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Pittsburgh (10-7) is set to face off against Baltimore (12-5) on Saturday at 8 p.m. EST, which will be available for streaming on Prime Video. Current betting odds from BetMGM indicate that the Ravens are favored by 10 points. The Steelers hold a record of 11-6 against the spread, while the Ravens have a record of 10-6-1. Historically, the Steelers lead the series with 36 wins to the Ravens’ 26. In their latest encounter on December 21, 2024, the Ravens secured a 34-17 victory over the Steelers in Baltimore.

Last week, the Steelers narrowly lost to the Bengals with a score of 19-17, whereas the Ravens dominated the Browns, winning 35-10. In terms of overall performance, the Steelers’ offense ranks 23rd, showcasing strengths in rushing (11th) but weaknesses in passing (27th) and scoring (16th). Defensively, they sit at 12th overall, excelling against the rush (6th) but struggling against the pass (25th) and in scoring (8th). Conversely, the Ravens boast the top-ranked offense both in overall production and rushing, while their passing game checks in at 7th and scoring at 3rd. Their defense ranks 10th overall but shows signs of vulnerability against the pass (31st), with scoring defense positioned at 9th. Notably, the Steelers hold a plus-16 turnover differential compared to the Ravens’ plus-6.

A key player for the Steelers to monitor is wide receiver George Pickens. Having missed the team’s previous encounter due to a hamstring injury, he has struggled to make a significant impact since his return, particularly in Week 18 against the Bengals, where he recorded just one catch for zero yards while dropping three passes. For Pittsburgh to rejuvenate their stagnant offense, which has contributed to their recent four-game losing streak, early engagement from Pickens will be crucial. In five matchups against Baltimore, Pickens has gathered 19 receptions for 326 yards and found the end zone once, with four of those encounters resulting in victories for the Steelers.

For the Ravens, eyes will be on quarterback Lamar Jackson. The two-time MVP is performing remarkably this season, being the first quarterback in history to surpass both 4,000 passing yards and 900 rushing yards in a single season. Despite his accomplishments, leading the team toward a lengthy postseason journey remains a challenge for him. However, any signs of inconsistency in his performance could create unease among Ravens fans.

A critical matchup to watch is between Ravens running back Derrick Henry and the Pittsburgh defensive front led by linebacker Patrick Queen. Establishing a strong running game could relieve some pressure from Jackson, particularly against a Steelers defense that has struggled in recent weeks. In their prior clash in November, Henry’s early fumble hindered Baltimore’s control as Pittsburgh edged out an 18-16 win. However, in last month’s rematch, Henry rushed for 162 yards, helping to secure a 34-17 victory for Baltimore.

In terms of injuries, the Steelers are relatively healthy heading into their 18th game of the season. Cornerback Donte Jackson may return after missing time due to a back injury, and defensive tackle Cam Heyward is anticipated to play despite earlier concerns. Meanwhile, the Ravens will be without wide receiver Zay Flowers, who injured his knee in the regular-season finale.

This playoff trek marks the first postseason meeting between Baltimore and Pittsburgh in a decade, with their previous four encounters leaning heavily in favor of the Steelers, who won three out of four. The recent trend in the series has seen the Steelers claim victory in eight of their last ten meetings. Both teams boast long-serving head coaches, with Mike Tomlin at the helm of Pittsburgh for 18 years and John Harbaugh leading the Ravens for 17 years.

Stats reveal that the Steelers enter the playoffs amidst a cold streak, with their four-game losing skid matching the second longest in Tomlin’s coaching tenure. Additionally, they have endured five consecutive postseason losses dating back to the 2016 AFC title game. The last team to struggle similarly but overcome in the playoffs was the 1986 New York Jets. Pittsburgh’s current 8-year playoff win drought represents their longest since the franchise’s first postseason victory in 1972, coinciding with Franco Harris’s historic “Immaculate Reception.” The Steelers historically perform well when meeting an opponent for a third time in a season, holding a 10-2 record. However, their recent offensive struggles are pronounced, averaging a mere 14.3 points and 258 yards per game, while the defense conceded 27.3 points and 380.5 yards during this losing streak.

Quarterback Russell Wilson has a mixed playoff record at 9-7, with a disappointing 3-5 mark since his Super Bowl appearance following the 2014 season. Steelers quarterbacks making their debut in the playoffs have found some success, sporting a 7-3 record historically. Linebacker T.J. Watt concluded the regular season with 11.5 sacks, the fewest in a full season since his rookie year, and has yet to record a sack during the current losing streak. Defensive tackle Cam Heyward enjoyed a standout season, earning Pro Bowl recognition for the seventh time, with 8.5 sacks and 11 batted passes to his name.

Despite ranking second overall in turnover differential during the regular season, Pittsburgh has fallen to minus-1 in this category through their current slump. The offense has improved somewhat this year, but struggles persist in the red zone, evident in their descent from 25th to 29th place with a 48.2% touchdown rate. Kicker Chris Boswell’s 41 field goals mark the second highest single-season total in NFL history. Meanwhile, the Ravens navigated through the regular season effectively, securing a 7-3 record against 2024 playoff teams, and made history by becoming the first team to throw for at least 4,000 yards while rushing for over 3,000 in a single season.

Looking at their defensive performance from Weeks 11 to 18, the Ravens allowed statistically lowest marks in yards, passing yards, and points per game in the league. They also showcased efficiency with an impressive average of 6.85 yards per play, marking the third-highest figure in NFL history. Baltimore set a new record of 5.76 yards per rushing attempt this season. When it comes to playoff performance, the Ravens are 4-5 in home playoff games and have only played one home game during their Super Bowl-winning seasons of 2000 and 2012. A positive or even turnover margin has historically favored their playoff success, with a strong 17-2 record, while they have yet to win on the postseason stage with a negative turnover margin.

In summary, the upcoming clash between Pittsburgh and Baltimore promises to be a highly contested playoff battle. Both teams bring unique strengths and weaknesses to the field, making this rivalry as fierce as ever, as they both aim to advance in the postseason.

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