(WHTM) – An AFC North rivalry will see a new chapter written this weekend when the Baltimore Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Ravens (12-5) won their final four games of the regular season while the Steelers (10-7) dropped their last four. That gives Baltimore a chance to host Pittsburgh in the postseason for the first time. Their previous four playoff meetings — in the 2001, 2008, 2010 and 2014 seasons — were all in the Steel City. The home team won three of them.
In terms of stakes, it’s hard to top that AFC title game in January 2009, which Pittsburgh won 23-14. The brutality of the rivalry was on full display, with Ravens running back Willis McGahee having to be carted off the field after a hit by Ryan Clark.
That was the first of three playoff meetings in a seven-season span between the Steelers and Ravens. In January 2011, Pittsburgh held Baltimore to 126 total net yards in a 31-24 win. Four years after that, the Ravens ousted the Steelers with a 30-17 victory.
It’s now been a decade since this matchup last occurred in the playoffs, but recent regular-season meetings have been tightly contested. Baltimore’s 34-17 victory last month was a change, both because Pittsburgh had won eight of its previous nine against the Ravens, and because all nine of those games were decided by seven points or fewer.
The Ravens will be without Lamar Jackson’s top wide receiver target. Zay Flowers injured his knee last weekend and has been ruled out.
Steelers wide receiver George Pickens had perhaps the worst game of his three-year career last week against Cincinnati, dropping three passes and finishing with one reception for 0 yards. Video circulated on social media of Pickens motioning toward fans in the stands at Acrisure Stadium after the loss.
Pittsburgh also finds itself on a four game losing streak and looking to break a string of five consecutive playoff loses.
“I’ve been fortunate to play a lot of playoff games, a lot of moments, and I think to be able to use that experience and to talk to guys about what it feels like, what it is, and the moments that can forever change your life and all that,” said quarterback Russell Wilson, who is in his first season with the Steelers. “So, we’re living it. We’re right in the middle of it right now, and we’re excited about that opportunity to go show who we can be.”
