feel like a heavyweight fight where neither guy wants to go down? That was exactly the vibe at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday night. The final score of Steelers vs Ravens ended up being 26-24 in favor of Pittsburgh, but honestly, those numbers don't even begin to describe the absolute chaos that unfolded in the final minutes.

If you’re a Ravens fan, this one is going to sting for a long, long time. Imagine fighting for 60 minutes only to have your season end because a kick sailed a few inches to the right. That’s the brutal reality Baltimore is facing today. Meanwhile, in the 412, they’re celebrating an AFC North title that felt improbable just a few months ago.

The Rodgers Factor and the 26-24 Heartbreaker

Let’s talk about Aaron Rodgers for a second. At 42 years old, people were ready to write his obituary as an elite NFL quarterback. But on Sunday, he looked like the guy who used to terrorize the NFC North, just wearing a different shade of yellow. Rodgers threw for 294 yards, and while he wasn't perfect, he was "magnetic," as he put it after the game.

The play everyone will be watching on loop is that 26-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III with only 55 seconds left on the clock. Austin basically burnt Chidobe Awuzie on a stutter-and-go. It was a beautiful, vintage throw that gave the Steelers a 26-24 lead.

But then, because it's the Steelers and Ravens, things got weird.

Chris Boswell, usually the most reliable human on the planet, missed the extra point. Suddenly, the door was wide open. The Ravens only needed a field goal to win the game, win the division, and keep their season alive. Lamar Jackson, who had been dragging the Ravens back into the game with deep bombs to Zay Flowers, managed to get them down to the Pittsburgh 24-yard line.

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Then came Tyler Loop.

The rookie kicker had a 44-yard attempt to win it at the buzzer. The snap was clean. The hold was good. But the kick pushed right. Just like that, the score of Steelers vs Ravens was frozen at 26-24, and the Ravens' season was over. No playoffs. No division crown. Just a long, quiet flight back to Maryland.

Breaking Down the Numbers That Actually Mattered

Everyone looks at the final score, but the stat sheet tells a story of two very different teams. The Ravens actually out-gained the Steelers in several categories during their two meetings this season, yet they came away with two losses.

• Total Yards: Steelers had 390 to the Ravens' 359.
• Time of Possession: Pittsburgh dominated here, holding the ball for over 34 minutes.
• Third Down Efficiency: This was the quiet killer. The Steelers went 9-of-16, while Baltimore struggled at 4-of-12.

Lamar Jackson did everything he could. He finished with two massive touchdown passes to Zay Flowers—one for 50 yards and another for 64. Flowers was a monster, racking up 138 yards on just four catches. But the Ravens are struggling with a turnover differential that has plagued them all year. In this rivalry, you can't give the ball away and expect to walk out with a win.

A Historic Night for Mike Tomlin

Aside from the division title, this game had some serious historical weight. With this victory, Mike Tomlin reached 193 regular-season wins. That ties him with the legendary Chuck Noll for the most wins in Steelers franchise history.

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It’s kind of poetic that he hit that milestone against John Harbaugh. These two have faced off 39 times now. That's the second-most meetings between two head coaches in NFL history. They know each other's favorite coffee orders at this point.

Why the Steelers Own the North (For Now)

Pittsburgh swept the season series, having also beaten Baltimore 27-22 back in December. In that game, the Ravens actually outrushed the Steelers by a staggering 217 to 34. Usually, if you run for 200+ more yards than your opponent, you win by three touchdowns.

Not in this rivalry.

The Steelers have developed this weird, gritty identity where they don't need to be "better" statistically to win the game. They just need to be more clinical in the red zone and wait for the other team to blink.

The Ravens' season ending without a playoff berth for the first time since 2021 is a massive shock to the system. They have the talent. They have the MVP-caliber quarterback. But they don't have the consistency. Losing five straight non-Lamar starts earlier in the year hurt, but losing these close divisional games is what ultimately buried them.

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What This Means for the AFC Playoffs

Now that the score of Steelers vs Ravens is settled, the playoff picture is clear. Pittsburgh is heading in as the AFC North champs, likely hosting a home game at Acrisure Stadium where the "Renegade" energy will be off the charts.

For Baltimore, the off-season starts today. They’ll be looking at that kicker position and wondering if a sixth-round rookie was the right move for such high-stakes moments. They'll also be looking at a defense that allowed Rodgers to pick them apart when it mattered most.

If you're looking to dive deeper into the stats or prepare for the Wild Card round, keep a close eye on the health of the Steelers' offensive line. They gave Rodgers a clean pocket for most of the night, which was the real unsung hero of the game. For Ravens fans, the best move now is to watch the tape on Zay Flowers' development—he’s clearly become the elite WR1 this team has craved for a decade.

Final takeaway: the Steelers find ways to win, and the Ravens, lately, are finding heartbreaking ways to lose. That’s the difference between a division title and a seat on the couch in January.