Steelers edge Ravens on missed field goal to clinch AFC North title, playoff berth: Live updates and reaction to NFL ‘Sunday Night Football’ | Retrui News | Retrui
Baltimore's season ended in brutal fashion as rookie kicker Tyler Loop missed a potential game-winning 44-yard field goal as time expired.
A back-and-forth ending saw the teams combine for four lead changes in the final nine minutes before the Ravens converted on a fourth-and-7 to put themselves in position for the field goal.
The Ravens’ biggest question mark entering the season was at kicker, where rookie fifth-round pick Tyler Loop was tasked with replacing Justin Tucker, one of the most accomplished kickers in NFL history. Loop was solid for much of the season, but he was never tested in a big moment. He was never asked to kick a game-winning field goal late in a game. He got his first opportunity Sunday and had a chance to kick the Ravens into the playoffs.
Rodgers delivers signature drive. Twice.
Getty Images
After the Steelers beat Baltimore in Week 14, Mike Tomlin said “We knew what was on the line today. That’s why you go do business with a guy like Aaron — for thick days like today.”
Needing Aaron Rodgers to deliver a signature moment, he came through. Twice.
Facing elimination, Rodgers led the Steelers down the field on an eight-play, 60-yard touchdown drive. His 31-yard pass up the seam to Pat Freiermuth helped set the stage for Kenneth Gainwell’s go-ahead TD. But it wouldn’t be the AFC North without some chaos. A coverage bust allowed Lamar Jackson to connect on a 64-yard touchdown pass to Zay Flowers.
Again, the Steelers needed a signature Rodgers moment. Again, he answered the call, leading the Steelers on a 65-yard touchdown drive capped by a 26-yard pass to Calvin Austin III.
Ravens defense never recovered from losing Hamilton
Getty Images
When Kyle Hamilton left the game following a collision with fellow safety Alohi Gilman early in the third quarter, the Ravens led 10-3 and the Steelers were facing a third-and-10. Rodgers immediately attacked the middle of the field and hit Freiermuth for 14 yards. They scored a touchdown on that drive and got a field goal on the next.
Hamilton has been the Ravens’ best defensive players and him going down left Baltimore without a playmaker and defensive leader. Rodgers took advantage, repeatedly attacking the middle of the field, particularly on third-and-longs. The Ravens never could get off the field at the key moments.
Steelers' playoff berth just the first step
Getty Images
In Week 13, as the Steelers were getting blown out by the Bills, fans booed their defensive anthem “Renegade” and chanted “Fire Tomlin.” By the end of that game, the Steelers were 6-6 and had lost five of seven games; it appeared their season could be unraveling. However, the Steelers responded by winning four of their final five. Even that late-season stretch had its warts, as the Steelers blew a prime opportunity to clinch the division with an inexcusable loss Week 17 in Cleveland. That loss could have haunted the Steelers and led to more calls for Mike Tomlin’s job this offseason. Instead, they survived a white-knuckle fourth quarter to wear the AFC North Champions hats and T-shirts.
While it was a thrilling finish full of twists and turns, qualifying for the playoffs is really just Step 1 for this team. The success or failure of this season was always going to be judged in the playoffs.
The Steelers made an aggressive — maybe even desperate — attempt to retool their roster this offseason with a series of blockbuster moves. That included a trade for DK Metcalf and another for defensive back Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith. All of it was in an effort to win their first playoff game since the 2016 season. The Steelers are an inconsistent, imperfect team. They might not even be favored at home against the Houston Texans. But in a wide-open AFC playoff field, they may have their best chance in years to finally break through.
This was the Ravens’ season in a nutshell
Getty Images
The Ravens looked great offensively on their first drive, but then they went cold and did nothing for two-and-a-half quarters. The defense started strong, only to let down in the second half and again when they needed a stop late in the fourth quarter to hold the lead.
The Ravens never figured out a way to play complementary football all year and their season ended short of the playoffs because of it. They really didn’t play well enough in any facet this season and that was reflected by their effort on Sunday night.
DeAndre Hopkins after the game: “We’re three yards wide right from playing postseason football.”
Rodgers, Jackson make some history
Imagn Images
How special was tonight’s late Aaron Rodgers-Lamar Jackson duel?
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Rodgers and Jackson combined for three deep touchdown passes — technically defined as traveling over 20 yards in the air — in the fourth quarter. That’s the most in any fourth quarter over the past 10 years.
