Steelers-Ravens: Baltimore clinch playoff spot and prevent Pittsburgh from winning AFC North championship
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Steelers-Ravens: Baltimore clinch playoff spot and prevent Pittsburgh from winning AFC North championship

Posted on by Amelia Pressman

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (bottom left) hits the turf while Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (center) hits one during the second half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Baltimore Interception returned for a touchdown. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (bottom left) doesn’t get a good look at Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (center), who returned an interception for a touchdown on Saturday. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Despite some strange, frustrating losses, the Baltimore Ravens are back in the playoffs. And suddenly they’re fired up for an AFC North title.

The Ravens scored a big pick 6 in the fourth quarter and pulled away from the Pittsburgh Steelers with a 34-17 victory on Saturday night, securing a playoff spot. With a win in Baltimore, the Steelers would have won the AFC North. Instead, after Baltimore’s win, both teams are at the top of the table at 10-5 with two games to go.

The Ravens still need some help. Should the Steelers and Ravens win, Pittsburgh would win the AFC North based on the third tiebreaker, which would be a better record against common opponents. But the Steelers will face the 14-1 Chiefs on Christmas Day and then finish the season against the Bengals, who have been disappointing this season but are capable of winning in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers must be frustrated. They had a remarkable season after few picked them for the playoffs. However, their 10 wins couldn’t shake the Ravens. Instead of securing the division title on Saturday, the Steelers now likely need to win to capture the division.

At times this season, Baltimore looked like a title contender. There are also losses to teams like the Raiders and Browns. But if the Steelers make a mistake in the final two weeks and steal the AFC North crown from the Ravens, they’ll be in a good position to make some noise in the postseason.

The Steelers played well in the first half but had one big mistake. Russell Wilson ran 19 yards to the Ravens’ 4-yard line, but was hit hard by Ravens defensive back Ar’Darius Washington and the ball went flying. Baltimore recovered the fumble. Instead of first-and-goal at the 4, the Steelers gave the ball away. It’s hard to beat the Ravens who give away points like that, and it wouldn’t be the last time a Wilson turnover sparked a big swing.

The Ravens got a pair of touchdown passes from Lamar Jackson in the first half, one to Isaiah Likely and the other to Rashod Bateman, and led 17-10 at halftime.

The Steelers are a strong team and they stayed in the game. In the third quarter, Cordarrelle Patterson made a great catch in the end zone while a defender was running over him, and he maintained control as he fell in the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown. Even with a turnover inside Baltimore’s 5-yard line, Pittsburgh still managed a 17-17 draw on the road against a very good Ravens team.

Baltimore scored on a Mark Andrews touchdown late in the third quarter to take a 24-17 lead, but like most Ravens-Steelers games, it was close early in the fourth quarter. The Ravens defense turned a crucial game in Baltimore’s favor.

The Ravens’ defense, inconsistent at times this season, came up with a game-changing play that saved Jackson after a rare mistake.

The Steelers had a huge play early in the fourth quarter that kept them in the game at that point. After Wilson threw deep and incomplete on fourth-and-six, Derrick Henry broke off a 44-yard run to the Steelers’ 11-yard line. The Ravens could have taken a lead by at least 10 points, but Jackson threw an interception to Minkah Fitzpatrick. Jackson missed an open Zay Flowers in the end zone, compounding the mistake. The Steelers were down 24-17 and had a chance to tie the game.

A few plays later, Wilson made an even bigger mistake. On a bootleg to his right, he made a terrible throw that was easily intercepted by Marlon Humphrey. Humphrey had an easy route to the end zone for a 37-yard score. The Ravens led 31:17.

The Steelers are unprepared to overcome a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Pittsburgh stumbled from a two-score deficit, then Jackson hit Zay Flowers for a 49-yard gain that effectively ended the game.

The Ravens are one of the most consistent franchises in the NFL. They have a two-time MVP quarterback who is playing at this level again, a great running back in Derrick Henry, and a defense that hasn’t been great but is improving and capable of keeping the team in the game. And after Saturday, another AFC North title is a reasonable goal again.

Live38 updates

  • Baltimore wins, defeating Pittsburgh 34-17

    The Ravens won the big division against the Steelers 34-17. Although Lamar Jackson played well, it was the defense that really shined, with cornerback Marlon Humphrey’s pick-six turning the game around.

    With the win, Baltimore is now 10-5 and has officially secured a spot in the playoffs.

