If you’re staring at your screen wondering what's the score between the ravens and the steelers, you probably just witnessed one of the most nauseatingly stressful finishes in the history of this rivalry.
The final score was Pittsburgh Steelers 26, Baltimore Ravens 24.
It wasn't just a win. It was a divisional heist. On Sunday night, January 4, 2026, the Steelers didn't just beat their arch-rivals; they snatched the AFC North title and effectively ended Baltimore's season in the most "Steelers" way possible.
The Ending That Nobody Saw Coming
Honestly, the fourth quarter was basically a fever dream. If you walked away to grab a snack with five minutes left, you missed three lead changes.
Lamar Jackson was doing Lamar things. He found Zay Flowers for a massive 64-yard touchdown that put the Ravens up 24-20 with only 2:20 left on the clock. At that moment, M&T Bank Stadium felt like it was about to explode. Baltimore fans were already looking up playoff tickets.
Then came Aaron Rodgers.
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At 42 years old, Rodgers proved why the Steelers brought him in. He orchestrated a clinical drive, capped off by a 26-yard touchdown dart to Calvin Austin III with only 55 seconds remaining.
The weirdest part? Chris Boswell—who is usually a machine—missed the extra point. That left the door cracked open at 26-24.
The Tyler Loop Miss
Baltimore had no business being in field goal range with under a minute left and no timeouts, but Lamar Jackson is a magician. He scrambled, he found Isaiah Likely for 28 yards, and suddenly, rookie kicker Tyler Loop was stepping onto the field for a 44-year-old game-winner.
He pushed it wide right.
Game over. Season over. The Steelers celebrated on the Ravens' logo while Baltimore players stared at the turf in disbelief. It was the first time since 2021 that the Ravens missed the postseason entirely.
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Quick Box Score Breakdown
- Final Score: Steelers 26, Ravens 24
- Passing: Aaron Rodgers (PIT) - 294 yards, 2 TDs | Lamar Jackson (BAL) - 238 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
- Rushing: Derrick Henry (BAL) - 126 yards | Jaylen Warren (PIT) - 66 yards
- Receiving: Zay Flowers (BAL) - 138 yards, 2 TDs | Pat Freiermuth (PIT) - 51 yards
Why This Game Was Historically Weird
The score between the ravens and the steelers usually tells a story of defensive grinding, but this was an offensive explosion late in the game.
Derrick Henry actually hit a massive milestone during the loss, becoming only the ninth player in NFL history to cross the 13,000-career rushing yard mark. He looked unstoppable in the first half, helping Baltimore build a 10-0 lead.
But the Steelers' defense, led by T.J. Watt (who had a signature interception off a tipped ball), tightened up when it mattered.
Pittsburgh was actually playing without their star receiver DK Metcalf, who was serving a suspension. Nobody expected them to put up 26 points against a Baltimore defense that had been top-five all season. Yet, Rodgers spread the ball around to ten different receivers.
The Fallout for the AFC North
This result completely flipped the script for 2026. By winning, the Steelers secured their first AFC North crown in five years. They finished the regular season at 10-7.
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Baltimore, on the other hand, finished 8-9. It is a bitter pill to swallow for a team that many picked to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl back in August.
Mike Tomlin also made history with this win. By moving to 193 career regular-season victories, he officially tied the legendary Chuck Noll for the most wins by a head coach in Steelers history. Doing it against John Harbaugh just made it sweeter for the Yinzers.
Key Takeaways for Fans
- Steelers are back: The Aaron Rodgers experiment in Pittsburgh has officially paid off with a division title.
- Ravens need a kicker talk: After years of Justin Tucker's reliability, the transition to Tyler Loop ended in heartbreak.
- The Rivalry is healthy: Even without the 2000s-era legends on the field, these two teams still produce the most chaotic football in the NFL.
If you're looking to dive deeper into the stats or catch the condensed replay, the official NFL app and YouTube channel have the full "Game in 40" highlights available now. For those already looking toward next year, the 2026 NFL Draft order is now officially set for the non-playoff teams, with Baltimore picking much higher than they ever intended to.
Watch the waiver wires and injury reports closely as the Steelers head into the Wild Card round next weekend.
Next Steps:
- Review the Playoff Bracket: Now that the Steelers have clinched, check the seeding to see if they’ll be hosting a home game at Acrisure Stadium.
- Check the Baltimore Injury Report: Several Ravens defenders left the game late; their health will be a major storyline as the team enters a long offseason.
- Watch the Post-Game Pressers: Listen to John Harbaugh’s comments on the final field goal attempt to get insight into the team’s confidence in their rookie kicker moving forward.