Takeaways: Call reversals help Steelers slip past Ravens

Steel City Underground presents post-game takeaways following each 2025 NFL regular season game that focuses on how the Pittsburgh Steelers performed, key statistics, their opponents and more! 

The AFC North divisional rivalry game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and hosting Baltimore Ravens in Week 14 of the 2025 NFL regular season will be talked about – for awhile. Despite several good things that the Steelers did in a must-win situational game, a late reversal of a Ravens touchdown will likely garner more attention in social media discussions. When it comes down to the brass tacks of the game, Pittsburgh recovered from their previous poor play enough to slip past Baltimore for the victory. We offer our biggest takeaways from the game.

Getting on script, staying the course

Offense:

Ahead of the game, we outlined five key matchup areas for fans to watch for in this game; five script items that were important for the Steelers to implement and execute for success: win the QB battle, set EDGE dominance and be disruptive, hold up against A-gap pressure along the O-line, get Warren and Gainwell heavily involved, blanket Mark Andrews and take away the middle of the field passes from Ravens.

Upon review, Pittsburgh found a way to get on the script and stay the course while making minor adjustments.

It wasn’t much of a surprise that Aaron Rodgers – ever a competitor – got back onto the field and showed he still has some fire left. Rodgers opened up with a deep shot to D.K. Metcalf for a 52 yard gain on the first offensive series and finished it with quarterback keeper around the left end for six points. On the day, Rodgers completed 23 of 34 passes for 284 and 1 touchdown (Jaylen Warren catch).

The Steelers offensive line did their job, keeping Rodgers clean and not allowing a sack. Their run blocking could have been sharper, and that limited the rushing numbers between Warren and Kenneth Gainwell to 12 carries for 28 yards and a TD (Gainwell).

Defense:

Defensively, the Steelers’ EDGE adjustments made a difference in keeping Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson from being able to tee-off on them. Henry carried the ball 25 times for 94 yards, but was held to just 3.8 yards per carry, overall, and no trips into the end zone. The biggest run was actually allowed against Keaton Mitchell (55 yards).

T.J. Watt was able, early, to skirt down the line to stop Henry in the backfield or for short gains several times – something he wasn’t being asked to do in previous games in favor of an all-out pressure style of scheme from Teryl Austin. Alex Highsmith was able to set his edge on the opposite side of the line.

Ravens tight end Andrews was limited to just one reception for nine yards in a game that featured a Baltimore team that logged 219 receiving yards and a touchdown. Zay Flowers accounted for 124 of those yards on eight catches, indicating the Steelers defensive backfield bent but did not fall all over itself the way it has in previous games.

Two plays that won’t go away

Let’s be honest. What will be remembered about this game will be two plays in the fourth quarter – and how one fanbase will say they were lucky while the other will decidedly say they were robbed.

Ahead 27-22, with 7:01 to go in the game, Rodgers took a 2nd & 10 (PIT 41) snap from shotgun and tried to throw to a crossing Adam Thielen. The ball was deflected (B. Okoye) and Rodgers reached out and grabbed it as Teddye Buchanan made a play on the ball and the Steelers QB. The play was ruled an interception recovered by Baltimore.