Steelers Face Ravens in Playoffs Amid Historic Drought

The Pittsburgh Steelers, with a 10-7 record, are set to face the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL playoffs for the second consecutive season. The game, scheduled for January 13, 2025, will take place at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, where the Ravens, who clinched the AFC North with a 12-5 record, are 9.5-point favorites.

The Steelers split their regular-season matchups with the Ravens, winning 18-16 in Week 11 but losing 34-17 in Week 16. Pittsburgh enters the playoffs on a four-game losing streak, raising questions about their ability to compete against the Ravens’ dominant form.

Pittsburgh’s last playoff victory dates back to the 2016 season, when they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 18-16 in a game remembered for kicker Chris Boswell‘s six field goals. Since then, the Steelers have gone 0-4 in playoff games, marking their longest postseason victory drought in the Super Bowl era.

Head coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged the team’s struggles but emphasized that this year’s roster is different from past iterations. “What you mentioned is my story,” Tomlin said via ESPN. “It’s not this collective’s story. Many of these guys involved do not tote those bags. I happily tote those bags, but it’s not something that I’m going to project on the collective.”

Despite the odds, the Steelers have a 27.8% chance to win, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. A victory would require a performance reminiscent of their Week 11 win over Baltimore, coupled with improved execution in key areas.

The Steelers’ playoff history is storied, with six Super Bowl titles, the most recent coming in 2008 under Tomlin. However, their recent postseason record stands at 36-28, with an 0-5 mark since 2016. The team’s last Super Bowl appearance was in 2010, when they lost to the Green Bay Packers.

As Pittsburgh prepares for Saturday’s game, fans hope to see an end to the playoff drought and a return to the franchise’s winning tradition.