December 7, 2025 | 1:00 PM ET | M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD | CBS
The Most Important Game of the Season
When the Pittsburgh Steelers roll into M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday afternoon, they won’t just be another opponent. They’re the arch-rival. The bitter enemy. The team that stands between the Baltimore Ravens and control of their playoff destiny.
This isn’t hyperbole. With both teams sitting at 6-6 and deadlocked atop the AFC North, the December 7th showdown represents the single most pivotal game of the 2025 season for both franchises. The winner takes command of the division race with four games remaining. The loser watches their playoff hopes teeter on the brink.
“The coaches hate each other, the players hate each other,” a Ravens player once said about this rivalry. “There’s no calling each other after the game and inviting each other out to dinner. But the feeling’s mutual: They don’t like us, and we don’t like them.”
That’s the essence of Ravens-Steelers. And on Sunday, it all boils down to 60 minutes of smashmouth football in Baltimore.
Tale of Two Seasons
Baltimore: The Comeback Story
The Ravens’ 2025 season has been a rollercoaster that would make any thrill-seeker queasy. After a nightmarish 1-5 start that had fans questioning everything, Baltimore rattled off five straight victories to climb back to 6-5 and seize control of the AFC North.
Then came Thanksgiving.
In Cincinnati, with a chance to build momentum heading into this Steelers showdown, the Ravens imploded. Five turnovers—including two fumbles by Lamar Jackson and a devastating Isaiah Likely fumble through the end zone on a would-be touchdown—derailed what should have been a statement win. The 32-14 loss to the Bengals exposed the turnover demons that plagued Baltimore’s early-season collapse.
But here’s the twist: The Ravens still lead the AFC North. Pittsburgh’s 26-7 blowout loss to Buffalo on Sunday handed the division lead right back to Baltimore on a tiebreaker (5-2 vs. 4-3 in common games). John Harbaugh’s team gets a chance to shake off the Thanksgiving disaster and reclaim their mojo at home against their most hated rival.
The Good: Derrick Henry remains a force, rushing for 1,931 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. When the Ravens protect the ball, their offense is explosive. The defense has held opponents under 20 points in six straight games (prior to Cincinnati).
The Bad: Lamar Jackson has now gone three consecutive games without a touchdown pass—the first time in his career. The turnover issues that defined the 1-5 start have resurfaced at the worst possible time. Jackson’s mobility is clearly limited by ankle and knee issues.
Key Stat: Baltimore averages 32.9 points per game and 448.2 yards per contest—both significantly higher than Pittsburgh’s defensive averages.
Pittsburgh: All-In and Reeling
The Steelers’ 2025 season was supposed to be a coronation. After going all-in during the offseason by signing Aaron Rodgers, trading for DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey, and completely revamping the roster, Pittsburgh entered the year with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.
And for a while, it looked like the plan was working. The Steelers jumped out to a 4-1 start, looking every bit the contender they envisioned. Rodgers, in what’s expected to be his final NFL season, was slinging it. The defense was dominant. The AFC North appeared to be Pittsburgh’s for the taking.
Then reality hit. Hard.
The Steelers have lost four of their last six games, including an embarrassing 26-7 home loss to Buffalo on Sunday. The offense that looked so potent early in the season has sputtered, managing just 338.4 yards per game. Rodgers—who turns 42 next week—hasn’t looked like his Hall of Fame self lately, throwing for only 1,841 yards with 15 TDs and 4 INTs through 11 games.
The defense remains stout, allowing just 22.4 points per game and featuring T.J. Watt’s relentless pass rush. But the aggressive roster overhaul that saw Pittsburgh trade away Minkah Fitzpatrick and George Pickens is starting to look questionable.
The Challenge: Pittsburgh is 2-3 on the road this season and has historically struggled at M&T Bank Stadium. They’ve lost their last four home games to Baltimore (though that streak doesn’t include road games).
The Pressure: With Rodgers likely hanging it up after 2025, this is Pittsburgh’s best—and perhaps only—shot at a title for the foreseeable future. Every game is a must-win.
The Rivalry: Iron Sharpens Iron (Until It Breaks)
Since Baltimore’s inception in 1996, the Ravens-Steelers rivalry has become one of the NFL’s fiercest. Both teams pride themselves on physical, hard-hitting defense. Both have won Super Bowls this century. Both refuse to give an inch.
