If the Steelers are to go down tonight, we want them to go down swinging. Mike Tomlin's team ended the 2024 regular season on an embarrassing note after losing four straight games and averaging 14.2 points per contest. Now he gets a shot at redemption against his biggest rival.
After getting trounced by the Ravens in a 34-17 showing in December, Pittsburgh will get a rematch of the game that ended poorly in Baltimore in Week 16. The Steelers are the biggest underdogs in the Wild Card round this week, but this game between two AFC North rivals could come down to the wire.
If this is to be the last time the Steelers play football until August, we want to hear the excitement in the voices of a talented broadcast crew and a hands-off officiating crew that will let these two rivals put up their dukes in the playoffs. Here are the announcers and referees for tonight's Wild Card game.
Announcers for Steelers vs. Ravens
- Network: Prime Video
- Play-by-play: Al Michaels
- Color commentary: Kirk Herbstreit
- Sideline reporter: Kaylee Hartung
Steelers fans only got to hear the Prime Video crew call one game this season. Unfortunately, it was the Thursday Night Football outing against the Browns on November 21, which ended poorly for Pittsburgh.
This time around, fans will be praying for better results. The legendary Al Michaels will be calling the play-by-play with Kirk Herbstreit as the color commentator and Kaylee Hartung giving us the latest reports and updates from the sidelines.
Referees for Steelers vs. Ravens
Head Referee (Crew Chief)
In an all-important do-or-die playoff game, Steelers fans were hoping for a favorable officiating crew for their Wild Card matchup against the Ravens. Instead, they will be getting Alex Kemp and an alternate crew assigned by the league.
During the 2024 regular season, Kemp's crew called 105 penalties on the home team and 115 penalties on the visiting team. What's most concerning is that the home team won 81.25 percent of the games Kemp officiated in 2024. The Steelers are the away team, so this doesn't bode well for Pittsburgh. Kemp finished above the NFL average in penalties called (13.75) and penalty yards (115.19) per game.
In 2020, the NFL moved to five alternate referees in the postseason rounds. Clete Blakeman will be the alternate referee for the Steelers vs. Ravens Wild Card game. Officials who have alternate assignments are still eligible for an on-field assignment in the Divisional Playoffs or Conference Championships.
Full Officiating Crew:
Referee: Alex Kemp
Umpire: Mark Pellis
Down Judge: Frank LeBlanc
Line Judge: Rusty Baynes
Field Judge: Sean Petty
Side Judge: Anthony Jeffries
Back Judge: Greg Meyer
Replay Official: Mike Chase
Replay Assistant: Julie Johnson
Alternate Referee: Clete Blakeman
Alternate Umpire: Tra Blake
Alternate Line Judge: Walter Flowers
Alternate Fields Judge: Jason Ledet
Alternate Back Judge: Scott Helverson