Did a rookie kicker’s miss just save Aaron Rodgers’ playoff legacy and send the Ravens home?
In a heart-pounding Week 18 showdown at Acrisure Stadium, the Pittsburgh Steelers edged the Baltimore Ravens 26-24 on a dramatic missed 44-yard field goal by rookie Tyler Loop as time expired, clinching the AFC North title and the No. 4 seed.
Score Summary
The game exploded in a wild fourth quarter after a defensive first half:
- 1st Quarter: Ravens struck first with Lamar Jackson’s 38-yard TD pass to Devontez Walker on 4th-and-3.
- 2nd Quarter: Baltimore added a field goal for a 10-3 halftime lead; Pittsburgh’s Chris Boswell hit a long kick, but a goal-line stuff denied a TD.
- 3rd Quarter: Steelers tied it and took a brief lead on drives fueled by defense.
- 4th Quarter: Frenzy ensued—Jackson hit Zay Flowers for two TDs (including a 63-yarder) to surge ahead twice, Kenneth Gainwell answered with a score for Pittsburgh, then Aaron Rodgers found Calvin Austin III for a 26-yard go-ahead TD with 55 seconds left (Boswell missed the XP). Jackson drove Baltimore into range, but Loop pushed the potential winner wide right.
Turning Points
- Early Ravens dominance with penalties not derailing their opening drive.
- Pittsburgh’s goal-line stand just before halftime preserving a one-score deficit.
- Late-game TD exchanges flipping the lead three times in the final minutes.
- The ultimate decider: Loop’s miss after a clutch fourth-down conversion kept Ravens hopes alive.
Standout Performances
- Aaron Rodgers (Steelers QB): Clutch in crunch time with the game-winning TD pass, extending his career into the postseason.
- Lamar Jackson (Ravens QB): Threw for 238 yards and three TDs despite a back issue, nearly engineering a comeback.
- Zay Flowers (Ravens WR): Two massive fourth-quarter TDs, including a long bomb.
- Derrick Henry (Ravens RB): Strong early rushing to set tone.
- Kenneth Gainwell & Calvin Austin III (Steelers): Key scores in the comeback.
- Steelers Defense: Pressured Jackson late and forced the final desperation.
Playoff Implications
The win vaults Pittsburgh to 10-7, crowning them AFC North champs and earning a home Wild Card game against the No. 5 seed Houston Texans (hot on a long win streak). For the 8-9 Ravens, the crushing loss eliminates them from the playoffs—their season ends in heartbreak, marking a rare missing postseason under John Harbaugh. This rivalry classic decided the final AFC spot, with the Steelers dancing into January while Baltimore heads to an uncertain offseason.