The all-time series is relatively close, though Pittsburgh has dominated recently, winning eight of the last nine meetings. But here’s what makes this rivalry special: Each of the last nine games has been decided by one score.
That’s not a typo. Nine straight one-score games. This isn’t about blowouts or dominance—it’s about two evenly matched teams beating each other senseless for 60 minutes until one finally breaks.
Historical Notes:
- Pittsburgh leads the all-time series 37-24
- The Steelers are 3-1 against Baltimore in the playoffs
- Neither team has scored 20+ points against the other in their last six meetings
- Lamar Jackson is just 2-5 against Pittsburgh as a starter, with only 5 TD passes and 8 INTs in those games
The numbers tell the story: Jackson has struggled mightily against the Steelers’ defense throughout his career, posting a career-worst 66.7 passer rating against them. Pittsburgh has consistently found ways to confuse and pressure the two-time MVP, limiting his dual-threat capabilities.
What’s at Stake
Let’s be crystal clear about the magnitude of this game:
For Baltimore:
- A win puts them at 7-6 and maintains the tiebreaker edge over Pittsburgh
- Control their own destiny in the AFC North race
- Erase the Thanksgiving nightmare and prove the turnover issues are behind them
- Establish dominance at home where they’ve been inconsistent (3-4 at M&T Bank Stadium)
- Keep Lamar Jackson’s MVP campaign alive
For Pittsburgh:
- A win creates a 7-6 record and swings the common games tiebreaker back in their favor
- Validate the aggressive “all-in” offseason moves
- Give Aaron Rodgers breathing room in what could be his final season
- Prove the recent skid was an aberration, not a collapse
- Take command of the division with a head-to-head advantage
For the AFC North:
- The loser falls to 6-7 and faces an uphill battle to win the division
- The winner creates separation in one of the NFL’s tightest division races
- Cincinnati (4-8) is fading fast; this is a two-team race now
- The Steelers and Ravens still have to play each other again in Week 17
The Matchups to Watch
Derrick Henry vs. Pittsburgh’s Front Seven
This is the game within the game. Henry has been a bulldozer this season, racking up nearly 2,000 yards on the ground. But Pittsburgh’s defense, anchored by T.J. Watt and Patrick Queen, ranks 4th in the NFL against the run (94.4 yards per game allowed).
Can Henry impose his will and control the clock? Or will the Steelers stuff the box and force Jackson to beat them through the air—something he’s struggled to do against Pittsburgh throughout his career?
If Henry gets going, Baltimore wins. It’s that simple.
Aaron Rodgers vs. Baltimore’s Pass Rush
At 41 years old (turning 42 on December 2nd), Rodgers doesn’t move like he used to. The days of scrambling away from pressure and making off-platform throws are mostly behind him. Baltimore’s defense will look to attack with blitzes and bring consistent pressure to force mistakes.
If the Ravens can get Rodgers off his spot early and often, they’ll put Pittsburgh’s offense in impossible down-and-distance situations. But if Rodgers has time in the pocket, he still possesses the arm talent and football IQ to pick apart zone coverages.
DK Metcalf vs. Baltimore’s Secondary
One of Pittsburgh’s few offensive bright spots has been the connection between Rodgers and Metcalf. The 6’4″, 235-pound receiver provides the downfield threat Pittsburgh desperately needed. With 605 receiving yards and 5 TDs, Metcalf has given the Steelers offense a dimension it lacked in recent years.
Baltimore’s secondary will need to bracket Metcalf and not let him beat them deep. If Pittsburgh can establish the deep ball, it opens up everything else.
The Turnover Battle
This might be the most critical factor. Baltimore’s Thanksgiving loss was defined by five turnovers that completely derailed their offensive rhythm. Jackson has been uncharacteristically careless with the ball lately, and Pittsburgh’s defense thrives on creating havoc.
Conversely, the Ravens need to create turnovers themselves. Force Rodgers into bad decisions. Strip the ball from Jaylen Warren. Make the splash plays that swing momentum.
The team that wins the turnover battle wins this game. Period.
