Sunday's matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers is poised to offer another dramatic chapter in a storied AFC North rivalry.
The Ravens (6-6) currently sit at first place in the division and hold a 63% chance of making the playoffs, but a loss in Week 14 would dash that number to 32% (a win would improve Baltimore's chance to 79%). A win for the Steelers (6-6) would improve their current playoff probability from 35% to 66%, but a loss would drop them to 18%.
Couple in the fact that Baltimore and Pittsburgh have played 40 one-possession games since the Ravens entered the NFL in 1996, which is the most by any two teams according to NFL Research, and the table is set for a dramatic afternoon in early December.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is well aware of the high stakes on Sunday.
"It's like a playoff game, and right now, for the situation we're in, it's definitely a playoff game for us," Jackson told reporters after Friday's practice, via team transcript. "If we weren't in this situation, it would still be [like] a playoff game just because of the rivalry."
Jackson aims to end scoreless streak unlike any other seen from the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player. He's gone three straight starts without a passing touchdown for the first time in his career while producing a 63.1 passer rating since Week 11 (second-worst in NFL). It's a far cry from the 127.1 passer rating Jackson boasted from Weeks 1-10, leading the league in that span.
"I'm not ecstatic about that at all," Jackson said of his TD-less streak through the air. "I'm mad, but I'm happy we got the wins when we did. But this past Thursday -- Thanksgiving night -- I wasn't happy at all. We had turnovers, missed assignments, and we weren't us, so I'm not happy about that at all. If I'm not scoring a touchdown, but we're winning, who can be mad at a win. I'm [only] mad at the losses."
The Ravens' five-turnover loss to the Bengals on Thanksgiving Day saw Jackson cough up two fumbles and throw a red-zone interception. Baltimore has the second-most giveaways (8) in the NFL since Week 11, a stat Jackson believes will be the difference against the Steelers on Sunday.
"It's a turnover battle game," Jackson said. "The team who has the ball the most and puts the most points on the board, that's going to be the outcome of who wins the game, basically. That's all [there is] to it, but it's a huge rivalry."
Jackson's 2025 campaign has seen multiple injuries, leading him to miss three starts and enter numerous games not at 100%. A teammate stepped on his ankle during Wednesday's practice, preventing him from participating in the following session and marking his fourth straight week with an ailment that led to a DNP. After fully returning to practice on Friday, Jackson said he feels "pretty good" and enters Sunday without an injury designation.
History shows a get-right game for Jackson this Sunday won't come easy. He has a 2-4 regular-season record (1-0 in playoffs) in his career against Pittsburgh, which is one of three teams he holds a losing record against (Chiefs, Raiders). Jackson's career 72.8 passer rating versus the Steelers is his worst against any opponent.
The winner of Sunday's game will take sole possession of first place in the AFC North. While these two teams meet again in Week 18 in Pittsburgh -- potentially a win-and-in playoff scenario -- whoever comes out victorious in Week 14 might have the upper hand.
"We just have to focus on Pittsburgh right now," Jackson said. "Like you said, we're both 6-6. [They have a] great defense as always. Every time we play them, it's a great defense, and the offense – I can say – [is led] by Aaron Rodgers, [who is] a future Hall of Famer, so we just have to lock in and do what we're supposed to do."
