Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens is one of the fiercest rivalries in the NFL, and the most recent season delivered two classic AFC North battles that decided the division title. A 42 year old quarterback turned in one of the best stretches of his career, a former MVP tried to will his team into the playoffs, and both games came down to the final minutes. Few rivalries deliver drama this consistently.
This article breaks down both meetings between the Steelers and Ravens, the top individual performances from each roster, and the long running head to head history between two of the AFC’s most storied franchises. Every stat below comes from official box scores and season reports.
Quick Team Snapshot
| Team | Record vs Rival | Division Result | Head Coach Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 2-0 in season series | AFC North Champions | Veteran quarterback leadership |
| Baltimore Ravens | 0-2 in season series | Missed the playoffs | Explosive but inconsistent offense |
Pittsburgh swept the season series against Baltimore, and the second win clinched the Steelers their first AFC North title in five years. The Ravens, despite talented individual performances throughout both games, could not find a way to close out either contest.
Pittsburgh Steelers Key Player Stats
Aaron Rodgers: A Late Career Renaissance
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers delivered two of his best performances of the season against Baltimore, playing a major role in both Pittsburgh victories. In the first meeting, the 42 year old threw for a season high 284 passing yards and completed four passes of at least 31 yards after not connecting on a single deep pass the entire month of November. Full box score details from that game are available through CBS Sports’ game tracker.
Rodgers topped that performance in the rematch. He threw for a season high 294 yards, capped by a go ahead touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III with just 55 seconds left on the clock. That throw secured a 26-24 win and gave Pittsburgh its first AFC North title in five years. Rodgers finished the season with 3,028 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions while completing 65.6 percent of his passes.
D.K. Metcalf and the Supporting Cast
Wide receiver D.K. Metcalf gave Rodgers a dependable deep threat throughout the two games against Baltimore. In the first meeting, Metcalf caught seven passes for 148 yards, and he later hauled in all three of his deep targets for 121 yards in another outing against the Ravens, his most deep receptions in a single game according to Next Gen Stats tracking. Running back Jaylen Warren also came up big in the division clinching win, catching a 38 yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to help seal the victory.
Baltimore Ravens Key Player Stats
Lamar Jackson: Flashes of Brilliance in a Tough Stretch
Quarterback Lamar Jackson showed why he remains one of the league’s most dangerous playmakers, even though both games ended in defeat for Baltimore. In the first meeting against Pittsburgh, Jackson earned a 76.3 Pro Football Focus grade, his highest mark since a four touchdown outing earlier in the season. He completed 19 of 35 passes for 219 yards with one touchdown and one interception, and he also scored his first rushing touchdown since Week 1 while adding 43 yards on seven carries.
In the rematch, Jackson totaled 238 passing yards with one interception and three touchdowns, another strong statistical showing that still was not enough to beat the Steelers. Over the full season, Jackson passed for 2,311 yards with 18 touchdowns against six interceptions, completing 63.7 percent of his attempts.
Derrick Henry and Zay Flowers
Running back Derrick Henry gave the Ravens a punishing ground game in both matchups against Pittsburgh. In the first meeting, Henry rushed 25 times for 94 yards, and Baltimore actually outrushed the Steelers 217-34 in that game despite losing. Over the full season, Henry finished with 1,469 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, ranking among the league’s top runners. Wide receiver Zay Flowers provided a big play threat through the air, catching four passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in one of the two meetings, showing the explosive potential of Baltimore’s passing attack even in a losing effort.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens: Key Player Stats at a Glance
| Player | Team | Passing/Rushing Yards | Touchdowns | Key Stat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Rodgers | Steelers | 3,028 season passing yards | 23 | 65.6% completion rate |
| Lamar Jackson | Ravens | 2,311 season passing yards | 18 | 63.7% completion rate |
| Derrick Henry | Ravens | 1,469 season rushing yards | 16 | 91.8 rush yards per game |
| D.K. Metcalf | Steelers | 148 yards in one meeting | N/A | 7 receptions in one game |
| Zay Flowers | Ravens | 138 yards in one meeting | 2 | Big play threat |
Note: Some figures reflect full season totals while others reflect single game performances against the rival team, since both types of stats matter for understanding this rivalry.
Team Comparison
The season series between these two teams came down to fourth quarter execution. Baltimore consistently moved the ball well, outgaining Pittsburgh on the ground in the first meeting and getting strong individual performances from Jackson, Henry, and Flowers in both games. Statistically, the Ravens often looked like the more explosive offense.
Pittsburgh countered with poise in the biggest moments. Rodgers repeatedly found his top targets on crucial third and fourth quarter drives, and the Steelers defense made just enough plays to slow down Baltimore’s explosive weapons when it mattered most. That combination of clutch quarterback play and timely defense proved to be the difference in both contests.
