The Pittsburgh Steelers are at a critical juncture both for their 2025 season and for the future of the franchise as they prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens on the road in Week 14. Both teams’ playoff chances will experience a dramatic swing based on the outcome of the game with the AFC North division title up for grabs. But Mike Tomlin’s future is the lens that many will view this game through from Pittsburgh’s perspective.

Saturday evening reports revealed that the Steelers have a realistic path to parting ways with Mike Tomlin after this season without technically firing him. There is a team option built into his most recent extension, which gives both sides a chance to evaluate a mutual parting by March 1. Ian Rapoport thinks all of this talk will go away if the Steelers win today, so you can see why this is an important week in either direction.

The Steelers are down a couple key defenders in Derrick Harmon and Kyle Dugger, while the Ravens’ entire 53-man roster is healthy. Lamar Jackson is their biggest concern as he has dealt with multiple nagging lower-body injuries this season. He hasn’t been himself since returning from a few missed games.

This is the Steelers’ chance to overcome a disastrous end to the 2024 season when they allowed 299 rushing yards to the Ravens in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. But it comes at a bad time as the Steelers allowed a Heinz Field/Acrisure Stadium record for rushing yards against the Buffalo Bills last week. With everything pointing to a Steelers collapse, will they find a way to salvage their season?

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Steelers’ Inactive Players

QB Will Howard (3rd QB)
DT Derrick Harmon
T Calvin Anderson
S Kyle Dugger
DT Brodric Martin-Rhodes
WR Roman Wilson
WR Ke’Shawn Williams

Ravens’ Inactive Players

QB Cooper Rush (3rd QB)
G Ben Cleveland
T Joseph Notebloom
WR Devontez Walker
DT Aeneas Peebles

Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling got helmets over Roman Wilson and Ke’Shawn Williams. Both are expected to play “a lot.”

START OF GAME

The Steelers won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. The defense will begin the game on the field.

The opening kickoff return was stuffed at the 26 by Ben Skowronek. 1st and 10, Lamar Jackson complete to Isaiah Likely up the right sideline for 7 yards. 2nd and 3, Derrick Henry off left tackle for 7 yards. Keeanu Benton was injured on the play. Pittsburgh’s defensive line is already beat up, so that isn’t great. Cam Heyward, Yahya Black, Esezi Otomewo and Logan Lee are the healthy DL with helmets right now.

1st and 10, Henry up the middle for 6 yards. 2nd and 4, Henry stuffed for a loss of two by T.J. Watt. 3rd and 6, Jackson went deep to Zay Flower up the right sideline. Chuck Clark, who is filling in for Kyle Dugger, was in coverage. Mike Tomlin challenged the catch, but it was upheld. It looked like it moved, but probably too close to overturn. Benton is returning to the game.

1st and 10, Henry stopped for no gian by Watt. 2nd and 10, Keaton Mitchell up the middle for 6 yards. 3rd and 4, incomplete to Flowers in the end zone. Brandin Echols broke up the pass. The field goal was good. 3-0 Ravens.

Kenneth Gainwell and Jaylen Warren are back to return kicks with Ke’Shawn Williams inactive. Gainwell took the kickoff to the 35. Adam Thielen officially got the start.

1st and 10, Aaron Rodgers dialed up a deep pass nearly 50 yards through the air for 55 yards to DK Metcalf. That’s a way to make a statement.

1st and 10, from the 13, complete to Metcalf for 7 yards. 2nd and 3, pitch right to Jaylen Warren for 2 yards. Rodgers was under center. 3rd and 1, Rodgers incomplete to Metcalf on a fade. It was well played by Marlon Humphrey. 4th and 1, tush push with Connor Heyward to convert. Tomlin said they would be aggressive on fourth.

1st and goal, incomplete over Metcalf in the back of the end zone. 2nd and goal, Gainwell up the middle for 1 yard. 3rd and goal from the 1, Rodgers under center scrambled for a touchdown. That was a nice drive by the Steelers. 7-3 Steelers.

The kickoff was returned to the 26 with Carson Bruener making the tackle.

1st and 10, Jackson scrambled up the middle for 4 yards before sliding. 2nd and 6, Henry around the left end for 1 yard. Watt and Cam Heyward were in on the tackle. 3rd and 5, Echols in for an 8-yard sack on Jackson.

The punt went 48 yards, returned 3 yards to the 32 by Calvin Austin III.

1st and 10, Jaylen Warren around the right end for 4 yards. It looked like a pass, but was ruled backwards for a run play. 2nd and 6, Warren off right tackle for 5 yards. 3rd and 1, Rodgers ducked a would-be sack and completed it to Austin for three yards to convert. The Ravens challenged. Rodgers was angry because he wanted to get up to the line to snap it. 4th and 1, Corliss Waitman’s punt went 48 yards to the 11.

