Steel City Underground presents post-game takeaways in our Steelers Offseason Recall series, revisiting key moments from the 2025 season and how they shaped the year that followed.<\/p>\n
One week after one of their lowest points of the season, the Pittsburgh Steelers delivered one of their biggest victories.<\/p>\n
Needing a response after being embarrassed by Buffalo, the Steelers traveled to Baltimore in Week 14 and emerged with a dramatic 27-22 victory that reignited their AFC North hopes. The game featured Aaron Rodgers<\/a>\u2018 best performance in a Steelers uniform, timely defensive adjustments, several explosive plays, and two controversial replay reviews that left both fanbases debating long after the final whistle.<\/p>\n Looking back, this wasn\u2019t just another chapter in the Steelers-Ravens rivalry. It was the game that reminded everyone Pittsburgh was still very much alive in the division race.<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n The Steelers finally got back on track<\/p>\n After being physically dominated by the Bills the previous week, Pittsburgh entered Baltimore with a much clearer identity.\u00a0Before kickoff, the Steelers\u2019 blueprint was straightforward: win the quarterback battle, contain Derrick Henry<\/a> and Lamar Jackson<\/a>, protect Aaron Rodgers, involve Jaylen Warren<\/a> and Kenneth Gainwell<\/a>, and limit Baltimore\u2019s production over the middle.<\/p>\n For perhaps the first time in weeks, they executed nearly every part of that plan.<\/p>\n Rodgers wasted little time proving his injured hand wasn\u2019t going to define his afternoon. On Pittsburgh\u2019s opening possession, he connected with D.K. Metcalf<\/a> for a 52-yard gain before finishing the drive himself, scrambling around the left side for a one-yard touchdown.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t a typical quarterback sneak.\u00a0When the play broke down, the 42-year-old Rodgers sprinted diagonally across the field before beating the Ravens defense to the pylon for one of the most memorable rushing touchdowns of his career.<\/p>\n By game\u2019s end, Rodgers had completed 23 of 34 passes for 284 yards and a touchdown while leading an offense that finally rediscovered its explosive element.<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n The big plays returned<\/p>\n One of Pittsburgh\u2019s biggest offensive problems throughout November had been the lack of chunk plays.\u00a0Against Baltimore, those disappeared in a hurry.<\/p>\n Rodgers connected repeatedly with Metcalf for gains of 52, 41, and 28 yards while also finding Calvin Austin<\/a> III for 31 yards. Jaylen Warren added a 38-yard catch-and-run touchdown that stretched Baltimore\u2019s defense in ways opponents hadn\u2019t seen for weeks.<\/p>\n Just as important, the offensive line turned in one of its cleanest performances of the season.<\/p>\n Despite facing one of the NFL\u2019s most aggressive defenses, Rodgers was never sacked. While the running game remained relatively quiet between Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, the protection allowed Pittsburgh\u2019s passing attack to dictate the afternoon.<\/p>\n It was the offensive balance the Steelers had been searching for.<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n Defensive adjustments paid off<\/p>\n Pittsburgh\u2019s defense also looked much different than it had seven days earlier.\u00a0Rather than selling out for pressure on every snap, the Steelers emphasized setting the edge and controlling Baltimore\u2019s rushing attack.<\/p>\n The approach worked.\u00a0Although Derrick Henry finished with 94 rushing yards, he averaged just 3.8 yards per carry and never reached the end zone.<\/p>\n T.J. Watt<\/a> consistently forced runs back inside, while Alex Highsmith<\/a> helped seal the opposite edge.\u00a0Lamar Jackson still made plays through the air, but Pittsburgh limited one of Baltimore\u2019s biggest weapons by holding Mark Andrews<\/a> to just one catch for nine yards.<\/p>\n Another unlikely contributor emerged as well.\u00a0After barely making the roster earlier in the season, James Pierre<\/a> played 86 percent of the defensive snaps and produced perhaps the biggest takeaway of the afternoon. Jackson attempted to extend a second-quarter play before throwing directly into Pierre\u2019s hands, setting up another Steelers touchdown and giving Pittsburgh a commanding 17-3 advantage.<\/p>\n Pierre finished with an interception, two passes defended, and five tackles in one of the best games of his career.<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n A rivalry game decided by inches<\/p>\n No one remembers this game without talking about the replay booth. With just over seven minutes remaining, Baltimore believed it had recovered an Aaron Rodgers fumble after a deflected pass. Officials initially ruled it a turnover, but replay determined Rodgers had secured possession and was down by contact before the ball came loose.<\/p>\n The Steelers eventually punted, but the ruling preserved valuable time.<\/p>\n Then came the play everyone still debated afterward. Trailing 27-22 with under three minutes remaining, Jackson found Isaiah Likely<\/a> in the end zone for what appeared to be the go-ahead touchdown. Ravens fans celebrated.<\/p>\n Replay had other ideas.<\/p>\n Officials determined Likely lost control of the football before completing the catch, overturning the touchdown and giving Pittsburgh new life. Baltimore eventually turned the ball over on downs, but still had one final opportunity after another Steelers punt: that\u2019s when Alex Highsmith ended it.<\/p>\n With nine seconds remaining and the Ravens facing third-and-one near the Steelers\u2019 30-yard line, Highsmith exploded past his blocker and brought Jackson down for an eight-yard sack. Baltimore had no timeouts remaining, and the clock expired before another snap could be taken.<\/p>\n It was the perfect ending to one of the rivalry\u2019s most dramatic games.<\/p>\n