Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens Match Player Stats (Dec 7, 2025)

Pittsburgh defeated Baltimore 27-22 at M&T Bank Stadium on December 7, 2025, moving to 7-6 and taking sole possession of first place in the AFC North while dropping the Ravens to 6-7. Aaron Rodgers threw for 284 yards and DK Metcalf caught 7 passes for 148 yards to lead the Steelers, while Lamar Jackson completed 19 of 35 passes for 219 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Alex Highsmith’s sack of Jackson as time expired sealed Pittsburgh’s victory.

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Complete Passing Statistics

Rodgers recorded his highest yardage total since joining the Steelers. The 42-year-old quarterback completed four passes of 31 yards or longer after failing to complete a single pass over 31 yards during the entire month of November. His 8.4 yards per attempt marked a season high and Baltimore’s pass rush never brought him down for a sack.

Jackson completed 54.3% of his passes, totaling one touchdown and one interception.

Rushing Performance

Baltimore outrushed Pittsburgh 217-34, marking the largest rushing advantage by a losing team since Jacksonville outran Indianapolis 243-45 in 2022 and lost 34-27. The Ravens controlled time of possession at 33:44 compared to Pittsburgh’s 26:16.

Mitchell ripped off a 55-yard run in the third quarter on third-and-one, setting up Jackson’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely. Mitchell left the game with a knee injury after that run and didn’t return. His six carries averaged 12.7 yards per attempt before the injury.

Rodgers scored on a 1-yard scramble around left end in the first quarter for his first rushing touchdown since the 2022 season. Pittsburgh called designed runs for the 42-year-old twice, gaining just one total yard on those plays.

Receiving Breakdown

Metcalf caught all three of his deep targets (20+ air yards) for 121 yards. Rodgers hit him for 52 yards on the opening play, immediately putting Pittsburgh at Baltimore’s 13-yard line. According to Next Gen Stats, Metcalf recorded his most deep receptions in a single game in his career.

Flowers earned his first 100-yard game since Week 1, totaling eight catches for 124 yards. Baltimore used him in motion at the snap 20 times. When in motion, Flowers caught two of four targets for 38 yards.

Warren’s 38-yard touchdown reception on a short swing pass became the game’s pivotal score. On third-and-four, Rodgers beat a Ravens blitz by flipping the ball to Warren in the right flat. Warren ran untouched down the sideline for the score, re-establishing Pittsburgh’s 11-point lead at 27-16 with 3:30 left in the third quarter.

Tight End Production

Likely’s 4-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter tied the game at 16, but his overturned touchdown with 2:43 remaining became the most controversial moment. He caught the ball in the end zone with two feet down, but before completing a third step, Joey Porter Jr. knocked the ball free. After review, officials ruled it incomplete, stating Likely didn’t complete an “act common to the game.”

Andrews managed just one catch on five targets. He’s averaging 6.4 yards per target and 9.0 yards per reception this season. His previous career lows were 7.5 and 11.6 respectively.

Washington left in the second quarter with a concussion and didn’t return, limiting Pittsburgh’s two tight end sets.

Defensive Leaders

Tackles

Smith earned an 84.4 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus, leading Baltimore with 10 tackles including one for loss. Highsmith made the game’s biggest defensive play on the final snap, sacking Jackson as time expired.

Queen faced his former team for the second time this season, recording seven tackles. He was targeted six times in coverage, allowing five completions for 53 yards.

Pass Rush and Turnovers

Pittsburgh’s pass rush totaled two sacks (Highsmith and Brandin Echols each with one) and five quarterback hits. Baltimore couldn’t touch Rodgers behind center, registering zero sacks. Their lone quarterback hit came from Dre’Mont Jones.

James Pierre’s second-quarter interception of Jackson provided Pittsburgh with possession at Baltimore’s 36-yard line, leading to Kenneth Gainwell’s 6-yard touchdown run that extended the lead to 17-3.

Coverage Stats

Humphrey got targeted 12 times, allowing seven completions for 129 yards. Metcalf worked against Baltimore’s secondary throughout the afternoon, particularly when Humphrey shadowed him on vertical routes.

Ramsey allowed three catches on four targets for 43 yards and one touchdown. The veteran corner played just one offensive snap while logging all 80 defensive snaps.

