Steelers survive last-second kick, make playoffs with win over Ravens

Brian Batko, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Jan 4, 2026

Published in Football

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PITTSBURGH — There’s been a sizable gap between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers when it comes to postseason success and division titles since Lamar Jackson took center stage.

And yet, the Steelers just seem to have their number when they come to Pittsburgh. Now they’ve got the AFC North crown back, too.

Aaron Rodgers turned in a throwback effort with 294 yards and a touchdown on 31-of-47 passing, Calvin Austin III caught the go-ahead score from 26 yards out with 55 seconds left and the Steelers held off their archrival, 26-24, Sunday night at Acrisure Stadium to stamp their playoff spot as the No. 4 seed in the conference.

The Steelers swept the Ravens despite a missed extra point by Chris Boswell that left the door open for heroics from Jackson in the final minute, but they would survive at the buzzer. Now they head into the postseason with something resembling momentum, but regardless, the chaos and elation that enveloped the crowd will not soon be forgotten.

It was over when ...

Ravens rookie Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard field goal wide right, into the closed end of the stadium.

Player of the game

Aaron Rodgers. He looked awful amid a rough start that was enough to make anyone wonder if bringing him back is a good idea for 2026 — if he even wants to keep playing. But then he morphed into vintage Rodgers in the most significant moments in the second, third and fourth quarters. Whether that was finding Pat Freiermuth, making quick decisions with the ball to get it to Kenneth Gainwell or even running himself for a 20-yard gain, Rodgers did his part to bail out a miserable defensive letdown.

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T.J. Watt. One game doesn’t necessarily mean he’s back in full form, but there he was in his return from a partially collapsed lung and subsequent surgery, intercepting a pass on a ricochet to give the offense a short field. Watt also looked to have his vintage first step, forcing a Ravens false start on a pivotal series in the third quarter. It’s been a season to forget for Watt, but if he’s rested and ready and peaking at the right time, that would be an ace up the sleeve for this pass rush entering the postseason.

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Teryl Austin. What looked as if it could be a great counter-punch from the Steelers’ defensive coordinator turned into a nightmare in the fourth quarter. The missed assignments that led to wide-open touchdowns were either bad scheme, bad play-calling, bad coaching or some combination of the three. If you want to say that’s more on Mike Tomlin, fair enough. But that game went sideways in a major way, and Austin ultimately has the title of coordinating the NFL’s highest-paid defense.

Up next

A wild-card matchup at home Monday night against the Houston Texans, the No. 5 seed riding the NFL’s longest current win streak at nine in a row.

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