There’s nothing worse than watching your worst nightmare unfold right in front of you. For Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers, that nightmare isn’t creeping in slowly—it’s standing directly in their path as they prepare for a must-win showdown against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
What once looked like a prime opportunity to secure the AFC North has slipped through their fingers. Instead of seizing the moment, Tomlin’s group has stumbled into five losses in six games, leaving the door wide open for Lamar Jackson and the Ravens to surge ahead.
Now, with their season hanging in the balance, the Steelers head to M&T Bank Stadium with more setbacks than answers. None of those setbacks is more concerning than the absence of rookie defensive anchor Derrick Harmon.
Harmon, the former first-round pick, has been one of the brightest spots on Teryl Austin’s otherwise inconsistent defense. From the moment he earned first-team reps in training camp, it was clear that Pittsburgh believed in his potential. And they were right.
His instincts, strength, and disruptive presence in the trenches have been irreplaceable—so much so that the defense looks like an entirely different (and far weaker) unit without him.
The numbers tell the story clearly: without Harmon on the field, the Steelers have surrendered 548 rushing yards on 119 attempts, along with five rushing touchdowns. That’s not just concerning—it’s alarming.
And considering who they’re facing Sunday, it borders on terrifying.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will miss Derrick Harmon while facing Derrick Henry in Week 14
Derrick Henry is not the same player he was in Tennessee’s prime years, but he’s still Derrick Henry—a 6’3”, 247-pound nightmare with the ability to wear down an entire defense by himself. Baltimore struggled earlier in the season to get him going, but over the past several weeks, the former Alabama standout has rediscovered his rhythm.
That alone creates a worst-case scenario for a defense struggling to slow down even average run games. Pittsburgh allows 117.7 yards to opposing rushers on average this season. For Henry, that is open season.
This year, Henry ranks sixth in carries (197) and seventh in rushing yards (931). His nose for the end zone hasn’t disappeared either—he sits tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns with 10. And with the Ravens jockeying for AFC playoff positioning, you can bet he’ll be motivated to finish the season on a high note.
It’s the worst possible matchup for a Steelers defense missing one of its foundational pieces.
But the injuries don’t stop there. Pittsburgh’s depth has been chipped away across multiple positions—offense, defense, and special teams. This isn’t a team limping into Week 14; it’s a team hobbling. And while Mike Tomlin has built a reputation on battling adversity, even he can’t hide how significant these losses feel.
In a season where the margin for error has disappeared, the Steelers are being forced to face an AFC powerhouse at less than full strength. And that’s the harsh reality of the NFL: it doesn’t wait for you to get healthy, to regroup, or to figure things out. It moves forward—with or without you.
Sunday isn’t just another game. It’s a tall challenge. A defining moment. And for a Pittsburgh team running out of time, it’s a matchup they simply cannot afford to lose.