Final predictions for the AFC North Wild Card Round battle between the Steelers and Ravens
After a season spent battle for the AFC North crown, the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers will battle one last time in the Wild Card Round in the AFC Playoff bracket. Saturday night's game will be the first playoff game broadcasted exclusively on Prime Video, the home of "Thursday Night Football" during the regular season. It will also be […]
After a season spent battle for the AFC North crown, the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers will battle one last time in the Wild Card Round in the AFC Playoff bracket.
Saturday night's game will be the first playoff game broadcasted exclusively on Prime Video, the home of "Thursday Night Football" during the regular season. It will also be the 17th AFC North playoff matchup since the NFL realigned into eight four-team divisions in 2002.
Who will be the last team in the North standing? For one last time, we assembled A to Z Sports' AFC North writing staff for their predictions.
Ravens 23, Steelers 16
It’s round three between the Ravens and Steelers to settle the tie breaker on the season. For Pittsburgh, they risk losing their fifth straight and getting bounced in round one of the playoffs yet again. Yet they run into who may be the hottest team in the league right now. Lamar Jackson tends to be a lesser player against the Steelers and generally in the playoffs, but this might be the year he kicks that trend. – A to Z Sports' Rob Gregson
Ravens 27, Steelers 20
We don’t often get a playoff matchup from a division like this one in the Wild Card round. These are two teams going in different directions, with the Ravens flying high & the Steelers crashing back to Earth. I expect Mike Tomlin to have his team put up a better fight than many folks expect, though. That being said, I’ll take Baltimore to advance. – A to Z Sports' Adam Holt
Examining the likeliest path that the Baltimore Ravens will take to reach Super Bowl LIX
Here’s how we think it could shake out.
Ravens 23, Steelers 20
Playing against each other three times since the back half of November doesn’t seem ideal for either team, but here we are. The Steelers have been slipping as of the last month and this team has wild card exit written all over it. This year’s Pittsburgh team sort of reminds me of when they started off hot in 2020, then cooled down and eventually lost to the Browns in the playoffs. Lamar Jackson and Baltimore have more to lose with an early exit in the playoffs. Baltimore has higher expectations on their season with perhaps the MVP front-runner. I’ll take the Ravens in a close one. Pittsburgh may need to put a clinic on defensively to take this one, as their offense hasn’t scored more than 17 points in over a month. – A to Z Sports' Brandon Little
Ravens 22, Steelers 13
I'm going against my better judgement by picking against the Steel Curtain. It's been nearly seven years since the Steelers have won a playoff game, which is mind-boggling to me, and only eight other teams have gone longer without a postseason victory. If they didn't fall off of a cliff upon entering the postseason I would have higher hopes, especially against a Ravens offense that will be without Pro Bowl wideout Zay Flowers, but Baltimore should be more equipped to turn drives into points this postseason thanks to Derrick Henry. – A to Z Sports' John Sheeran
Steelers’ best offensive weapon as of late is safe for the playoffs after flu like symptoms
That was a close call.
