Aaron Rodgers put together the best game of his Steelers tenure, throwing for 284 yards and a touchdown while also scoring on the ground, as Pittsburgh held on for a 27 to 22 win over the Baltimore Ravens in a Week 14 AFC North showdown that came down to two controversial replay reviews in the final minutes. DK Metcalf hauled in 148 yards on seven catches, Zay Flowers put up 124 yards for Baltimore, and Derrick Henry churned through 94 yards on 25 carries — but none of that was enough to save Baltimore from a second straight divisional loss at home.
Table of contents
📊 The Numbers That Defined This Game
Before we get into what happened and why, here is every key stat from this matchup — pulled straight from the box score. This is the full picture.
Quarterback Duel: Rodgers vs Jackson
| Stat | Aaron Rodgers (PIT) | Lamar Jackson (BAL) |
|---|---|---|
| Completions / Attempts | 23 / 34 | 19 / 35 |
| Passing Yards | 284 | 219 |
| Passing TDs | 1 | 1 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 1 |
| Passer Rating | 103.1 | 71.0 |
| QBR | 62.7 | 71.4 |
| Yards Per Attempt | 8.4 | 6.3 |
| Times Sacked | 0 | 2 |
| Sack Yards Lost | 0 | 16 |
| Rushing Carries | 2 | 7 |
| Rushing Yards | 0 | 43 |
| Rushing TDs | 1 | 1 |
“At least maybe you guys will shut the hell up for a week,” Rodgers said after the win, firing back at the Pittsburgh fans and local media who had been questioning whether Mike Tomlin’s 19 year run as head coach was coming to an end.
Running Game: Ravens Dominated the Trenches, Still Lost
| Player | Team | Carries | Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derrick Henry | BAL | 25 | 94 | 3.8 | 0 | 19 |
| Keaton Mitchell | BAL | 6 | 76 | 12.7 | 0 | 55 |
| Lamar Jackson | BAL | 7 | 43 | 6.1 | 1 | 9 |
| Kenneth Gainwell | PIT | 4 | 15 | 3.8 | 1 | 6 |
| Jaylen Warren | PIT | 8 | 13 | 1.6 | 0 | 5 |
| Kaleb Johnson | PIT | 2 | 4 | 2.0 | 0 | 5 |
| Aaron Rodgers | PIT | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 |
Team Rushing Totals:
| Stat | Pittsburgh | Baltimore |
|---|---|---|
| Total Carries | 17 | 40 |
| Total Rushing Yards | 34 | 217 |
| Yards Per Carry | 2.0 | 5.4 |
| Rushing TDs | 2 | 1 |
Baltimore outrushed Pittsburgh 217 to 34 yards — a margin of 183 yards. That was the largest rushing advantage by a losing team since Jacksonville outran Indianapolis 243 to 45 in a 2022 loss. And yet, the Ravens still lost. That stat alone tells you everything about how this game actually played out.
“They smashed us today,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said after the game. “I’ve got to give them credit.”
Receiving: Metcalf and Flowers Go Head to Head
| Player | Team | Receptions | Targets | Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DK Metcalf | PIT | 7 | 12 | 148 | 21.1 | 0 | 52 |
| Zay Flowers | BAL | 8 | 11 | 124 | 15.5 | 0 | 35 |
| Jaylen Warren | PIT | 3 | 3 | 49 | 16.3 | 1 | 38 |
| Isaiah Likely | BAL | 4 | 6 | 25 | 6.3 | 1 | 8 |
| Calvin Austin III | PIT | 1 | 2 | 31 | 31.0 | 0 | 31 |
| Rashod Bateman | BAL | 2 | 3 | 23 | 11.5 | 0 | 18 |
| Charlie Kolar | BAL | 1 | 1 | 19 | 19.0 | 0 | 19 |
| Kenneth Gainwell | PIT | 6 | 7 | 27 | 4.5 | 0 | 9 |
| Pat Freiermuth | PIT | 2 | 3 | 9 | 4.5 | 0 | 6 |
| Mark Andrews | BAL | 1 | 5 | 9 | 9.0 | 0 | 9 |
Metcalf was the playmaker Pittsburgh needed on this day. This was his most productive outing of the 2025 season by a significant margin. His 52 yard catch on the very first play of the game set the tone entirely.
