Kings of the North: Rodgers Leads Steelers to Gritty Week 18 Win
- The Result: Pittsburgh defeated Baltimore 23-21 to clinch the AFC North championship.
- The Hero: Aaron Rodgers orchestrated a 65-yard game-winning drive capped by a touchdown to Calvin Austin.
- The Defensive Stand: T.J. Watt’s fourth-quarter interception and a missed 44-yard Ravens field goal sealed the victory.
PITTSBURGH — The Terrible Towels never stopped spinning. Aaron Rodgers ignored a collapsing pocket and fired a back-shoulder strike to Calvin Austin with 1:25 remaining, turning a fourth-quarter deficit into a division title. The 23-21 victory over the Baltimore Ravens didn’t just win a game; it shifted the power dynamic of the AFC playoffs.
Rodgers and Watt Deliver in the Clutch
In a matchup defined by heavy hits and lead changes, the Steelers relied on their veteran stars. After Zay Flowers scorched the Pittsburgh secondary for his third touchdown of the night to give Baltimore a late lead, Rodgers took over. He moved the chains with precision, completing 5 of 6 passes on the final drive. Despite a rare extra-point miss by Chris Boswell that kept the lead at two, the Steelers’ defense held firm.
This moment between Coach T & @CamHeyward 🥹 pic.twitter.com/smkk1Hwu2Q
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 5, 2026
T.J. Watt proved why he remains the league’s most feared defender. Early in the fourth, Watt tracked a deflected pass and hauled in a massive interception that sucked the air out of the Ravens’ sideline. Pittsburgh’s front seven harassed Lamar Jackson all night, forcing him into hurried throws and a critical fourth-down incompletion during the final two minutes.
What They Said
“We didn’t flinch. You come to Pittsburgh for games like this. Aaron told us in the huddle to just give him a second of time, and he’d find the window. He did exactly that.” — T.J. Watt, Steelers Outside Linebacker
“This is why you play the game. The AFC North is a gauntlet, and earning this hat and shirt at home against that team means everything to this locker room.” — Mike Tomlin, Steelers Head Coach
Playoff Implications: The Road Through Pittsburgh
With this win, the Steelers secure a home playoff game and the #3 seed in the AFC. Baltimore, despite 138 receiving yards from Zay Flowers, now faces a difficult road as a Wild Card entrant. The victory ensures that any team hoping to reach the Super Bowl from the AFC may have to brave the winter elements at Acrisure Stadium.
The Steelers now wait for the final seedings to see if they will host a rematch against a divisional foe or a surging Buffalo Bills squad in the opening round.
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