  • With the win, the Ravens officially secure a playoff spot

    For the third time in a row, Baltimore is heading to the postseason. And with a win over Pittsburgh, the AFC North is now in play for the Ravens: Both teams are 10-5 with two games left in the regular season.

  • Ravens lead 34-17 after Justin Tucker makes another kick

    Despite Zay Flowers’ great play, the Ravens fell short of the end zone, but Justin Tucker hit the 23-yard field goal to give Baltimore a 34-17 lead.

  • Lamar Jackson connects with Zay Flowers for a massive 49-yard pass

    Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers keep the Ravens going, scoring a massive 49-yard completion in the fourth quarter. Flower escapes a tackle – and a foot grab – to gain a few extra yards on the play.

    With the catch, Flowers reached 1,000 receiving yards this season – one of six players to reach that milestone so far this year.

  • Kyle Van Noy gets his 10th sack of the season, a career high

    It was a big day for the Baltimore defense as Ravens fullback Kyle Van Noy gets another sack on Russell Wilson to force Pittsburgh to punt. Van Noy now has 10.5 sacks this season, which is a career high for the linebacker.

  • Reverse: Ravens attack Russell Wilson for a pick-six

    Two plays after the Steelers got the ball back on Minkah Fitzpatrick’s interception, Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey returned the favor, intercepting Russell Wilson for a pick-six.

    The pick is Humphrey’s first pick-six of his career and it comes at an opportune time for Baltmore, who extended their lead to 31-17 in an increasingly chaotic game.

  • The Steelers get an interception in the red zone

    Minkah Fitzpatrick picked off Lamar Jackson in the red zone and ran 25 yards to give Pittsburgh the ball back at the 33-yard line.

    It’s Jackson’s first interception since the Ravens’ Week 11 loss to the Steelers.

  • Derrick Henry makes a huge 45-yard run

    It was a huge game for Derrick Henry.

    The Ravens got the ball back after Russell Wilson’s long pass fell short on fourth down, and Henry worked quickly and managed a 45-yard run. Henry has rushed for 133 yards so far in this game.

  • Quick reaction from the Ravens to take the lead again

    Lamar Jackson hits right end Mark Andrews up the middle for a touchdown to take the lead. It’s now 24-17 Baltimore.

  • Tough stuff from Cordarelle Patterson to make this catch

  • Russell Wilson finds Cordarrelle Patterson to score the game-winning touchdown

    Russell Wilson threw a touchdown to running back Cordarrelle Patterson, with Patterson holding onto the ball under pressure. Suddenly we have a draw in Baltimore.

  • Calvin Austin III makes a big 44-yard catch for the Steelers

    Russell Wilson throws a bomb to Calvin Austin III, who catches the ball with a well-placed toe-tap and puts Pittsburgh all the way down.

  • Baltimore lacks thirds and inches

    Pittsburgh’s defense is stopped as the Ravens fail to gain a first down near midfield. After a punt in Baltimore, the Steelers have the ball at their own 13 – with the chance to try for a comeback.

  • The Steelers try to use the breeze to their advantage when punting

  • Pittsburgh opened the second half with a punt

    The Steelers-Ravens second half is underway, and although Pittsburgh starts with the ball, they go for a three-pointer and have to punt. Slow start to this half so far.

  • Halftime stats for Ravens vs. Steelers

    Baltimore was nearly 50 yards faster than Pittsburgh, but Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson racked up more passing yards. The Ravens have also had strong possession of the ball so far in this duel.

  • The Steelers’ Chris Boswell made a 51-yard field goal to end the half

    Pittsburgh followed Baltimore’s 51-yard field goal with a 51-yarder of their own, closing in on the Ravens’ lead to end the first half.

    At halftime the score is now Baltimore 17 and Pittsburgh 10.

  • Justin Tucker hits a field goal to give Baltimore a 17-7 lead

    Justin Tucker has struggled mightily this season, but converted today, hitting a 51-yard field goal to give the Ravens a 10-point lead.

  • Kyle Van Noy stops Russell Wilson with a sack

    Van Noy grabbed a half sack with Nnamdi Madubuike, stopping the Steelers’ advance and forcing Pittsburgh to punt. With 9.5 sacks this season, Van Noy marks a career high in sacks.

    The Ravens defense was pumped up after this play.

  • The Ravens take the lead with another touchdown

    After leading the team all the way down the field, Lamar Jackson threw a beautiful 14-yard touchdown pass to Rashod Bateman to give Baltimore a 14-7 lead.

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