Ravens Steelers in Week 18 face big questions
USAT’s Joe Rivera and Chris Bumbaca break down Lamar Jackson’s status and DK Metcalf’s suspension as Steelers and Ravens fight for AFC North.
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The entire 2025 regular season comes down to this.
That’s true for all 32 NFL teams as Week 18’s “Sunday Night Football” matchup closes the book on the final week of the regular season. But it’s most true for the two teams playing in the final game of the year: the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens.
The two AFC North contenders meet in a final head-to-head clash that will determine which team wins the division to enter the postseason as the AFC’s No. 4 seed. That team earns a home playoff game against the conference’s top wild-card team. The loser goes home for the start of a long offseason.
The Ravens enter the final game of the season trailing the Steelers by one game in the standings. A win on the road would even the two teams’ records as well as the head-to-head tiebreaker; Pittsburgh won the two teams’ first meeting in Week 14. Baltimore would pull ahead in the division record tiebreaker – and therefore capture the division crown – with a Week 18 victory thanks to the Steelers’ Week 17 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Since Pittsburgh already holds a one-game lead in the division standings, a win or tie on Jan. 4 is enough to put them into the playoffs instead.
Follow along as USA TODAY Sports covers all of the “Sunday Night Football” action as it happens:
After failing to convert on fourth down earlier, the Steelers went right back to Heyward in a big spot in the third quarter. He gets the job done this time and scores the game-tying touchdown after back-to-back pushes from his brother, Cameron.
The Steelers couldn’t convert from the same distance to end the first half, but it’s a brand-new ball game halfway through the third after Boswell knocks through the extra point, the game is tied with 8:22 left in the third quarter.
Steelers 10, Ravens 10
Rodgers was married during the 2025 offseason. Rodgers’ wife has not publicly appeared with him yet.
Before acknowledging his marriage, Rodgers last mentioned having a significant other during a December 2024 appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” During the appearance, Rodgers said her name was “Brittani,” clarifying that she spelled it with an “I.”Â
Rodgers has not clarified whether she is the woman he married in 2025.
Hamilton was on the receiving end of a helmet-to-helmet hit early in the third quarter from teammate Alohi Gilman. The safety remained down after the play and replays showed his head also hit the field as Hamilton fell to the ground.
He walked off the field under his own power.
The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since Jan. 15, 2017 when they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs on the road in the division round. They have lost six playoff games in a row since that game and two of those losses came at home.
Baltimore’s Kyle Hamilton was flagged for pass interference with just two seconds left in the opening half. That gave Pittsburgh the ball at the one-yard line. The Steelers went for the game-tying touchdown and instead go into halftime down seven after Kenneth Gainwell was stuffed behind the line on a toss play. It was a curious play design for the Steelers, since it seemed dead from the start. They’ll get the second half kickoff, but have plenty of work to do in the final 30 minutes.Â
Pittsburgh’s drive stalled after an off-target throw from Rodgers, but Boswell was able to convert from 57 yards to cut into the Baltimore lead.
Ravens 10, Steelers 3
The rookie kicker knocks it through from 40 yards to give his team a two-score lead early in the second quarter. This drive was set up by the Steelers’ inability to convert on fourth down around midfield. It’s an important upcoming drive for Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers’ offense. Already down 10-0 and struggling on offense, this game can get away from them quickly.
Ravens 10, Steelers 0
Just like that, 15 minutes have come and gone in Game 272. The Ravens have been the better team by far. They also have the edge on the scoreboard, taking a 7-0 lead into the second. A fourth-down stop by the Ravens’ defense set them up with great field position and they’ll continue the drive at the edge of the red zone when play resumes.
Ravens 7, Steelers 0
Rodgers attended Butte Community College for a year in 2002 before playing two seasons at California from 2003-04.
Pittsburgh is still trying to find its footing without Metcalf on offense and that remained the case on the opening drive. It was a quick possession for the home team and Baltimore takes back over inside its own 15.
In this winner-take-all showdown, there is a notable absence for the Steelers – DK Metcalf. The receiver is serving the second and final game of his suspension. The NFL issued the penalty to Metcalf for his involvement in an altercation with a Detroit Lions fan in Week 16. He reached into the stands to strike the fan on the sideline and the league promptly suspended Metcalf for the remainder of the regular season.
Philip Rivers turned 44 on Dec. 8 and is now the oldest active NFL player. Aaron Rodgers turned 42 on Dec. 6. There are 12 players aged 39 or older playing in the NFL in 2025:
Philip Rivers, QB, Indianapolis Colts: 44 years oldAaron Rodgers, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers: 42 years oldNick Folk, K, New York Jets: 41 years oldMatt Prater, K, Buffalo Bills: 41 years oldMarcedes Lewis, TE, Denver Broncos: 41 years oldJoe Flacco, QB, Cincinnati Bengals: 40 years oldJJ Jansen, LS, Carolina Panthers: 39 years oldJon Weeks, LS, San Francisco 49ers: 39 years oldMorgan Cox, LS, Tennessee Titans: 39 years oldThomas Morstead, P, San Francisco 49ers: 39 years oldJosh Johnson, QB, Washington Commanders: 39 years oldCalais Campbell, DL, Arizona Cardinals: 39 years old
It was an eventful opening drive for the visitors. They were called for a holding penalty on the opening kickoff, negating a nice return. They were called for an illegal blindside block on a 47-yard run by Derrick Henry – which was a bad call, according to NBC’s rules analyst, Terry McAulay.
None of that mattered. The Ravens still managed to find the end zone with a 38-yard passing touchdown from Lamar Jackson to Walker on fourth down.
Ravens 7, Steelers 0
The temperature at tonight’s kickoff was 28 degrees in Pittsburgh.
