The Pittsburgh Steelers will face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18 on Sunday Night Football in a winner-take-all matchup. The winner will claim the AFC North title and advance to the playoffs, while the loserâs season will come to an end.
Ahead of the matchup, both teams are dealing with injuries, and on Monday, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh provided a major update on star quarterback Lamar Jacksonâs playing status for the crucial Week 18 matchup against the Steelers.
“Harbaugh said that Lamar Jackson’s status is ‘to be determined’ and they’ll know a lot more on Wednesday. He said Jackson has been in the building today working,” wrote Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic.
Jackson, who suffered a back contusion in Week 16 against the New England Patriots, will play against the Steelers if he is healthy enough to do so.
Harbaugh said, “It was not good at all early in the week, but it improved as the week went on. If Lamar is ready to go, he’s playing, for sure,” according to Zrebiec.
If Jackson is able to play against Pittsburgh, it would give the Ravens an advantage. If not, veteran backup Tyler Huntley is expected to get the start under center.
Huntley was efficient last week in Baltimoreâs 41-24 win over the Green Bay Packers, completing 16 of 20 pass attempts and throwing a touchdown.
GettyQB Tyler Huntley.
Steelers Injury Updates
The Steelers will be missing several key pieces in Week 18. It is already known that wide receiver DK Metcalf (suspension) and tight end Darnell Washington (broken arm) will miss the matchup, while defensive end T.J. Watt, wide receiver Calvin Austin III, and guard Isaac Seumalo are all listed as questionable.
“Star edge rusher T.J. Watt (lung), No. 2 receiver Calvin Austin (hamstring), and starting guard Isaac Seumalo (triceps) are trying to overcome injuries. Their status will be watched closely during the week as they try to get healthy enough to play,” wrote Clifton Brown of BaltimoreRavens.com.
The Steelersâ defense held its own in Week 17 against Cleveland, allowing just 13 points, but the offense will need every available piece healthy against Baltimore after scoring only six points against the Browns, a season low for Pittsburgh.
GettyThe Steelers only scored six points in Week 17.
A Rare Moment for the AFC North
After a heart-crushing week in which the Steelers entered Week 17 with a 93% chance of making the playoffs that has since dropped to 46%, according to ESPNâs Brooke Pryor, Pittsburgh will need to find a way to emerge victorious against Baltimore in a winner-take-all game for the division, a scenario that has occurred only one other time in the history of the AFC North in the regular season finale.
“Steelers-Ravens next week will mark the second ever winner-take-all game for the AFC North title in the final week of the season. The other took place in 2014 when Mike Tomlin and the Steelers defeated the Bengals 27-17 in Week 17 to take the AFC North,” wrote Pryor.
GettyThe Steelers won 27-22 against the Ravens earlier in the season.
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