At a Glance
- Aaron Rodgers throws 294 yards, 1 TD, 1 interception in a 26-24 win.
- Steelers clinch AFC North title, first in five years.
- Baltimore’s Tyler Loop misses a 44-yard field goal to seal the game.
- Why it matters: The victory secures a playoff spot and a chance to break a decade-long postseason win drought.
The Pittsburgh Steelers edged the Baltimore Ravens 26-24 on Thursday night, with Aaron Rodgers delivering a season-high 294 yards and a last-second touchdown to Calvin Austin III. The win not only gave the Steelers their first AFC North title in five years but also set up a Monday playoff matchup against the Houston Texans. With the Steelers’ postseason win drought looming, the victory carries extra weight.
Rodgers’ Late Heroics
Rodgers, 42, poured 294 yards, including a 26-yard go-ahead TD with 55 seconds remaining. The pass to Austin was the last of the game’s 26-yard burst, and the Steelers’ defense held the Ravens to 8-9.
- 294 yards
- 1 TD
- 26-24 win
Rodgers said:
> “Being the old guy having a lot of gray in your beard, they expect that (kind of play),”
Rodgers added:
> “And it’s nice to deliver in moments like that.”
Ravens’ Season in Review
Despite a strong start, the Ravens fell short as Tyler Loop’s 44-yard attempt missed, and the team’s 8-9 record left them out of playoff contention. Lamar Jackson, battling a back contusion, threw for 238 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Zay Flowers.
| Player | Yards | TDs |
|---|---|---|
| Rodgers | 294 | 1 |
| Jackson | 238 | 3 |
| Flowers | – | 2 |
| Loop | – | 0 |
Loop said:
> “Just mishit the ball,”
Loop added:
> “We call it hitting it thin.”
Heyward said:
> “I’m not going to ask questions,”
Heyward added:
> “The good Lord made a good decision tonight. I am thankful, and we keep moving on.”
Jackson said:
> “I’m definitely stunned,”
Jackson added:
> “I thought we had it in the bag, man. … I don’t know what else we can do.”
Watt said:
> “(I thought), ‘This is the best dude in the NFL for this moment,'”
Tomlin said:
> “We’ve thrown a lot too.”
The loss leaves the Ravens without a postseason berth and forces the team to reassess its roster as Jackson turns 29.
Key Takeaways
- Rodgers’ 294 yards and late TD clinched the AFC North.
- The Steelers’ 26-24 win ends a decade-long playoff win drought.
- The Ravens’ 8-9 record and Loop’s miss cost them postseason hopes.
The victory sets the Steelers on a path to a Monday playoff game, while the Ravens face a tough offseason ahead.