Scoring Summary
| Quarter | Time | Team | Score (PIT | BAL) | Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 10:58 | PIT | 3 – 0 | Tyler Loop 36 yd FG | |
| 1st | 7:13 | PIT | 7 – 0 | Aaron Rodgers 1 yd rush TD (Boswell kick) | |
| 2nd | 10:39 | PIT | 10 – 0 | Chris Boswell 23 yd FG | |
| 2nd | 6:05 | PIT | 17 – 0 | Kenneth Gainwell 6 yd rush TD (Boswell kick) | |
| 2nd | 0:16 | BAL | 17 – 3 | Lamar Jackson 6 yd rush TD (Loop PAT failed) | |
| 3rd | 10:57 | PIT | 20 – 9 | Chris Boswell 28 yd FG | |
| 3rd | 7:35 | BAL | 20 – 16 | Isaiah Likely 4 yd pass from Jackson (Loop kick) | |
| 3rd | 3:30 | PIT | 27 – 16 | Jaylen Warren 38 yd pass from Rodgers (Boswell kick) | |
| 4th | 13:43 | BAL | 27 – 19 | Tyler Loop 28 yd FG | |
| 4th | 1:17 | BAL | 27 – 22 | Tyler Loop 36 yd FG |
Special Teams & Kicking
| Kicker | Team | FG Made | FG Attempted | Long | XP Made | XP Attempted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Boswell | PIT | 2 | 2 | 28 | 3 | 3 |
| Tyler Loop | BAL | 3 | 3 | 36 | 1 | 2 |
Loop missed one extra point attempt in the second quarter after Jackson’s rushing TD. That missed PAT kept Baltimore within striking distance on paper, but it also meant the Ravens needed a touchdown instead of a field goal to tie it up later in the game.
Defensive Leaders
Pittsburgh Defense (Top Performers)
| Player | Tackles | Solo | Sacks | TFL | PD | QB Hits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cole Holcomb | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alex Highsmith | 7 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Patrick Queen | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T.J. Watt | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Joey Porter Jr. | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| James Pierre | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Baltimore Defense (Top Performers)
| Player | Tackles | Solo | Sacks | TFL | PD | QB Hits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roquan Smith | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Kyle Hamilton | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Nate Wiggins | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Malaki Starks | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Marlon Humphrey | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Mike Green | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Pittsburgh’s defense held Baltimore to just 16 points through three quarters despite giving up 217 rushing yards. The turnover — Jackson’s interception by his own cousin, defensive back James Pierre — was the play that broke this game wide open in the first half.
🏈 How This Game Actually Played Out
First Half: Pittsburgh Built a Lead the Ravens Could Not Stop
The Steelers came out swinging. On the very first offensive play of the game, Rodgers launched a 52 yard strike to DK Metcalf down the right sideline. Two plays later, Rodgers himself punched it in from one yard out for his first rushing touchdown since the 2022 season.
That set the tone. Pittsburgh led 7 to 0 out of the gate, and Baltimore never found solid footing in the first half.
The turning point came when Lamar Jackson was intercepted by James Pierre in the second quarter. Pierre is Jackson’s cousin — an awkward moment in the best possible way for the Steelers. The interception handed Pittsburgh the ball in prime field position, and Chris Boswell converted a 23 yard field goal to push the lead to 10.
Then came Gainwell’s 6 yard scoring run to make it 17 to 3. Baltimore was on the ropes.
Jackson did get a late second quarter touchdown on a 6 yard run, but Tyler Loop’s missed extra point meant it stayed 17 to 9 at the half. Pittsburgh controlled the first 30 minutes of this football game completely.
Third Quarter: The Ravens Showed Signs of Life
Baltimore finally strung together some real momentum in the third quarter. Keaton Mitchell broke off a 55 yard run — the longest of the game for either team — and that suddenly put the Ravens in business.
Two plays later, Jackson found Isaiah Likely for a 4 yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 20 to 16. M&T Bank Stadium got loud. For about five minutes, it looked like Baltimore might actually pull this thing off.
But Rodgers answered right back. He hit Jaylen Warren for a 38 yard touchdown strike on the next Pittsburgh possession to push the lead back out to 27 to 16. That was the dagger Pittsburgh needed.
