The Ravens would relish clinching a playoff spot against a rival that has been giving them fits.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been a recent nemesis for the Ravens, a reality Baltimore is eager to change heading into Saturday's AFC North showdown at M&T Bank Stadium.
Players don't live in the past, but they've been reminded of it often this week. Lamar Jackson's career record against Pittsburgh is 1-4 as a starter. Baltimore has lost eight of its last nine games against Pittsburgh, including an 18-16 loss in Week 11 when the Steelers prevailed despite not scoring a touchdown.
The stakes alone make this an important game, but the Ravens also want to stop hearing questions about why the Steelers have been such a problem.
"Losing, in general, bothers me – not the team we play, really," Jackson said. "[We've] just got to find a way to get a 'dub.'"
The Week 11 loss in Pittsburgh was a microcosm Ravens-Steelers games over the last five years. Every game has been decided by seven points or less, the scenarios have been different and sometimes bizarre, but almost all the defeats have belonged to Baltimore.
On Saturday, the outcome will have major ramifications. A Ravens (9-5) victory would keep their hopes for a division title alive, moving them into a tie with Pittsburgh (10-4), while the Steelers would clinch the division with a win.
The Ravens enter the game with momentum, coming off Jackson's latest five-touchdown performance against the New York Giants. But in five career starts against Pittsburgh, Jackson has thrown for five touchdowns and eight interceptions, and in his last three starts against the Steelers, the Ravens have failed to reach 20 points.
Strangely, this will be the first time Jackson has faced the Steelers at home as a starter in front of fans. His only other home game against Pittsburgh came in 2020 during the COVID-19 season.
In the midst of perhaps his best season, surrounded by productive playmakers, Jackson was asked if he thought Baltimore's offense should have enough answers to break lose against Pittsburgh.
"I believe so," Jackson said, then he smiled. "I believe we should have answers, but when the game comes ... I bet I'll have an answer for you after the game."
Marlon Humphrey said he didn't realize the Ravens had lost eight of their last nine against Pittsburgh until it was pointed out to him in the last Steelers matchup. But he doesn't like the way that sounds.
"It bothers me," Humphrey said. "That's not a good number at all, You want to be able to beat your rival. I talk to the team at some point this week after practice.
"I'm talking to the team at some point this week after practice, but that has to be the message. This means a lot to a lot of people. It means a lot to me being here for a long time, and if you don't understand, the message will be very clear as the week goes on."
Jackson was asked if the Steelers' defensive strategy against him changes dramatically from game to game.
"From a personnel standpoint, the Steelers like to switch it up a little bit, here and there," Jackson said.
"I really didn't go back to the game (Week 11) and watch it a lot. Obviously, after the game, I watched it and saw things on film I didn't like, [and] some things, I did like. We did move the ball; we just weren't finishing drives. And penalties, turnovers – stuff like that – we've got to clean up. We've got to find a way to just put points on the board."
Baltimore had three turnovers against Pittsburgh last month, while the Steelers had just one. The Ravens were whistled for 12 penalties (80 yards), while the Steelers had seven (45 yards).
The Ravens have talked about playing cleaner, more disciplined football all season, and that could be critical on Saturday because Pittsburgh has feasted on Baltimore's mistakes.
"You got to play disciplined football," Humphrey said. "I think (Steelers Head Coach Mike) Tomlin wants to just keep the game close, keep the game close and then win it at the end, and honestly, that strategy works pretty well when they play us. I respect what he does as a coach.
"They're going do what they're going to do. They'll run the ball, take their shots – it's not really going to be a secret, and they feel that they can do that and be successful, and we've got to feel that we can stop it and do the opposite."
Safety Kyle Hamilton echoed a similar message.
"It's not a lot of glitz and glam. They're going to line up and make you stop them. We respect that, and I think most of the league does," Hamilton said.
"They've been good at it for a long time, and a lot of teams just kind of wilt away at that point. When [teams] get to the third and fourth quarter, [and] you're tired of tackling Najee [Harris] or you're tired of hitting whoever, but I don't think we're built like that. I think we're built for these kinds of games, and we're going to come out on Saturday and prove that."
Last week, Jackson became the first NFL quarterback in the regular season to complete at least 80% of his passes, throw for at least 250 yards and five touchdown passes with no interceptions, while rushing for at least 50 yards.
But that was Giants week. This is Steelers week. The Ravens are thirsty for a victory over their biggest rivals, with plenty of motivation to get it.
"The Steelers are a well-coached team," tight end Mark Andrews said. "They do things the right way, [and] they manage the game well. So, for us, it's just being efficient, doing our job and moving forward with the game.
"We just know what's at stake. This is the time of year. We've got to win games, and we've put ourselves in a great position, so everything looking ahead is about just being motivated and locked in."
