It’s no secret that the Pittsburgh Steelers have been awful lately. The season has taken a tailspin after two consecutive losses to drop them to 6-6 after a 4-1 start, but somehow, they still control their own destiny. Although it’s likely a better decision to bottom out, Pittsburgh still has a chance to win the abysmal AFC North in 2025, and it would be the most Steelers thing possible. If they can pull out of Baltimore with a win on Sunday, everything changes. The playoffs are begging Pittsburgh to show up and get curb-stomped in the first round.
It feels like the walls are closing in on Mike Tomlin, but the guy loves having his back to the wall. This is a game that he can somehow find a way to win. Everybody is counting Pittsburgh out, but a win here gives them the lead in the AFC North. Tomlin and John Harbaugh have faced off a ton of times by now. Tomlin leads the series 19-13. He owes Harbaugh one after the beatdown that the Baltimore Ravens gave the Steelers during the playoffs last year. Get ready for a gritty, one-score AFC North rock fight.
DK Metcalf has strung together a few disappointing performances, but life has been tough on him in Pittsburgh. The offensive scheme isn’t ideal, and the lack of a WR2 is letting teams take him out of games. Arthur Smith and Aaron Rodgers have to find a way to get this guy going. The Ravens have struggled against receivers this season. It would be nice to see Metcalf make a good first impression in his first game of the rivalry with Baltimore.
Being a Steeler has Aaron Rodgers looking like he tried to rob Kevin McCallister’s house. He got the crap beaten out of him by the Buffalo Bills as he tried to play with three broken bones in his wrist. He got blown up for a fumble that ended with a Bills touchdown. This is also Rodgers’ first game of the Ravens rivalry. The offensive line is without Broderick Jones, but they have to find a way to keep Rodgers upright on Sunday.
Derrick Henry killed the Steelers in the playoffs last season, and he is an all-time great, but he has not looked explosive this season. Age might be finally catching up to King Henry, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him put up a vintage performance against Pittsburgh. Derrick Harmon is out for a second straight week, and the Steeler run defense appears to be lost without him. Don’t let Henry put you in the grave for the second straight season.
It’s officially do-or-die time for the Steelers. If they want to not waste this season entirely, they have to unleash hell in December. Unless the Ravens mess up badly, Pittsburgh will have to sweep them and handle business against the Miami Dolphins and the Cleveland Browns to have a chance to make the playoffs. The road isn’t easy, but it can be traveled. Even in a season that feels directionless, the Steelers still have life.
Pittsburgh will be without Derrick Harmon and Kyle Dugger. Both players have been a massive part of what’s actually good about the defensive unit. That means that Steeler fans are about to see more Chuck Clark than they are comfortable with, but it is a revenge game for him against his former team. It’s time for Tomlin and his team to lock in and get a win to extend the season in a do-or-die spot. If they don’t win in Week 14, they might as well lose out and get a better draft pick.
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