Pittsburgh’s strength this season was its defense. The unit was consistently effective in shutting down the run and notched 33 takeaways, tied for the NFL lead.
In this game, however, the Steelers were trampled by star running back Derrick Henry and quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Henry ran for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson carried for 81 yards and also threw a pair of TD passes.
Pittsburgh failed to force a turnover, leaving its offense a long way to go on virtually every possession.
The Steelers were 10-3 and atop the AFC North on Dec. 8 after trouncing Cleveland at home, but that would be their final win.
Pittsburgh's final month of the regular season included a 34-17 loss in Baltimore that propelled the Ravens toward the division crown and a home game to start the playoffs. The Steelers (10-8) also lost to Philadelphia, Kansas City and finally, at home against a Cincinnati team that came in with an 8-8 record.
Pittsburgh has never had a losing record in coach Mike Tomlin's 18 seasons and has reached the playoffs a dozen times under his direction. Although both streaks continued in 2024-25, it's unlikely Tomlin or Steelers fans will look back on this chapter with any sense of pride.
Just as disheartening, the Steelers have lost six consecutive postseason games since an 18-16 upset of the Chiefs in January 2017. It's been one-and-done for Pittsburgh over its last five trips to the playoffs, and Tomlin is still striving for his first Super Bowl win since the 2008 season.
Eager for a fresh start after ending the regular season with a thud, the Steelers stumbled from the outset on a chilly night in Baltimore.
After Pittsburgh's opening possession ended with a punt, Baltimore (13-5) covered 95 yards in 13 plays for a 7-0 lead on a touchdown pass by Jackson to Rashod Bateman. Another three-and-out followed for the Steelers, who were outgained 128-27 in the first quarter.
It soon got worse for Pittsburgh. After another Steelers punt, Baltimore put together an 85-yard drive on 13 plays — all of them runs — to go up 14-0.
Just before the half, the Ravens applied another slap in the face to the reeling Steelers. Tomlin called a timeout with 1:08 remaining in hopes of getting the ball back as Baltimore faced a third down on its own 17.
The move backfired. The Ravens zipped downfield and went up 21-0 on Jackson's TD pass to Justice Hill with 2 seconds left.
Pittsburgh finally got into the end zone with a third-quarter touchdown pass from Russell Wilson to Van Jefferson, but Baltimore promptly answered with a 70-yard drive, ending with a 44-yard run by Henry.
The Ravens finished with a 299-29 advantage in yards rushing.
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