After a slow start to the 2025 campaign, the Baltimore Ravens have rallied to take control of the AFC North division heading into Week 14. However, their progress was halted in Week 13, as they lost to one of their division rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals, on Thanksgiving Day. Now, the Ravens have a tough matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers that will determine who takes control of the top seed in the division for the time being.
It’s still just a regular-season game, but it’s tough to find a contest that has had stakes this high in the NFL this year. Star quarterback Lamar Jackson knows just how important this game is, and he made that clear as day by issuing some head-turning comments before Baltimore squares off against Pittsburgh.
Lamar Jackson Says Ravens-Steelers Will Have Playoff-Like Atmosphere
Even during the Ravens’ five-game win streak prior to their loss to the Bengals, things haven’t clicked like they were expected to for them on offense this season. Jackson has been dealing with various injuries throughout the year, and while his numbers through his nine games played are solid (1,841 passing yards, 264 rushing yards, 16 total touchdowns), he has just a 5-4 record during his time on the field.
In his past three starts, Jackson hasn’t accounted for a single touchdown, which is certainly a concerning trend. Making matters even worse, he’s thrown three interceptions, although it is worth noting that Baltimore has managed to win two of these games. Admittedly, they were against the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets, so as the competition stiffens, the team is going to have to be better.
That is clear as day heading into a wildly important matchup against the Steelers. Rivalry games like this one always carry a bit of added weight, but when you consider all the potential playoff implications this contest carries, it’s clear this game is more important than most regular-season contests. Heck, even Jackson admitted earlier this week that the Ravens are treating this like a postseason matchup.
“It’s a huge rivalry. It’s like a playoff game, and right now, for the situation we’re in, it’s definitely a playoff game for us,” Jackson said on Friday. “(Even) if we wasn’t in a situation, it’d still be a playoff game, just because of the rivalry.”
Lamar Jackson, Ravens Looking to Earn Statement Win vs. Steelers
GettyLamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens scrambles during the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Considering how tightly contested the AFC North is right now, every game is important for the Ravens moving forward. Not only do they have the same record as the Steelers, but the Bengals now have Joe Burrow back under center, and as they proved in Week 13, that instantly makes them a completely different team.
The only way Baltimore can guarantee that it will find its way into the postseason is by winning games. Jackson is right to suggest that this feels like a playoff game, even though these two teams will meet again in Week 18, because depending on how the standings shake out, that game may not mean as much as this one does right now. Kickoff for this contest is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon.
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