After splitting two games during the regular season, the Ravens and Steelers take their rivalry into the playoffs on Saturday night at M&T Bank Stadium.
Basics
Kickoff: Saturday, 8 p.m., M&T Bank Stadium
TV: Prime Video Streaming, WMAR Channel 2 (Baltimore). Al Michaels (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Kaylee Hartung (sideline)
Radio: WBAL (101.5 FM/1090 AM), 98 Rock (97.9 FM), Sirius XM Radio Ch. 83 or 227. Ravens crew: Gerry Sandusky (play-by-play), Rod Woodson (analyst). Westwood One Sports, Ryan Radtke (play-by-play), Mike Golic (analyst), Ross Tucker (sideline). WLZL El Zol 107.9 Tico Sports, David Andrade (play-by-play), Allen Gutierrez (analyst)
History
The Steelers lead the all-time series 36-26 overall and 3-1 in the postseason.
The Ravens and Steelers haven't met in the playoffs since a 2014 wild-card game, when Baltimore prevailed, 30-17, in Pittsburgh. This will be the first matchup between the two teams in Baltimore. The Ravens and Pittsburgh will be meeting for the third time since Nov. 17, after splitting the regular-season series. In Week 16, the Ravens beat the Steelers,34-17, at M&T Bank Stadium, with Lamar Jackson throwing three touchdown passes. Marlon Humphrey's pick-six in the fourth quarter secured the victory.
717: Previewing Ravens-Steelers Wild-Card Playoff; How the Ravens Adjust Without Zay Flowers
Team insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing discuss the Ravens' mindset heading into their wild-card playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, how Lamar Jackson is different going in this year, how they'll adjust without Zay Flowers, what the defense needs to do to keep Pittsburgh's offense cold, and more.
Stakes
Ravens-Steelers games are always intense, and this one is win or go home. This is the Ravens' sixth trip to the playoffs since 2018, but they are 2-5 in the postseason during that span. After reaching the AFC Championship game last year and winning the AFC North for the second straight season, the Ravens want to unlock the key to playing their best football in the postseason. Pittsburgh lost its last four regular season games and was overtaken by the Ravens, who erased a two-game deficit in the division. The Steelers have lost five straight playoff games under Head Coach Mike Tomlin, and losing this game would represent another disappointing finish.
Key Storylines
Will the Ravens' offense keep rolling without Zay Flowers in the lineup?
This will be the first game Flowers (knee) has missed due to injury during his two-year career. While the Ravens have a multitude of weapons, Flowers led them with 13 catches in two playoff games last season. He followed a strong rookie year by making franchise history as a Pro Bowl wide receiver. Flowers' absence gives the Steelers one less top playmaker to defend, and the Ravens will have to adjust.
Will the Ravens avoid penalties and turnovers?
The Ravens had 12 penalties for 80 yards and three turnovers when they lost at Pittsburgh,18-16, in Week 11. They had two penalties for 10 yards and just one turnover when they defeated the Steelers in Week 16. Baltimore did a better job of avoiding penalties down the stretch but still finished tied for second most in the league. Meanwhile, the Steelers had the AFC's most opportunistic defense, forcing 33 turnovers during the regular season. Pittsburgh was also penalized 30 fewer times than Baltimore. Forcing turnovers and hoping the Ravens hurt themselves with penalties is a Pittsburgh formula for success that Baltimore needs to avoid.
Can Pittsburgh solve its offensive woes against a Baltimore defense that has found answers?
The Steelers haven't led a game since Dec. 8 and didn't score more than 17 points during their four-game losing streak to end the regular season. Tomlin has not ruled out using both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields at quarterback and the Ravens expect him to. Fields can make plays with his legs, and Wilson is one of the NFL's best deep ball throwers. However, top wide receiver George Pickens only had one catch in Week 18 with three drops. Pittsburgh needs to generate some splash plays against the Ravens' defense that has been the NFL's stingiest since Week 11.
