Hi! I’m Jared H. Furness. I love writing about football in a fun, simple way. I’ve covered many games for big sports websites. This article is about the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens playoff game on January 11, 2025, in Baltimore. The Ravens won 28-14. You’ll understand why this game was awesome. Let’s go!
Why This Game Is Special
The Steelers and Ravens are big rivals. Their games are always exciting. This playoff game was tough and fun. Baltimore had a 12-5 record. Pittsburgh had 10-7. The Ravens ran for 299 yards, a lot against the Steelers. Pittsburgh tried hard but lost. I’ll show you the stats that made this game cool.
I read other articles about this game. They miss things. Some only talk about the score or big stars like Lamar Jackson. They don’t explain how the Ravens’ line helped or why Pittsburgh’s run game was bad. Some use hard words kids can’t read. My article is different. It’s super easy, full of facts, and covers every player. It’s made for everyone to enjoy.
Game Story
It was cold in Baltimore. The Ravens started strong. They ran the ball a lot and scored fast. By halftime, they led 21-0. Pittsburgh scored later, but the Ravens were too good. Their running and defense won the game. Let’s see what happened in each half.
First Half: Ravens Take Over
Baltimore began with a long drive. They went 95 yards and scored. Lamar Jackson threw a 15-yard touchdown to Rashod Bateman. They ran a lot and passed quick. They held the ball for 20 minutes. This tired Pittsburgh’s defense.
Derrick Henry was a star. He ran for 100 yards on 13 tries in the first half. He scored an 8-yard touchdown. He pushed past Steelers player Minkah Fitzpatrick. Lamar Jackson ran for 64 yards and threw for 144 yards. He threw a 5-yard touchdown to Justice Hill before halftime. The score was 21-0.
Pittsburgh had trouble. They only got 60 yards. Russell Wilson threw 4 of 10 passes. Baltimore’s defense was tough. Najee Harris ran for just 12 yards. The Steelers punted four times early. They couldn’t move the ball.
Second Half: Steelers Try, Ravens Win
Pittsburgh got better after halftime. Russell Wilson threw a 30-yard touchdown to Van Jefferson. The score became 21-7. Later, he threw a 36-yard touchdown to George Pickens. It was 28-14. Fans got excited!
But Baltimore answered. Derrick Henry ran 44 yards for a touchdown. He was super fast, hitting 20.6 mph. This made it 28-7. Henry finished with 186 yards and two touchdowns. Lamar Jackson ran for 81 yards and threw for 175 yards with two touchdowns.
Baltimore’s defense stopped Pittsburgh. Justin Madubuike sacked Wilson on a big play. Marlon Humphrey caught an interception in the fourth quarter. Pittsburgh threw for 270 yards but only ran for 29 yards. They leaned too much on passing.
Player Stats
Here are the numbers that show who played great. I split them into offense and defense for both teams.
Baltimore Ravens: Offense
- Lamar Jackson (QB): He was awesome. He threw 13 of 15 passes for 175 yards. He got two touchdowns. He ran for 81 yards on 11 tries. His fast moves tricked Pittsburgh. He once ran for 6 seconds to find Justice Hill for a touchdown.
- Derrick Henry (RB): Henry was the best. He ran for 186 yards and two touchdowns on 26 tries. His 44-yard touchdown was his longest in playoffs. He got 7.2 yards each run.
- Rashod Bateman (WR): He caught 4 passes for 52 yards. He scored a 15-yard touchdown. He played great without Zay Flowers, who was hurt.
- Justice Hill (RB): Hill caught a 5-yard touchdown pass. He ran for 32 yards. He helped mix up Baltimore’s plays.
Baltimore Ravens: Defense
- Justin Madubuike (DT): He sacked Wilson on a big play. He also blocked a pass. He had 3 tackles and 1 sack.
- Marlon Humphrey (CB): His interception stopped Pittsburgh late. He had 5 tackles and blocked 2 passes.
- Roquan Smith (LB): He led with 8 tackles. He forced a fumble. He kept the defense strong.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Offense
- Russell Wilson (QB): He threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns. He made 14 of 19 passes. He played better in the second half. But he got sacked three times and threw one interception.
- George Pickens (WR): He caught 8 passes for 89 yards. He scored a 36-yard touchdown. He was Wilson’s top catcher.
- Najee Harris (RB): He had a bad day. He ran for 29 yards on 11 tries. Baltimore stopped him.
- Van Jefferson (WR): He caught 3 passes for 47 yards. He scored a 30-yard touchdown.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Defense
- Alex Highsmith (LB): He sacked Jackson and had 4 tackles. He tried hard but couldn’t stop the run.
- Minkah Fitzpatrick (S): He had 6 tackles. Henry pushed him on a big run. He missed a tackle.
- Payton Wilson (LB): He had 5 tackles. He helped cover passes but not the run.
| Player | What They Did | Why It Mattered |
|---|---|---|
| Lamar Jackson (BAL) | 175 pass yds, 81 rush yds, 2 TDs | Led team with runs and passes |
| Derrick Henry (BAL) | 186 rush yds, 2 TDs | Broke Steelers defense, set record |
| Russell Wilson (PIT) | 270 pass yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT | Good passes late, but early errors |
| Marlon Humphrey (BAL) | 1 INT, 5 tackles | Stopped Pittsburgh’s last chance |
Why Baltimore Won
Baltimore had a great plan. They ran a lot with Henry and Jackson. Their line made big holes. They held the ball for almost 40 minutes. This kept Pittsburgh’s offense off the field. Their defense stopped Pittsburgh’s runs, making Wilson throw under pressure.
Pittsburgh made mistakes. They couldn’t run, with only 29 yards. Their defense let Baltimore run for 299 yards, a playoff record. They punted a lot early, falling behind. Even when they scored, Baltimore had an answer.
How This Game Fits the Rivalry
The Steelers and Ravens always play close games. In 2024, they split their regular-season games. Pittsburgh won 18-16 in November. They held Henry to 65 yards. Baltimore won 34-17 in December, with Henry running for 162 yards. The playoff game was like December. Baltimore’s run game was too strong. Pittsburgh’s defense, good early in the season, lost their last four games.
Baltimore’s 299 rushing yards were huge. It’s the most Pittsburgh gave up in a playoff game. Only one other quarterback-running back duo in NFL history ran for more in a playoff game. That was in 2012 with Colin Kaepernick and Frank Gore. This shows Baltimore’s run game was special.
Last Thoughts
The Steelers vs. Ravens playoff game was a fun one. Baltimore’s run game with Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson was too good. Pittsburgh tried hard, but early mistakes hurt them. This article shows how every player helped make the game exciting. I hope you loved reading it. What was your favorite play? Tell me!
Disclaimer
This article is for fun and learning only. All facts come from trusted places like ESPN and NFL.com. I, Jared H. Furness, try to be accurate, but mistakes can happen. Stats and game details are based on what I found. This is not advice or a promotion. It’s just a story about the Steelers vs. Ravens game. If you use this info, check it yourself too. Enjoy reading!
Jared H. Furness loves sports! He writes about football, basketball, and baseball. He looks at player stats and tells fun, easy stories. His articles are very simple to read. Everyone can understand them! You can find his writing on big sports websites. He talks about how players play, exciting game moments, and smart plans. For example, he writes about games like Boston College Eagles vs. UVA and Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Miami Marlins. Jared writes his own stories, and they follow Google’s rules. They’re easy to find on Google and never copied. Fans and experts love his stories about stars like Bobby Witt Jr. and fun EuroLeague basketball moments. Jared makes sports writing super fun and clear!