Rodgers, Steelers Win AFC North in Thriller Finish/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Aaron Rodgers led a game-winning drive to lift the Pittsburgh Steelers over the Baltimore Ravens 26-24. The win secures the AFC North title and a playoff home game against the Texans. Baltimore’s rookie kicker Tyler Loop missed a last-second field goal to seal the result.
Rodgers’ Steelers Clinch AFC North — Quick Looks
- Aaron Rodgers throws for 294 yards in comeback win
- Steelers secure first AFC North title in five years
- Calvin Austin III scores decisive touchdown with 55 seconds left
- Rookie kicker Tyler Loop misses game-winning attempt for Ravens
- Lamar Jackson throws three touchdowns despite back injury
- Ravens eliminated, face uncertain offseason after 8-9 season
- Steelers to host Texans in Wild Card round January 12
- T.J. Watt returns with key interception in defensive effort
- Derrick Henry rushes for 126 yards but Ravens fall short
- Mike Tomlin ties franchise win record with 193 victories
Rodgers, Steelers Win AFC North in Thriller Finish
Deep Look
PITTSBURGH — Aaron Rodgers may be 42, but his latest fourth-quarter comeback proved age hasn’t dulled his ability to deliver under pressure.
The four-time MVP capped off his best performance of the season by leading the Pittsburgh Steelers on a last-minute touchdown drive to beat the Baltimore Ravens 26-24, clinching the AFC North division title and securing a home playoff game. Rodgers threw for 294 yards, including a 26-yard go-ahead touchdown to Calvin Austin III with less than a minute to play. The Steelers (10-7) will now host the Houston Texans (12-5) on January 12 in the opening round of the playoffs.
“It’s about belief,” Rodgers said. “This is why I came back.”
Rodgers’ arrival in Pittsburgh last offseason was viewed by many as a final opportunity to chase one more playoff run after two unproductive years with the Jets. On Sunday night, in the biggest moment of the season, he reminded everyone why he still belongs on the NFL’s biggest stage.
Despite a late lead change and a stunning back-and-forth with the Ravens, Pittsburgh found a way — in part thanks to a missed field goal at the buzzer. Baltimore rookie kicker Tyler Loop pushed a 44-yard attempt wide right as time expired, ending the Ravens’ playoff hopes and delivering Pittsburgh its first division crown since 2020.
“Not going to question it,” said veteran Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward. “Just thankful. We keep moving.”
Loop, who had connected on 30 of 33 field goals this season, accepted responsibility for the miss, standing flanked by his holder and long snapper.
“Just mishit the ball,” he said. “We call it hitting it thin.”
Baltimore’s season, once filled with Super Bowl aspirations, ends with a thud. The Ravens finish 8-9, despite Lamar Jackson throwing for 238 yards and three touchdowns. Jackson’s grit was on full display — playing through a painful back contusion, he launched two long fourth-quarter touchdown passes to Zay Flowers, covering 50 and 64 yards.
Each time, the Ravens reclaimed the lead. But the Steelers never flinched.
Steelers running back Kenny Gainwell put Pittsburgh up 20-17 with under four minutes to go before Jackson found Flowers wide open to retake the lead 24-20. Yet the final word belonged to Rodgers, who led a six-play, 65-yard drive capped by a perfectly placed sideline throw to Austin after a Ravens defender fell in coverage.
Rodgers, joking about his “gray beard,” said, “They expect that kind of play from the old guy. Glad I delivered.”
Kicker Chris Boswell missed the extra point, leaving the door slightly open for Baltimore. Jackson connected with Isaiah Likely for 28 yards to set up Loop’s game-winning chance. But as Loop’s kick sailed wide, the Steelers celebrated, and Heinz Field erupted.
T.J. Watt, returning from a collapsed lung, was key defensively, securing an interception and providing late-game pressure.
“This guy [Rodgers], he’s built for these moments,” Watt said. “You knew we had time left. That was all he needed.”
Rodgers’ late heroics marked his 37th career game-winning drive, a number that seems even more remarkable considering his age and recent struggles with injury and inconsistency in New York.
For Mike Tomlin, the win was historic. He now ties legendary coach Chuck Noll with 193 regular season victories, the most in Steelers franchise history. It was the 40th meeting between Tomlin and Ravens coach John Harbaugh, the second-most frequent head-to-head coaching matchup in NFL history.
Tomlin, as always, kept his comments focused on the team. “Yeah, we’ve taken some punches,” he said. “But we’ve thrown a lot too.”
The Ravens, by contrast, head into the offseason with uncertainty. Jackson, who turns 29 this week, declined to comment on his long-term outlook. His frustration was evident.
“I thought we had it,” Jackson said. “We just didn’t finish.”
Derrick Henry, one of the bright spots for Baltimore, reached a career milestone, crossing 13,000 rushing yards — only the ninth player in NFL history to do so. He ran for 126 yards but was bottled up late as the Steelers defense stiffened.
The game was played without suspended Steelers receiver DK Metcalf, but Pittsburgh’s offense eventually found its rhythm. Austin stepped up as the key target when it mattered most.
Injuries also played a role. Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton exited with a concussion after a third-quarter collision, and the Steelers passing attack surged in his absence.
Pittsburgh now turns its focus to the playoffs, aiming to end a postseason win drought that dates back nearly a decade. Their last playoff win came more than 50 years after the famed “Immaculate Reception.”
“We’re not done yet,” Rodgers said. “This is just the start.”
You must Register or Login to post a comment.