A memorable battle between two all-time greats.
Ravens get 14th pick in draft
With tonight's loss, the Ravens are set to have the 14th pick in this summer's draft. If you're curious, the four non-playoff teams who have later selections than Baltimore are the Buccaneers, Colts (pick owned by Jets), Lions and Vikings.
Loop on missed field goal
Imagn Images
Tyler Loop said he knew the second he made contact with the ball that it was a mishit. He said he just hit the ball thin.
Loop spoke for eight minutes and he was flanked by snapper Nick Moore and holder Jordan Stout. He said this season has been the best experience of his life and it sucks that he didn’t deliver.
Roquan Smith: 'This moment sucks'
Roquan Smith speaking after Baltimore's loss: “This moment sucks. There’s nothing else to be said but we have to get better.”
He adds that the defense didn’t do enough at the end of the game. “It’s such a hard pill to swallow. It sucks when you feel you let everybody down.”
The timeline of that wild fourth quarter
With under nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, it appeared we were in for another defensive slugfest to determine the AFC North as the Steelers clung to a 13-10 lead. Instead, we got even better drama as the two teams combined for 27 points in the final 8:42 of the game. Here's the timeline of each notable play:
Q4 8:27 - Zay Flowers 50-yard touchdown reception from Lamar Jackson, Ravens lead 17-13
Jackson said he felt like the game was going to come down to Tyler Loop at the end. Felt that’s just how the game was going.
“We just came up short. I just wish we scored more points.”
Austin comes through when it matters most
Getty Images
It’s been an inconsistent season for Calvin Austin III despite the close bond he’s forged with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Austin finishes the regular season with just three touchdowns — but none bigger than the 26-yard score he caught with under a minute remaining to send the Steelers to the playoffs. Austin finished tonight’s game with 55 receiving yards and that touchdown on three catches.
Monster fourth quarter from Flowers
Getty Images
Who else but Zay Flowers to provide a jolt to the Ravens’ passing offense when it was desperately needed?
Flowers slipped by the Steelers’ defense not once but twice for two massive go-ahead touchdowns in the fourth quarter, one from 50 yards and one from 64 yards.
The third-year wideout from Boston College finished with four catches on six targets for a whopping 138 yards and those two scores.
Harbaugh on kneeling before final FG attempt
Imagn Images
John Harbaugh explained his decision to not try to call a run play to set up a shorter kick for Tyler Loop, saying he doesn’t regret have Lamar Jackson kneel down and lose yardage instead.
“That was a close kick, you want to center the ball, we wanted to make sure we got the kick in. You don't want something bad to happen on the run. I don't think that was a bad decision.”
Gainwell comes up huge
Getty Images
As he needed to with DK Metcalf suspended, Kenneth Gainwell came up huge in the Steelers’ pass game. He was Pittsburgh’s leading receiver with eight catches for 64 yards on nine targets. Gainwell only had 10 rushing yards on five carries, but one was for a key fourth-quarter touchdown to give the Steelers a 20-17 lead at the time.
Henry slowed in second half
Imagn Images
Partially due to the way the game unfolded, and partly due to the Steelers’ defense locking down against the run, Derrick Henry only had 11 net rushing yards after halftime. He still finished with a stout 126 yards on 20 carries, but his production faded late as the Ravens relied on explosive passes to keep pace as the Steelers offense came alive.
Heyward: 'Adds another chapter' to rivalry
Getty Images
Cam Heyward also spoke to NBC after the game:
"Just adds another chapter to the Baltimore-Pittsburgh rivalry. It's unpredictable, it comes down to a couple of plays, it came down to a field goal, and I'm just lucky I'm on the right side of this."
Rodgers on Pittsburgh's win
Here's what Aaron Rodgers had to say to NBC after the game, starting with how he felt during Tyler Loop's potential game-winning field goal attempt:
"That sucks, that's the worst part of this game. I'd rather have the ball in my hand. We haven't made it easy for ourselves most of the year, but it was a huge lift having (T.J. Watt) come back. (Cam Heyward) had a great pregame talk, got us focused. On offense, we didn't handle our business in the first half but the second half we came out with a different focus."
On what this win means to him personally: "It's pretty emotional, honestly. It's been a great year. I'm thankful for these guys and excited to be in the playoffs for the first time in a long while.
"It's been a grinding year. The two years before that were tough as well. It's been an absolute blessing to be here, with these fans and this organization. We found that little bit of something special tonight, which is belief."
