Kings of the North: Rodgers Leads Steelers to Gritty Division Title Win Over Ravens
- Rodgers Delivers: In his first playoff run since 2021, Aaron Rodgers orchestrated a 65-yard drive capped by a 26-yard strike to Calvin Austin III.
- Wild Card Bound: The Steelers will host C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans next Monday night.
PITTSBURGH — The stadium shook as the clock hit zero. When Ravens rookie kicker Tyler Loop pushed a 44-yard attempt wide right, a deafening roar erupted across the North Shore. The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t just win a game; they survived a 15-round heavyweight fight to reclaim the AFC North throne. The 26-24 victory sends Aaron Rodgers back to the postseason and officially ends Baltimore’s season in gut-wrenching fashion.
The fourth quarter of Ravens-Steelers was electric 🔥 @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/HBSmyvlMSj
— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2026
The Fourth Quarter Firefight
This wasn’t a game of inches; it was a game of heartbeats. After trailing 10-0 early, Pittsburgh clawed back to a 13-10 lead, only for the final frame to descend into pure chaos. Lamar Jackson, shaking off a back contusion, connected with Zay Flowers on two massive scores of 50 and 64 yards. Flowers was a nightmare for the secondary, racking up 138 receiving yards on just four catches.
But Rodgers had the final word. Despite playing without suspended wideout DK Metcalf, the 42-year-old veteran looked surgical. He threw for 294 yards, with 209 of those coming in a red-hot second half. His 26-yard rainbow to Calvin Austin III with 55 seconds left was the dagger. Even a rare missed extra point by Chris Boswell—his first of the year—couldn’t spoil the night once Loop’s kick sailed into the Pittsburgh air and stayed right.
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravens | 7 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
| Steelers | 0 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 26 |
What They Said
“The belief level in this locker room after a win like this is exponentially greater. Being the old guy with gray in the beard, they expect you to deliver in those moments. It’s an absolute blessing.” — Aaron Rodgers, Steelers QB
“You give that man a minute, and he’s going to find a way. We had our chances, we moved the ball, but in this rivalry, it always comes down to the final swing. Tonight, we missed.” — John Harbaugh, Ravens Head Coach
Playoff Implications: The Road to Santa Clara
With this victory, Mike Tomlin ties the legendary Chuck Noll for the most regular-season wins in franchise history at 193. More importantly, it secures a home playoff date. The Steelers (10-7) will host the Houston Texans on Monday, Jan. 12, at 8:00 PM ET.
For Baltimore, the 8-9 finish is a bitter pill. Despite 126 rushing yards from Derrick Henry, the Ravens missed the playoffs for the first time since 2021. The AFC North now runs through the Steel City, and with Rodgers finding his rhythm at the perfect time, Pittsburgh looks like the most dangerous “out” in the bracket.
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