There’s nothing more important in the NFL than securing a seat at the postseason table. Sure, not every team is equally deserving, but finishing strong is all that matters—especially for Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The ride to the final quarter of the season has been more roller coaster than roadmap, leaving fans queasy from repetitive schemes, shaky execution, and a brittle, high-priced defense. Still, there’s never been a doubt about one thing: Steelers fans will show up and show out, especially with so much on the line heading into Week 14 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Fortunately for Pittsburgh, they might be catching Baltimore at just the right moment.
The Ravens’ Week 14 injury report reads more like a warning label than a status update.
Stars like Lamar Jackson (ankle) and Rashod Bateman (ankle) were limited throughout the week, and both have unspecified game statuses. I expect them to suit up, but it's clear their health is far from ideal. John Harbaugh and his staff will enter Sunday with a roster that’s bruised, banged up, and far from the iron-clad unit Baltimore prefers to be when facing their biggest rival.
But Pittsburgh isn’t walking in healthy either.
Left tackle Broderick Jones (neck) and defensive lineman Derrick Harmon are both expected to miss significant time. Add safety Kyle Dugger (hand) and offensive tackle Calvin Anderson (knee) to the list of players ruled out, and suddenly the Steelers’ depth looks thinner than anyone would like heading into a must-win divisional showdown.
The Pittsburgh Steelers must take advanatge of an injured Lamar Jackson during Week 14
Dugger and Harmon have both been meaningful contributors to Pittsburgh’s 17th-ranked run defense (117.7 yards allowed) and 28th-ranked pass defense (247.4 yards allowed). Their presence has kept bad performances from becoming disasters—sometimes even tilting losses into narrow victories.
Without them, Pittsburgh must find ways to slow down a determined Lamar Jackson who, despite a quieter statistical season, remains the league’s most unique weapon.
It feels like everyone has conveniently forgotten what Jackson is capable of. This season, he ranks 26th in passing yards (1,841) and is tied for 19th in passing touchdowns (15).
Modest numbers for a former league MVP.
But no one in Pittsburgh is naïve enough to discount what he brings to the field. Jackson’s improvisational brilliance has long been a thorn in Mike Tomlin’s side, and limiting him will require a level of discipline the Steelers haven't consistently shown this year.
Still, there’s reason for genuine optimism. Especially for a group facing a hobbled mobile quarterback. It's almost as if Jackson is playing with a spare tire this weekend.
Tomlin’s group knows exactly what’s at stake. There is no room left for excuses or moral victories. They cannot afford many more losses without kissing their postseason aspirations goodbye. And while they are injured, inconsistent, and far from polished, they’re also facing a Baltimore team dealing with wounds of its own—wounds that could drastically shift Sunday’s outcome.
If Pittsburgh shows up with urgency, intent, and a renewed sense of identity, beating a hobbled Ravens squad is not only possible, it’s expected. A win wouldn’t erase every doubt, but it would quiet them—at least until the rematch brewing in Week 18.
For now, the Steelers simply need to take advantage of the break they’ve been given. The Ravens are wounded. Momentum is waiting. And Pittsburgh still controls its own fate. More importantly, they cannot let Lamar Jackson carry his team to victory.