Steelers versus Ravens is the best rivalry in football. When they meet, chaos ensues. They’ve already met twice this season with each side winning a game. The football gods have blessed NFL fans by giving them a third matchup between the big brothers of the AFC North on Wild Card Weekend. The mortal enemies have faced each other four times in the playoffs. The Steelers hold a 3-1 advantage over Baltimore heading into this year’s matchup.
In the first-ever playoff meeting between these two teams, the 14-3 Steelers beat the Ravens 27-10 led by Bill Cowher. Kordell Stewart went 12 for 22 with 154 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Amos Zereque was the hero for the Steelers, posting 63 rushing yards and two touchdowns to lift Pittsburgh to victory. Plaxico Burress led the receivers with five receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown.
Pittsburgh’s defense picked off Elvis Grbac three times. Brent Alexander grabbed two interceptions and Chad Scott had one. Joey Porter Sr, Jason Gildon, and Mike Jones all sacked Grbac. Shannon Sharpe is known today for his Instagram live streams, but on this day he led the Ravens in receiving, catching five passes for 56 yards. The Steelers came out on top but lost the AFC Championship game to the Patriots.
The Steelers’ mighty 2008 defense proved to be too much for Joe Flacco and the Ravens in the 2008 AFC Championship game. In the postseason, Pittsburgh beat Baltimore 23-14 in Mike Tomlin’s first matchup with John Harbaugh. Ben Roethlisberger racked up 255 passing yards and one touchdown. Santonio Holmes caught that touchdown along with seven more passes for 70 yards. Heath Miller and Hines Ward both chipped in with three receptions each.
The 2008 Steelers defense is one of the best units in league history and they showed it in this game. They held Flacco to 141 passing yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions. Tyrone Carter and Deshea Townsend each grabbed an interception but Troy Polamalu stole the show with his game-sealing pick-six to send Pittsburgh to Super Bowl 43.
In 2010, the Steelers continued their postseason dominance over their division rival with another win. Tomlin beat Harbaugh again, this time by a score of 31-24. The Ravens sacked Roethlisberger six times but it wasn’t enough to topple Pittsburgh. Once again, Pittsburgh used Baltimore as a stepping stone to the Super Bowl.
Rashard Mendenhall scored two touchdowns. Antonio Brown caught three passes for 75 yards. Emmanuel Sanders hauled in four passes for 54 yards. Roethlisberger found Heath Miller and Hines Ward for a touchdown each. It was an odd clash of eras for the Steelers, featuring legendary players on both sides of the ball.
The current host of the Pivot Podcast, Ryan Clark had two tackles for loss, an interception, and three solo tackles in the win. Lawrence Timmons led the Steelers in tackles with nine. James Harrison had three sacks. Pittsburgh’s defense in 2010 gave the 2008 defense a run for their money but the 2008 defense has the ring to back it up.
For the first time in franchise history, the Ravens beat the Steelers in the playoffs in 2014. Flacco led Baltimore to a 30-17 victory over the Steelers at Heinz Field. Future Hall of Famer Steve Smith Sr caught five passes for 101 yards. Torrey Smith and Crockett Gillmore both caught touchdown passes for the Ravens. Terrell Suggs grabbed an interception and the Ravens sacked Roethlisberger five times.
When he wasn’t on the ground, Roethlisberger was slinging it. He went 31 for 45 with 334 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. CTESPN Founder Antonio Brown had nine receptions for 117 yards and Martavis Bryant caught five passes for 61 yards and a touchdown. Heath Miller racked up 76 yards while Markus Wheaton caught five passes for 66 yards. Unfortunately for the Steelers, it wasn’t enough.
On Saturday, January 11th, The Steelers and Ravens will meet for the fifth time in the playoffs. Both teams have struggled in the playoffs recently, but in this game, something has to give. Pittsburgh hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016 while the Ravens have won just two playoff games with Lamar Jackson. Patrick Queen and DeShon Elliott will get a chance to eliminate their former team who didn’t want them.
The four previous meetings between the Steelers and Ravens were all played in Pittsburgh. This will be the first time they meet for a postseason bout in Baltimore. With Pro Bowl receiver Zay Flowers’s knee injury, the Ravens will look to Derrick Henry early and often in the cold conditions. Tractorcito season is in full effect. One AFC North team will move on to the next round while the other one will be sent into a dark offseason full of questions.
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