The stakes could hardly be higher as the NFL regular season barrels toward a dramatic conclusion. The Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers, two of the league's most storied franchises, are set to clash in a winner-take-all showdown for the AFC North crown and a coveted playoff berth. Scheduled for Sunday, January 4, 2026, at 8:20 p.m. EST under the lights of Acrisure Stadium, this Week 18 contest has all the makings of a classic, with the victor claiming the division title and the No. 4 seed in the AFC, while the loser is left to ponder what might have been until next season.
It’s a script that feels almost too perfect for the NFL’s flexible scheduling policy, which reserves its prime Sunday night slot for the most compelling matchups. And what could be more compelling than Ravens vs. Steelers, a rivalry that has delivered bruising battles and playoff implications for decades? The league’s decision-makers didn’t hesitate: this was the obvious choice for the final regular season showcase, with NBC set to broadcast the drama nationwide.
The road to this high-stakes finale has been anything but straightforward for either team. The Ravens, now sitting at 8-8, kept their postseason hopes alive with a resounding 41-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. That win was powered by a historic performance from running back Derrick Henry, who rumbled for a season-high 216 yards—the most ever by a visiting player at Lambeau—and four touchdowns, matching a career high. Henry’s 36 carries set a new personal best, and the effort vaulted him past Adrian Peterson and O.J. Simpson for the most 200-yard rushing games in NFL history. He also leapfrogged Tony Dorsett for 10th place on the all-time rushing list and moved into fourth place overall for career rushing touchdowns.
“It’s one of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said, unable to hide his admiration for his star back. Henry, for his part, was all business after a week in which he’d been underutilized. “Whatever carries it was, it was going to be,” Henry told reporters. “I just wanted to go out there and make something happen.”
The Ravens’ offensive resurgence came at a crucial time. Just a week earlier, they’d blown an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter against New England, a loss that left their playoff hopes hanging by a thread. This time, with backup quarterback Tyler Huntley filling in for the injured Lamar Jackson, Baltimore wasted no time asserting control. Huntley was efficient, completing 16 of 20 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown, while Henry’s dominance on the ground allowed the Ravens to score on their first five possessions and take a 27-14 halftime lead—no small feat against a Packers defense that hadn’t allowed more than 24 points in 14 straight home games.
On the other side, the Steelers (9-7) had a chance to clinch the division a week early but stumbled in a 13-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Pittsburgh’s offense sputtered, and now they face a do-or-die scenario against their fiercest rivals. The Steelers have had the upper hand in recent regular-season meetings, boasting a 9-2 record against the Ravens since 2020, including a 27-22 win at M&T Bank Stadium earlier this season. In that December 7th matchup, Aaron Rodgers—now in black and gold—threw for 284 yards and a touchdown, while DK Metcalf hauled in 148 yards receiving. Lamar Jackson led the Ravens with 219 passing yards, a touchdown, and an interception, as Baltimore racked up 217 yards rushing on 40 carries.
But the Steelers are limping into this finale. Star edge rusher T.J. Watt hasn’t played since Week 14 after undergoing surgery for a partially collapsed lung, and his status remains uncertain. Pittsburgh’s receiving corps has been depleted by DK Metcalf’s two-game suspension for a fan altercation, while Calvin Austin III, Isaac Seumalo, James Pierre, Brandin Echols, and Darnell Washington are all nursing injuries of varying severity. The lack of depth could prove costly against a Ravens team that appears to have found its identity at just the right moment.
The Ravens’ own injury concerns are significant, with Lamar Jackson’s availability for Sunday night still up in the air due to a back injury suffered in Week 16. Yet, Baltimore showed resilience against Green Bay, with Huntley and Henry stepping up in Jackson’s absence. Tight end Mark Andrews summed up the team’s confidence in Henry: “He’s one of one. To be able to have a guy like that that runs that hard and plays the way that he does, it’s a joy to be able to block for him.”
The Steelers’ defense, typically their calling card, will be under immense pressure to contain Henry, who seems to relish the big stage. Green Bay’s defenders learned that the hard way, with linebacker Edgerrin Cooper admitting, “That was very embarrassing, and that’s just not us at all.” Pittsburgh can ill afford a similar letdown with the season on the line.
Both teams have been battered and bruised by a grueling campaign. The Ravens lost star quarterback Lamar Jackson to injury, but rallied behind a record-setting running back and a backup quarterback who refused to wilt under pressure. The Steelers, for all their regular-season dominance over Baltimore in recent years, now face a Ravens squad with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
As for the broader playoff picture, the winner of Sunday night’s clash will not only wear the AFC North crown but also secure home-field advantage for the Wild Card round as the No. 4 seed. The loser, heartbreakingly, will see their season end on the spot. It’s the kind of scenario that makes the NFL’s regular season finale must-see TV, and the league has wisely put this rivalry front and center for fans across the country.
With kickoff looming, questions abound: Will Henry follow up his historic outing with another monster performance? Can Huntley deliver under the brightest lights if Jackson can’t go? Will the Steelers’ defense rise to the occasion despite their injury woes? One thing’s for sure—when the Ravens and Steelers meet with everything on the line, football fans are in for a treat.
Sunday night at Acrisure Stadium, the stage is set. The AFC North title, playoff dreams, and plenty of pride are all up for grabs. The only certainty? One team’s season will end in jubilation, the other’s in bitter disappointment. Let the rivalry write its next unforgettable chapter.