The Intangibles
Home Field Advantage: M&T Bank Stadium can be an incredibly tough place to play when the Ravens faithful are engaged. But Baltimore has been inconsistent at home this season (3-4), and the crowd has booed their own team at times. Can Harbaugh get his team to feed off the energy, or will the nerves of a must-win game tighten everyone up?
Physicality: Both teams pride themselves on old-school, physical football. The team that imposes its will at the line of scrimmage—both sides of the ball—will have a massive advantage.
Coaching: John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin are two of the NFL’s most respected coaches. Both are Super Bowl winners. Both know how to push the right buttons in rivalry games. Don’t be surprised if this comes down to a crucial fourth-quarter adjustment or gutsy call.
Betting Line and Prediction
Current Line: Ravens -5.5 to -6
Over/Under: 43.5 to 46.5
The line reflects Baltimore’s home-field advantage and slightly better overall numbers this season. But six points feels like a lot in a rivalry game that’s been decided by one score nine straight times.
Our Prediction: Ravens 24, Steelers 20
Here’s how we see it playing out:
The game will be a dogfight from the opening kickoff. Pittsburgh’s defense will make life difficult for Jackson and the Ravens offense, holding Baltimore to field goals in the first half. Rodgers will struggle to find rhythm early, but DK Metcalf will make a couple of big plays to keep Pittsburgh within striking distance.
In the second half, Derrick Henry will start to wear down Pittsburgh’s defense. A crucial turnover (either a Jackson fumble or a Rodgers interception) will swing momentum one way or the other. The Ravens will pull away late, aided by their home crowd and Henry’s relentless running.
Jackson won’t have a spectacular game statistically, but he’ll make just enough plays to get Baltimore the win. The defense will come up with a critical stop in the fourth quarter when the Steelers threaten to tie or take the lead.
Final score: Ravens 24, Steelers 20.
But honestly? This game could go either way. That’s the beauty of Ravens-Steelers.
Keys to Victory
For Baltimore:
- Protect the football – No turnovers. Zero. Jackson can’t put the ball on the ground again.
- Feed Derrick Henry – Run the ball 30+ times and control the clock
- Get after Rodgers – Pressure him early and force uncomfortable throws
- Win on third down – Convert on offense, get off the field on defense
- Start fast – Get the crowd into it early and put Pittsburgh on its heels
For Pittsburgh:
- Stop the run – Load the box and make Jackson beat you through the air
- No mistakes – Rodgers can’t throw interceptions or take drive-killing sacks
- Establish DK Metcalf early – Take shots downfield and force Baltimore to respect the deep ball
- Dominate time of possession – Keep Baltimore’s offense on the sideline
- Create turnovers – This Ravens team is prone to giveaways—capitalize
The Bottom Line
This is what December football is all about. Two bitter rivals with identical records, fighting for division supremacy and playoff positioning. Physical, hard-nosed football. Legendary defenses. Star quarterbacks under immense pressure.
The Ravens need to exorcise the demons of their Thanksgiving collapse and prove they’re legitimate contenders.
The Steelers need to justify their aggressive offseason gamble and show that Aaron Rodgers still has magic left in the tank.
One team will walk out of M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday afternoon with control of the AFC North and renewed confidence. The other will be left wondering if their season is slipping away.
As is tradition with this rivalry, expect a physical, tightly-contested battle that comes down to the wire. Expect big hits, trash talk, and maybe even a scuffle or two. Expect both teams to leave everything on the field.
That’s Ravens-Steelers football. That’s what December in the AFC North is all about.
And on Sunday, Baltimore has a chance to prove that their miraculous turnaround from 1-5 to playoff contender is the real deal—not a mirage that evaporates when facing elite competition.
Kickoff is at 1:00 PM ET on CBS. Don’t miss it.
Game Information
Date: Sunday, December 7, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM Eastern Time
Location: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD
TV: CBS
Radio: 98 Rock (WIYY 97.9 FM) / WBAL 1090 AM
Weather: Clear skies, temperature around 43°F
Current Records:
- Baltimore Ravens: 6-6 (1st AFC North via tiebreaker)
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 6-6 (2nd AFC North)
All-Time Series: Steelers lead 37-24
Last Meeting: Pittsburgh won earlier this season
Streak: Pittsburgh has won 8 of the last 9 meetings
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Let’s go Ravens! Beat the Steelers and take control of the AFC North!