Players to Watch
RB Derrick Henry
Henry rolls into this contest after three-straight games with at least 138 yards rushing. He had 24 carries for 162 yards against Pittsburgh in Week 16, and the Steelers may have a long day if they can't stop him. The Ravens are 9-0 when Henry reaches 100 yards rushing.
ILB Roquan Smith
Smith played his best football down the stretch and is an emotional leader capable of taking it to another level in the postseason. Ravens-Steelers is the kind of football he relishes – physical and straightforward. Baltimore kept Pittsburgh running backs Jaylen Warren (48 yards) and Najee Harris (42 yards) in check in Week 16. Smith and his defensive mates hope to make Pittsburgh's offense one-dimensional again.
WR Rashod Bateman
With a career-high nine touchdown catches and 756 receiving yards this season, Bateman has established himself as a go-to receiver and could be targeted heavily with Flowers sidelined. Bateman's precise route running has allowed him to get open consistently, and he'll be looking to extend his playmaking into the postseason.
These five battles could decide who goes home this weekend.
CB Nate Wiggins vs. WR George Pickens
The Steelers were without Pickens in the Week 16 matchup against the Ravens, and Pittsburgh's pass game looked out of sync for most of the night. Pickens can take over games and the Steelers will want to get him going early after he had a rough regular-season finale. He'll spend most of his time lining up across from Wiggins, who is enjoying a terrific rookie season capped by a pick-six a week ago. The Wiggins-Pickens matchup will be a staple in this rivalry for years, and Saturday night will be an important chapter.
![WR Rashod Bateman vs. CB Joey Porter Jr.
With Zay Flowers out, expect more volume for Bateman, who will be shadowed by the Steelers' No. 1 cornerback in Porter. While Bateman won't take over all of Flowers' workload, there will certainly be more on his plate in the wild-card matchup. "My job is to go out and make plays no matter who's on the field," Bateman said. "It might look a little different as far as where I'm at and different things, but overall, we [have] a football game to play, and I [have] to go play ball."](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album_2x/t_lazy/f_png/ravens/gajuj89zoq8nqwuifgva.png)
WR Rashod Bateman vs. CB Joey Porter Jr.
With Zay Flowers out, expect more volume for Bateman, who will be shadowed by the Steelers' No. 1 cornerback in Porter. While Bateman won't take over all of Flowers' workload, there will certainly be more on his plate in the wild-card matchup. "My job is to go out and make plays no matter who's on the field," Bateman said. "It might look a little different as far as where I'm at and different things, but overall, we [have] a football game to play, and I [have] to go play ball."
C Tyler Linderbaum vs. DT Cameron Heyward
The Ravens will look to get Derrick Henry going, and winning the war in the middle will be pivotal. It will be strength on strength with the two Pro Bowlers matching up, and whoever can get the most push could make a big difference on the outcome. Heyward has over a decade of experience on Linderbaum, but both players are difference makers in the trenches.
RT Roger Rosengarten vs. OLB T.J. Watt
In two games this season, Rosengarten gave up zero sacks to Watt as the rookie passed every test thrown his way. However, Saturday may be the biggest one yet as Watt will be on a mission to get his first career postseason win. The former Defensive Player of the Year doesn't have a quarterback hit over his past three games and keeping him in check will be a top priority for Rosengarten and the offensive line. Watt is also healthier than the last time these two faced off, when he was dealing with an ankle injury.
QB Lamar Jackson vs. S Minkah Fitzpatrick
Jackson threw three touchdowns in Baltimore's Week 16 win over Pittsburgh, but the one throw he won't forget is his fourth-quarter interception to Fitzpatrick. Marlon Humphrey virtually iced the game two plays later with a pick-six, but Jackson was fuming on the sideline after his turnover. Jackson's chess match with the Steelers' ball hawk is critical to the Ravens' offensive success.