Head to Head History
The rivalry between the Steelers and the Ravens ranks among the most competitive in the NFL. The two teams have played 65 times, including five postseason meetings, with Pittsburgh holding a 38-27 edge in the all time series. Complete franchise by franchise breakdowns of every meeting are available through Football Database’s team versus team records.
Recent history has trended in Pittsburgh’s favor as well, with the Steelers sweeping the two game season series and outscoring Baltimore across the two meetings by a narrow margin in a pair of tightly contested games.
Recent Matchup Recap
The first meeting between these two AFC North rivals came down to the final possession. Pittsburgh built an early lead behind a 52 yard completion to Metcalf on the opening drive, which set up a 1 yard touchdown run by Rodgers, his first rushing score since the 2022 season. Baltimore fought back and had a chance to win late, but Jackson was sacked with no timeouts remaining as the Ravens fell 27-22.
The rematch carried even higher stakes, with the AFC North title and a playoff spot on the line. Rodgers delivered a season high 294 passing yards, including the game winning touchdown to Calvin Austin III with under a minute remaining. Baltimore had one final chance to answer, but a 44 yard field goal attempt sailed wide as time expired, sealing a 26-24 Pittsburgh win and the division crown.
Those coaching decisions, paired with the individual brilliance of Rodgers and Jackson, are exactly why this rivalry keeps producing close, memorable finishes year after year.
What to Watch Next
For the Steelers, the story going forward is how much longer Rodgers can keep performing at this level. His two best statistical stretches of the season both came against Baltimore, and Pittsburgh will need that same clutch production if the team hopes to make a deep playoff run.
For the Ravens, the offseason will likely focus on shoring up the defense and finding ways to close out close games. Jackson, Henry, and Flowers all showed they can move the ball against anyone, including a Pittsburgh defense that came up with the plays that mattered most. Turning those strong individual performances into wins will be the top priority heading into next season.
Defensive Keys in Both Games
While the quarterbacks and skill position players grabbed most of the attention, defense played a major role in deciding both games. Pittsburgh’s front seven made a habit of coming up with pressure in the fourth quarter, and the Steelers turnover margin for the season sat at plus 11, compared to a minus 2 mark for Baltimore. That difference showed up in the biggest moments, including the review that overturned what looked like a Ravens touchdown late in the first meeting between the two teams.
Baltimore’s defense also had strong stretches, particularly against the run, but the unit could not consistently get off the field on third down when Pittsburgh needed a stop. Rodgers took advantage of that by mixing in quick, high percentage throws that kept the chains moving, wearing down the Ravens defense over the course of each game.
Coaching Adjustments Down the Stretch
Both coaching staffs made notable adjustments as the rivalry games unfolded. Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator leaned into the deep passing game against Baltimore, a shift from the team’s usual short passing approach that averages under six yards of depth of target. That change paid off directly, since Rodgers connected on several of his longest completions of the season specifically against the Ravens defense.
Baltimore’s staff, meanwhile, tried to control the clock by leaning on Henry and the running game, a strategy that worked well enough to outrush Pittsburgh by a wide margin in the first meeting. The problem was translating that ground game success into points, since long, clock eating drives sometimes stalled in the red zone against a Steelers defense that tightened up near the goal line.
Conclusion
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens once again lived up to its reputation as one of the NFL’s most intense rivalries. Aaron Rodgers turned back the clock with two of his best performances of the season, leading Pittsburgh to a season sweep and the franchise’s first AFC North title in five years. Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and Zay Flowers all put up strong numbers for Baltimore, but the Ravens could not find a way to finish either game.
With a 38-27 edge in the all time series and a fresh division title in hand, Pittsburgh has the recent momentum in this rivalry. Still, with Jackson and Henry both still playing at a high level, few would be surprised to see Baltimore push right back the next time these two teams meet. Both squads now head into the offseason knowing the margin between winning and losing this rivalry is razor thin, which only raises the stakes for the next matchup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the season series between the Steelers and Ravens?
The Pittsburgh Steelers swept the season series 2-0, winning both meetings by a combined margin of just five points and clinching the AFC North title in the process.
How did Aaron Rodgers perform against the Ravens?
Rodgers threw for a season high 284 yards in the first meeting and topped that with 294 yards in the rematch, including the game winning touchdown pass that clinched the division title for Pittsburgh.
How did Lamar Jackson perform against the Steelers?
Jackson threw for 219 yards with one touchdown in the first meeting and 238 yards with three touchdowns in the rematch, but Baltimore lost both games despite his strong individual production.
What is the all time head to head record between the Steelers and Ravens?
Pittsburgh holds a 38-27 edge over Baltimore across 65 all time meetings, including five postseason matchups between the two AFC North rivals.
Who led each team in rushing during the season series?
Derrick Henry led the Ravens in rushing, finishing the season with 1,469 yards and 16 touchdowns, while Jaylen Warren provided a key rushing touchdown for the Steelers in the division clinching win.