Fourth Quarter: Two Reviews, One Heartbreak
The Ravens refused to go quietly. Loop hit field goals of 28 and 36 yards to make it 27 to 22 with under two minutes left. Baltimore had a shot.
But then came the two plays that will define this game for Ravens fans for a long time.
Review One: With the Steelers up 27 to 22, a Jackson pass was batted into the air by C.J. Okoye. The ball bounced off several bodies, including Rodgers himself. Officials initially ruled it an interception — which would have given Baltimore the ball with great field position. After replay review, the call was changed. Rodgers briefly touched the ball before losing control, so officials ruled him down by contact. Pittsburgh kept possession, though they punted after that.
Review Two: This one hurt even more. Jackson found Isaiah Likely in the end zone with two hands on the ball. Likely got both feet down. The crowd erupted. It looked like a touchdown that would put Baltimore ahead.
Then Joey Porter Jr. knocked the ball loose just before Likely could take his third step.
NFL Vice President of Instant Replay Mark Butterworth explained the ruling: “The receiver controlled the ball in the air, had his right foot down, then his left foot down. The control is the first aspect of the catch. The second aspect is two feet or a body part in bounds, which he did have. Then the third step is an act common to the game and before he could get the third foot down, the ball was ripped out. Therefore, it was an incomplete pass.”
The Ravens turned the ball over on downs. The comeback was over.
📈 Key Takeaways and Analysis
Rodgers Showed Why He Is Still in Pittsburgh
This was not just a good game for Aaron Rodgers. This was a statement. He did not complete a single pass longer than 31 yards during the entire month of November. On this Sunday, he had four completions of 31 yards or more, plus two more for over 20 yards. His 284 passing yards were a season high with the Steelers, and he was not sacked a single time.
He also played through a broken left wrist, using a soft cast instead of the brace he wore the week before against Buffalo. That kind of toughness matters in an AFC North rivalry game.
The Ravens’ Rushing Dominance Meant Nothing Without Turnovers Protection
Baltimore outrushed Pittsburgh 217 to 34. That number is almost absurd. And they still lost by five points. The reason is simple: Jackson’s interception in the second quarter gave Pittsburgh the field position boost it needed to build an 11 point lead. Once you fall behind by that much in a rivalry game like this, you are playing catch up for the entire afternoon.
Henry was held to 94 yards on 25 carries — solid but not explosive. Mitchell was the one who broke free with that 55 yard run. For the Ravens to win games like this, they need Henry and Mitchell working together, and they need Jackson to protect the football.
Zay Flowers Hit a Milestone, But It Was Not Enough
Flowers recorded his 214th career reception as a Raven, passing Torrey Smith for 7th on the franchise’s all time receptions list. He also moved past Travis Taylor for 8th on the Ravens’ all time receiving yards list with 2,765 career yards. Eight catches for 124 yards is a strong individual game. But with Mark Andrews held to just one catch on five targets and DeAndre Hopkins shut out entirely, the Ravens passing game beyond Flowers did not produce.
Where Baltimore Stands Now
This loss dropped the Ravens to 6 and 7 on the season. Baltimore had won five straight games after a terrible 1 and 5 start, but back to back divisional losses at home — first to Cincinnati, then to Pittsburgh — put them right back on the bubble.
For the Steelers, this win moved them to 7 and 6 and into sole possession of first place in the AFC North. It also bought Mike Tomlin at least one more week without questions about his job security.
🔍 By the Numbers: What Actually Decided This Game
- The interception. Jackson’s pick in the second quarter set up Boswell’s field goal and the subsequent Gainwell touchdown. That turned a one score game into a blowout in the span of one drive.
- The missed PAT. Loop’s failed extra point after Jackson’s rushing TD meant the Ravens trailed 17 to 9 at the half instead of 17 to 10. Small margin, big psychological hit.
- The two replay reviews. Both went against Baltimore. One erased what looked like a game winning touchdown. The other gave Pittsburgh a favorable field position change. Ravens fans will argue about these plays for weeks.
- Rodgers being sack free. Zero sacks on 34 drop backs. Against a Ravens defense that had been solid all season. That is a complete game from Pittsburgh’s offensive line.
Want the full game logs and every player stat from this Ravens vs Steelers matchup in one place? Head over to Match vs Player Stats for the complete breakdown.
