Despite their late season struggles the Pittsburgh Steelers have still made it into the postseason. Here’s everything you need to know about their AFC Wild-Card game against the Baltimore Ravens!
What: Pittsburgh Steelers 10-7 at Baltimore Ravens 12-5
Where: M&T Bank Stadium Baltimore, Maryland
When: Saturday January 11th 2025 8pmET
Weather: Snowy. Wind to 12mph and temps around 32 at kickoff.
Surface: Natural Grass
Wagering Information: Ravens -10 O/U 43.5
Last Week: The Ravens beat Cleveland 35-10 in Baltimore while the Steelers lost at home 19-17 to the Bengals.
TV: Amazon Prime Al Michaels (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analysis), Kaylee Hartung (field reporter)
TV Coverage in Your Area (courtesy 506sports.com): National TV Audience
Radio: Steelers Nation Radio/WDVE Rob King (play-by-play), Craig Wolfley (analysis). Max Starks (field reporter)
Westwood One Radio: Ryan Radtke (play-by-play), Mike Golic (analysis), Ross Tucker (field reporter)
Head Official: Alex Kemp. Kemp graduated from Central Michigan University and is an insurance agent. His crew called the third most penalties in the NFL this season… Home teams win about 80% of the games he officiates… This crew called 59 holding penalties this season which tied for the most in the NFL.
Key Injuries/Game Status (courtesy steelers.com) PIT: * No. 10 WR Roman Wilson (Hamstring) – Out, ** No. 55 LB Cole Holcomb (Knee) – Out, * No. 61 DT Logan Lee (Calf) – Out, No. 66 G Mason McCormick (Hand) – Questionable, * No. 67 OL Calvin Anderson (Groin) – Questionable BAL:No. 4 WR Zay Flowers (Knee) – Out, * No. 3 WR/RS Deonte Harty (Knee) – Questionable
Injury Notes: Both teams are pretty healthy for this time of year but Flowers being out will make the WR corps for BAL less dangerous… If McCormick, who was limited all week can’t go, then Spencer Anderson would get the nod… Scotty Miller was released yesterday likely due to Calvin Anderson coming to the active roster.
**In 21-day window from PUP list
*In 21-day window from Injured Reserve
2024 Final NFL Ranks:
Total Offense: PIT 16th BAL 3rd
Passing Offense: PIT 27th BAL 7th
Rushing Offense: PIT 11th BAL 1st
Total Defense: PIT 8th BAL 9th
Passing Defense: PIT 25th BAL 31st
Rushing Defense: PIT 6th BAL 1st
Final AFC North Standings:
Baltimore 12-5
Pittsburgh 10-7
Cincinnati 9-8
Cleveland 3-14
This Week in the AFC North: N/A
What You Need to Know: The Steelers are 36-28 all-time in the postseason… They are just 6-8 in the wild-card round… Pittsburgh has lost five straight postseason games… Dating back to Super Bowl XLV, the Steelers have lost 9 of their last 12 postseason games.
Tomlin Time: Coach Tomlin is 104-65-2 in his career in one-score games… His current postseason record stands at 8-10 and he is 2-6 all-time in the Wild-Card round… Coach T is 20-16 all-time versus the Ravens.
Baltimore Ravens Names to Know: QB Lamar Jackson, RB Derrick Henry, LB Kyle Van Noy, S Kyle Hamilton, TE Mark Andrews, CB Marlon Humphrey, K Justin Tucker
What’s at Stake: A victory by Baltimore would send them on to Buffalo or (if BUF loses) they would host the highest remaining seed. A win by Pittsburgh would send them to either Kansas City or Buffalo.
All-Time Series: Steelers lead 36-26 and lead all-time in Baltimore 15-14
Last Meeting: December 2024 in Baltimore. Ravens 34 Steelers 17
Postseason History: Steelers lead 3-1
Steelers Game Highs vs BAL:
PASSING: 506 yards Ben Roethlisberger 12/10/2017
RUSHING: 144 yards Le’Veon Bell 10/01/2017
RECEIVING: 213 yards Antonio Brown 12/10/2017
SACKS: 3.5 T.J. Watt 12/05/2021, James Harrison 11/05/2017
INTERCEPTIONS:2 Brent Alexander 01/20/2002, Dewayne Washington 09/19/1999
Check out the latest Steel City Blitz Steelers Podcast for more on the Steelers.
Three Things We Need to See for a Steelers’ Victory:
1. Get to Henry Early. This is not a secret but it bears repeating. If your defenders can get to Derrick Henry before he can get up to speed then you have a great shot of shutting him down. The danger in this is that getting deeper penetration can often create cutback lanes if you miss or create opportunities for Lamar Jackson to take advantage of later. As little as Teryl Austin blitzes, you might actually see a few run blitzes with Elandon Roberts especially to get Henry before he gets going.
2. Pickens HAS to Produce. We’ve got all off-season to discuss whether George Pickens will be back next season. For the Steelers to be able to win, Pickens has to produce big plays and has to score. He’s proven that he can beat the best CBs in the league but if he isn’t catching the ball or he’s quitting on plays then forget it. Arthur Smith will absolutely get him opportunities quickly. Those have to produce positive yardage.
3. Possess. The. Ball. Mike Tomlin is 138-44-2 when the Steelers win the Time of Possession battle. When his team loses the TOP battle? His record is 45-63. This may be difficult to do against a Ravens’ defense that has improved every week of the season, especially against the run. Because the Ravens have led most of their games, their pass defense is actually towards the bottom of the league so don’t be fooled. I think Russell Wilson will have to throw the ball to win this game, but keeping the Ravens’ offense off the field is a big key to this week.
The ‘X’ Factor: Each week I will select a player from each team who I believe will need to play above and beyond in order for his team to win.
X-Factor Steelers: Russell Wilson. Over the four-game losing streak there has been plenty of blame to go around and Wilson isn’t the whole issue but his play has been part of it. He has to step up his game period. He can’t have the turnovers and he cannot take the sacks that he has in recent weeks and that’s asking a lot. He is who he is at this point in his career but he has to play better and that’s all there is to it.
X-Factor Ravens: Mark Andrews. With WR Zay Flowers likely out due to a knee injury, this will put more importance on the performance of the Ravens’ tight end. We’ve seen Minkah Fitzpatrick, Grant Delpit and other top safeties struggle to contain him. He will likely need to have a big performance especially if the Ravens can’t get Derrick Henry going consistently.
Prediction: It’s hard to believe the Steelers have beaten the Ravens so often in recent years simply because it feels like they have ZERO chance to win this game. The Steelers are playing poorly while the Ravens are hot in all three phases. But the postseason is different and anything can happen. Unfortunately “anything” isn’t happening here. I can’t see the Steelers suddenly flipping a switch to beat Baltimore this week. There are just too many things that have to go right.
Ravens 27 Steelers 13
Season Prediction Record: 10-7