What TV channel is the Steelers vs. Ravens game?
Week 18’s “Sunday Night Football” game – the final regular season game of the year – between the Steelers and Ravens will be broadcast by NBC on Jan. 4. Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (game analyst) and Melissa Stark (sideline reporter) will be on the call for the battle for the AFC North.
What time is the Ravens at Steelers game?
The Steelers vs. Ravens game will kick off at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 4.
Steelers vs. Ravens live stream
As with every iteration of “Sunday Night Football,”, NBC will simulcast its prime-time offering on Peacock, its proprietary streaming service. Cord-cutters can also watch the game on NFL+, the NFL’s own streaming service.
Catch ‘SNF’ with a Peacock subscription
Steelers vs. Ravems prediction, picks
USA TODAY Sports’ NFL experts are split on whether the Steelers or Ravens will win the battle for the AFC North on “Sunday Night Football in Week 18:
Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz: Ravens, 24-17Jarrett Bell:Â Steelers, 23-20Nick Brinkerhoff:Â Steelers, 23-20Chris Bumbaca:Â Ravens, 21-20Nate Davis:Â Ravens, 23-20Tyler Dragon:Â Ravens, 25-20Steelers vs. Ravens odds, moneyline, O/U
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday at 11:15 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML):Â Ravens -190 (Bet $190 to win $100) | Steelers +160 (Bet $100 to win $160)Against the spread (ATS):Â Ravens -3.5 (-105) | Steelers +3.5 (-115)Over/Under (O/U): 41.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Lamar Jackson has had a full week of practice for the first time since November and will play in Sunday night’s AFC North title game in Pittsburgh. He missed Week 17 with a back contusion but is expected to be a full go tonight.
The Steelers’ four-time All-Pro linebacker will be back on the field for Pittsburgh tonight against Baltimore. Watt has missed the last two weeks following surgery stemming from a partially collapsed lung on Dec. 10. That lung injury happened during a routine dry needling treatment at a team facility. He was subsequently hospitalized but has made a full recovery.
“It’ll be great to have him back,” Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said via the team. “What capacity we’ll find out really, not till Sunday. But it’ll be great to have him back… I would think that he’ll only strengthen our group and how we play and all those things.”
The temperature is expected to be 28 degrees around kickoff in Pittsburgh. There is no snow in the forecast and wind gusts will max out at just 5 MPH.
WR Roman WilsonRB Kaleb JohnsonCB Tre FlowersOLB Jeremiah MoonOL Jack DriscollQB Will Howard (emergency third QB)WR Rashod Bateman (illness)CB Keyon MartinT Joseph NoteboomDL Aeneas PeeblesWR Keith KirkwoodCB Amani OruwariyeQB Cooper Rush (emergency third QB)Steelers schedule 2025Ravens schedule 2025
Week 18’s “Sunday Night Football” game will determine the AFC North champion. The Steelers are entering the matchup with a one-game lead in the standings:
Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-7 (3-2 AFC North)Baltimore Ravens: 8-8 (3-2)Cincinnati Bengals: 6-11 (3-3)Cleveland Browns: 5-12 (2-4)Denver Broncos (14-3, AFC West winners)*New England Patriots (14-3, AFC East winners)*Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4, AFC South winners)*Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7, AFC North leaders)Houston Texans (12-5, wild card No. 1)*Buffalo Bills (12-5, wild card No. 2)*Los Angeles Chargers (11-6, wild card No. 3)*
In the hunt: Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
Seattle Seahawks (14-3, NFC West winners)*Chicago Bears (11-6, NFC North winners)*Philadelphia Eagles (11-6, NFC East winners)*Carolina Panthers (8-9, NFC South winners)*Los Angeles Rams (12-5, wild card No. 1)*San Francisco 49ers (12-5, wild card No. 2)*Green Bay Packers (9-7-1, wild card No. 3)*
Here’s a look at the latest draft order for the first round with strength of schedule information via Tankathon:
Las Vegas Raiders: 3-14 record; .538 strength of scheduleNew York Jets: 3-14, .552 SOSArizona Cardinals: 3-14; .571 SOSTennessee Titans: 3-14, .574 SOSNew York Giants: 4-13; .524 SOSCleveland Browns: 5-12, .486 SOSWashington Commanders: 5-12; .507 SOSNew Orleans Saints: 6-11; .495 SOSKansas City Chiefs: 6-11; .516 SOSCincinnati Bengals: 6-11; .521 SOSMiami Dolphins: 7-10; .488 SOSDallas Cowboys: 7-9-1; .438 SOSAtlanta Falcons (pick belongs to Los Angeles Rams): 8-9; .495 SOSTampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-9, .529 SOSIndianapolis Colts (pick belongs to Jets): 8-9; .538 SOSBaltimore Ravens: 8-8; .503 SOSDetroit Lions: 9-8; .490 SOSMinnesota Vikings: 9-8; .514 SOSCarolina Panthers: 8-9, .522 SOSGreen Bay Packers (pick belongs to Cowboys): 9-7-1; .483 SOSPittsburgh Steelers: 9-7; .507 SOSLos Angeles Chargers: 11-6; .467 SOSPhiladelphia Eagles: 11-6; .476 SOSBuffalo Bills: 12-5, .470 SOSChicago Bears: 11-6; .458 SOSSan Francisco 49ers: 12-5, .498 SOSHouston Texans: 12-5; .524 SOSJacksonville Jaguars (pick belongs to Browns): 13-4; .478 SOSLos Angeles Rams: 12-5, .528 SOSNew England Patriots: 14-3; .390 SOSDenver Broncos: 14-3; .422 SOSSeattle Seahawks: 14-3; .497 SOS4th & Monday: Our NFL newsletter always brings the blitz 📰
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