1st and 10, Mitchell around the left end for 4 yards. 2nd and 6, Mitchell off right tackle for 2 yards. 3rd and 4, Jackson took off up the middle for 9 yards.

1st and 10, Joey Porter Jr. broke up the pass, but it looks like pass interference was called. Porter isn’t allowed to get away with anything. Brutal for him.

1st and 10, Jackson incomplete deep to Zay Flower. He caught it, but his foot was out of bounds. 2nd and 10, Mitchell up the middle for 6. 3rd and 4, incomplete to Flowers. The punt went 54 yards, returned 9 by Austin to the 20-yard line.

1st and 10, Kaleb Johnson up the middle for 5 yards. Nice to get him involved again.

The Steelers broke the all-time record for games without more than 7 points in the first quarter. They were pretty close to ending their streak this time, but no such luck.

END OF 1ST QUARTER: 7-3 STEELERS

2nd and 5, incomplete to Metcalf up the middle. 3rd and 5, complete to Kenneth Gainwell for 7 yards. He put a nice move on Roquan Smith to pick up the first down.

1st and 10, incomplete. 2nd and 10, false start by Andrus Peat. 2nd and 15, Rodgers complete to Darnell Washington for 12 yards up the middle. Washington was shaken up on the play. He might get evaluated for a concussion. 3rd and 3, complete to Metcalf over his shoulder up the right sideline. That was a heck of a catch. It may have gotten overturned, but the Steelers snapped the ball quick. The gain was 28 yards.

1st and 10, incomplete to Metcalf. 2nd and 10, complete to Gainwell for 9 yards. Face mask called on the Ravens.

1st and 10 from the 12, shovel pass to Gainwell for no gain. 2nd and 10, complete to Gainwell for 5 yards. 3rd and 5, Steelers call their second timeout. 3rd and 5, complete to Gainwell for 2 yards. Chris Boswell’s field goal was good. 10-3 Steelers.

The kickoff was returned to the 26 with another tackle by Bruener.

1st and 10, Jackson complete to Zay Flowers for a loss of 1. 2nd and 11, Jackson complete to Flowers for 7 yards. 3rd and 4, Jackson intercepted by James Pierre. That’s cousin-on-cousin crime!

1st and 10, Warren up the middle for 1 yard. 2nd and 9, Rodgers escaped the pocket and complete to Ben Skowronek for 13 yards. Great scramble drill by Skowronek.

1st and 10, Rodgers complete to Metcalf for 5 yards. The Ravens called a timeout. 2nd and 5, Rodgers complete to Adam Thielen for 4 yards. His first catch in black and gold. 3rd and 1, incomplete to Metcalf on a fade. Probably should have been a pass interference penalty, but no luck. Chris Boswell’s field goal was good, but a flag on the Ravens gives the Steelers new life on the drive.

1st and goal, Gainwell around the left end for 6 yards and a score. 17-3 Steelers.

Gene Steratore thought the pivotal flag on the field goal last drive was a bad call, for what it’s worth. Chris Boswell’s kickoff landed short of the landing zone. The ball is placed at the 40.

1st and 10, Henry up the middle for 3 yards. 2nd and 8, Henry upo the middle fort 9 yarsd. Malik Harrison injured himself tackling Henry on the play.

1st and 10, Jackson complete to Flowers for 9 yards. 2nd and 1, Henry up the middle for 1 yard. Cole Holcomb made the tackle.

1st and 10, complete to Likely for 6 yards with pressure in Jackson’s face. 2nd and 4, Flowers around the left end for 2 yards. 3rd and 2, Highsmith called for a five-yard neutral zone infraction to convert.

1st and 10, Jackson incomplete to Andrews. Roger Rosengarten was called for illegal formation, but the Steelers declined. 2nd and 10, Henry up the middle for 2 yards.

TWO-MINUTE WARNING

3rd and 8, Jalen Ramsey broke up the pass, but Joey Porter Jr. was called for illegal contact away from the play.

1st and 10, Henry off right tackle for 5 yards. 2nd and 5, complete to Bateman for 5 yards to convert. The Ravens have two timeouts with under a minute to go.

1st and goal, toss left Patrick Queen stuffed him for a gain of just 2. Timeout called by the Ravens. 2nd and goal, incomplete well over Andrews’ head. 3rd and goal, Jackson kept it himself for a touchdown. 17-9 Steelers.

Chris Boswell’s poor kick and several defensive penalties delivered them a late touchdown in the first half.

END OF 1ST HALF: 17-9 STEELERS

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