The air in Pittsburgh was different on Sunday night, January 4, 2026. If you follow this rivalry, you know it’s usually less of a football game and more of a legalised street fight. But this one had everything on the line. The AFC North title. A playoff ticket. And for the Baltimore Ravens, their entire season was basically resting on the foot of a rookie kicker as the clock hit zero.
So, who won the Steelers and Ravens game? The Pittsburgh Steelers won, beating the Baltimore Ravens 26-24. It wasn't pretty. It was, honestly, one of the most chaotic finishes we’ve seen in years. If you’re a Ravens fan, it was a gut-punch. If you’re a Steelers fan, you’re probably still catching your breath.
The Final 60 Seconds: A Masterclass in Chaos
Let’s get straight to the point because the final minute was pure insanity. With 55 seconds left on the clock, Aaron Rodgers—now the veteran general for the Steelers—found Calvin Austin III for a 26-yard touchdown. Austin basically toasted Chidobe Awuzie on a stutter-and-go. The stadium erupted.
Steelers lead 26-24.
But then, Chris Boswell, usually the most reliable guy in the building, missed the extra point. Seriously. He pushed it, and suddenly the door was wide open. The Ravens didn’t need a miracle touchdown; they just needed a field goal to win it and take the division.
Lamar Jackson did what Lamar does. He moved the chains. He hit Isaiah Likely for a 26-yard gain on a do-or-die fourth down. They got to the Pittsburgh 24-yard line. They took a knee to center the ball. It felt inevitable.
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Tyler Loop, the Ravens' rookie sixth-round kicker, stepped up for a 44-yarder. He’d been perfect from that range all year. He kicked it, the ball soared, and then... it just kept fading. It went wide right. No good.
Why the Steelers Won (And Why the Ravens Lost)
It’s easy to blame the kicker, but this game was lost way before that missed field goal. Baltimore was actually up 10-0 early on. They were bullying Pittsburgh. Lamar Jackson was zipping balls to Devontez Walker and Zay Flowers.
But the Steelers have this weird habit of never staying dead.
The Turnovers and the T.J. Watt Factor
You can't talk about a Steelers-Ravens game without mentioning T.J. Watt. In the fourth quarter, with the Ravens trailing 13-10, Watt did exactly what he’s paid to do. He batted a Lamar Jackson pass at the line, tracked it, and picked it off himself.
That interception was a massive momentum shifter. It set up the Steelers with a short field, and while the Ravens' defense held them to a field goal, it burned clock and kept the pressure on Baltimore’s offense.
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The Aaron Rodgers Experience
Rodgers finished the night with 294 passing yards. He wasn't necessarily "Prime Green Bay" Rodgers for the whole four quarters, but when the game got "thick," as Mike Tomlin likes to say, he was surgical. He completed 31 of 47 passes and stayed cool even when the Ravens' pass rush was in his face.
The connection with Calvin Austin III was the difference-maker. Austin has been a bit of an underdog all season, but he stepped up when it mattered most.
Key Stats That Actually Mattered
If you’re looking at the box score, some things jump out that explain how a 26-24 scoreline happened:
- Time of Possession: The Steelers held the ball for over 34 minutes. They ground out the clock and kept Lamar Jackson off the field.
- Zay Flowers' Big Night: Flowers was a monster. He had 138 yards on just four catches, including two massive fourth-quarter touchdowns of 50 and 64 yards.
- Derrick Henry's Second Half: "King" Henry started hot with 126 rushing yards, but the Steelers basically built a wall in the second half. He was neutralized when it mattered.
- Penalties: Baltimore shot themselves in the foot with 9 penalties for 78 yards. A holding call on Tyler Linderbaum earlier in the game wiped out a huge Lamar run that would have put them in the red zone.
The Fallout: A Change in Baltimore
This loss didn't just end the Ravens' season; it ended an era. Just two days after the game, on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, the Ravens fired head coach John Harbaugh.
It’s a shocker to some, but after finishing 8-9 and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021, the front office decided it was time. Losing the division to your biggest rival on a missed field goal is apparently the breaking point.
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Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, Mike Tomlin is doing Mike Tomlin things. This win gave him his 10th AFC North title and moved him to 193 regular-season wins, matching the legendary Chuck Noll.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
The Steelers don't have time to celebrate for long. By winning the division, they secured a home playoff game. They are scheduled to face the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium on Monday, January 12.
The Ravens, on the other hand, are heading into a very long and very loud offseason. They have a generational talent in Lamar Jackson and a superstar back in Derrick Henry, but they’re currently a ship without a captain.
If you were wondering who won the steelers and ravens game, you now know it was the Black and Gold. But the ripples of this specific game—the missed kick, the coaching change, the divisional crown—will be felt in the NFL for a long time.
If you're following the playoff bracket, keep an eye on how the Steelers' secondary holds up against Houston’s air attack. They played well against Lamar, but C.J. Stroud is a different kind of problem. For now, Pittsburgh owns the North.
Next Steps for You:
- Check the Injury Report: Keep an eye on the status of Steelers safety Kyle Hamilton (who left the Ravens game with a concussion) and the Ravens' Keaton Mitchell, who suffered a knee injury.
- Watch the Coaching Carousel: With Harbaugh out, names like Ben Johnson or Mike Macdonald are likely to be at the top of Baltimore’s list.
- Set Your Calendar: The Steelers vs. Texans Wild Card game kicks off Monday night.