Behind the Steel Curtain
In what was one of the most chaotic endings to a game we have seen in quite some time, the Pittsburgh Steelers held on to a 26-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens to clinch the AFC North for the first time in five years. Let’s dive into the best and worst performances of the night.
That was as vintage a performance from Aaron Rodgers as you could ask for. With arguably the worst collection of weapons in the NFL without DK Metcalf, Rodgers went 31-of-47 for 294 yards and a touchdown pass, helping the Steelers score two touchdowns in the final four minutes of the game – his touchdown to Calvin Austin proving to be the game-winner. With their backs against the wall, Rodgers had a few bullets left in the chamber and helped the Steelers escape in a shootout.
Heyward had one of the best games of his career on Sunday night. Per Next Gen Stats, he had seven tackles, six of which were stops, which is a play that is categorized as a successful play for the defense. He was constantly a thorn in the side of the Ravens’ offense, and the Steelers may not win if not for his high level of play.
In the same light, Benton had arguably the best game of his career. He had seven tackles, five of which were stops, and he added two pressures on Lamar Jackson
Highsmith was terrific. He had a sack, two tackles for loss, and tipped a Lamar Jackson pass that was picked off by T.J. Watt.
Welcome back to the lineup, Trent Jordan Watt. The former Defensive Player of the Year picked off a Lamar Jackson pass that led to a field goal for the Steelers. He also had a pressure percentage of 18.8 percent, per Next Gen Stats.
We’ve come a long way from watching Mason Cole and Trai Turner. It’s nice knowing the offensive line is a strength of the Steelers, and it certainly was last night. The Steelers ran for 100 yards and gave Rodgers the time he needed to make plays in big moments. Mason McCormick deserves a special shoutout for his block on the goal line to create a lane for Kenneth Gainwell to score.
The Steelers’ 2025 MVP had another top performance in Week 18. He caught eight passes, several of which moved the chains, and scored a late touchdown to put the Steelers in front of Baltimore.
Jaylen Warren was very good in his own right. He tallied 99 yards from scrimmage on 19 touches, and he and Gainwell ended the season as the only running back tandem in the NFL to have 1,000 yards from scrimmage each.
Freiermuth had three catches, but his biggest was a 31-yard reception late in the...
