NFL Football

2026-01-04 - Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown

Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers
United States : NFL Week 18
Sunday 4th January 2025 - Scheduled 8:20pm
1:20am (British Time)

Preview

For a period in Week 17, it felt like the NFL was going to have to deal with the worst case scenario of having most key Playoff slots confirmed before the final week of the regular season. Things changed and they did have a couple of key games that could be placed in high-profile spots.

The game that will round out the 2025 regular season on Sunday Night Football will also determine the final Playoff place when the AFC North is decided.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) have once again finished with a winning record under Head Coach Mike Tomlin, although there has been speculation about the future of Tomlin. Fans have not been happy, and missing the Playoffs will be a big blow for the Steelers, especially as they just had to beat struggling Cleveland last week to confirm their place as Divisional Winners.

It was a loss that came twenty-four hours after the Baltimore Ravens had run right through the Green Bay Packers to keep the season alive.

Derrick Henry was the key player just days after the Ravens had been hugely criticised for leaving him on the sidelines in the Fourth Quarter when trying to control the clock against the New England Patriots with a Week 16 lead. They were not going to make the same mistake and Henry crushed the Packers and is expected to be a key figure for Baltimore once again.

However, this week he will be playing behind Quarter Back Lamar Jackson who looks to be trending towards a return to action having missed the win last time out. It has been a season of ailments for Jackson, but there was no way he was going to sit out this huge game and it certainly gives the Baltimore Ravens an edge.

They were beaten by the Steelers at home, but the Ravens will still be wondering how that happened having pounded Pittsburgh on the ground and out-gained them significantly over the course of the game.

Pittsburgh will have TJ Watt back on this side of the ball, but the Defensive Line is going to know they are in for a very tough evening dealing with Derrick Henry and this Ravens Offensive Line. In recent games they have gotten back to basics with the Offensive approach and the assumption is that Henry is not going to be out of the lineup very often now we have reached January when the King really reminds everyone of his qualities.

TJ Watt will have an impact in the passing game, but the Ravens are much more dangerous when they can use play-action, although Lamar Jackson may not be taking too many risks with his legs. That does lessen his impact at Quarter Back, but the return is a boost and the pressure will be on the Steelers to find better Offensive plays than they produced in the very disappointing loss to the Cleveland Browns.

It is a big blow that DK Metcalf is going to conclude his suspension this week having become the main target for Aaron Rodgers, while Darnell Washington broke his arm last week. Calvin Austin III is likely to suit up, but the veteran Quarter Back has not been given the kind of options in the passing game as he would have hoped, even if Rodgers has spoken glowingly about his time in Pittsburgh.

Aaron Rodgers will be hoping the Pittsburgh Offensive Line can at least help out and recent performances have been encouraging, although this is an improved Baltimore Defensive Line.

The Running Backs are likely to be a big part of the passing game, but it may not be easy for Pittsburgh to attack this vulnerable Baltimore Secondary without the likes of Metcalf and Washington. Aaron Rodgers has plenty of experience, but could also face plenty of pass rush pressure when he does drop back to throw the ball and that is where the Ravens look to have the slight edge.

This has traditionally been a rivalry that has been very competitive and with the underdog usually making use of the points being offered to them.

However, Baltimore blew out Pittsburgh twice last season and this feels like an opportunity for the Ravens to dominate at the Line of Scrimmage and ultimately allow Derrick Henry to carry them into the Wild Card Round. As long as Lamar Jackson is able to make a few plays, the Steelers could struggle to find enough Offensive output to keep this one close and the Baltimore Ravens can win the AFC North again and take the Number 4 Seed in a wide open Conference.