Special Teams

Boswell connected on both field goal attempts (23 and 28 yards) and all three extra points. Loop made all three field goals (36, 28, and 36 yards) but missed an extra point after Jackson’s 6-yard rushing touchdown just before halftime.

Coach John Harbaugh acknowledged Loop needs more consistency on kickoffs. One sailed out of bounds, giving Pittsburgh possession at their 40-yard line. Two others landed at the 11 and 14, with Pittsburgh returning them to the 35 and 41 respectively.

Returns

Mitchell averaged 24.0 yards on three kickoff returns before his injury. Austin returned two punts for just 12 yards total.

Red Zone Scoring

Baltimore scored touchdowns on just two of six red zone trips (33.3% in this game). The Ravens rank 30th in red zone touchdown conversion at 46.5% for the season, a massive drop from last year’s league-leading 74.2%. Pittsburgh converted half their red zone opportunities.

The most crucial red zone failure came after the overturned Likely touchdown. Baltimore had second-and-10 from Pittsburgh’s 13 but gained only eight yards on the next play. On third-and-2, Alex Highsmith tackled Derrick Henry for a loss, setting up fourth-and-5. Jackson’s pass intended for Mark Andrews or DeAndre Hopkins fell incomplete with Patrick Queen in tight coverage.

Team Stats Comparison

Baltimore outgained Pittsburgh by 102 yards and controlled possession for over seven more minutes. Pittsburgh converted 43% of third downs, keeping drives alive when needed most. Their lone fourth down attempt succeeded on Connor Heyward’s 2-yard run on fourth-and-1 at Baltimore’s 4-yard line, setting up Rodgers’ rushing touchdown two plays later.

Game Flow

Both teams entered at 6-6, knowing the winner would take sole possession of first place with four games remaining in the AFC North race.

Pittsburgh struck first, scoring on their opening drive for a 7-3 lead at 7:13 of the first quarter.

Pittsburgh extended the lead to 17-3 by halftime. Pierre’s interception gave the Steelers possession at Baltimore’s 36-yard line, setting up Gainwell’s 6-yard touchdown run. The TD came after an unusual sequence where a Chris Boswell field goal was nullified by a penalty on Baltimore’s Travis Jones for unnecessary roughness. The NFL later admitted this call was wrong, stating Jones didn’t make forcible contact to the head or neck area of long snapper Christian Kuntz.

Jackson scored on a 6-yard run just before halftime, but Loop’s missed extra point left Baltimore down 17-9 rather than 17-10.

The third quarter brought a scoring flurry. Boswell’s 28-yard field goal made it 20-9. Mitchell broke free for a 55-yard run that set up Likely’s 4-yard touchdown reception, cutting Pittsburgh’s lead to 20-16. Mitchell left with a knee injury after the play. Warren’s 38-yard touchdown reception restored the 11-point cushion at 27-16.

Baltimore cut into the lead with field goals on consecutive fourth-quarter drives. Loop connected from 28 yards at 13:43 remaining, making it 27-19. His second field goal from 36 yards with 7:10 left brought the Ravens within 27-22.

The final two minutes brought controversy. After Rodgers’ pass was batted at the line, both he and Teddye Buchanan caught the deflection. Officials initially called it an interception but reversed the call after review, ruling Rodgers’ knee hit the ground before he lost possession.

Then came Likely’s overturned touchdown with 2:43 remaining. Jackson connected with Likely in the end zone for what appeared to be a go-ahead score. The play was called a touchdown on the field, but after review, officials determined Likely didn’t complete the catch before Porter jarred the ball loose.

Baltimore couldn’t convert on fourth-and-5, turning the ball over on downs. Pittsburgh punted after going three-and-out, giving the Ravens one final chance with 1:56 remaining at their own 26-yard line.

Jackson moved Baltimore to Pittsburgh’s 30-yard line but took a sack with no timeouts left. Highsmith’s game-ending takedown as time expired sent the Ravens to their second straight home loss against AFC North opponents.

Key Injuries

Pittsburgh:

• TE Darnell Washington (concussion, ruled out)
• LB Malik Harrison (concussion, ruled out)
• OL Andrus Peat (concussion protocol)
• CB Brandin Echols (evaluated for concussion, returned)

Baltimore:

• RB Keaton Mitchell (knee injury, did not return)

Washington’s absence in the second half limited Pittsburgh’s two tight end sets. Dylan Cook made his NFL debut at left tackle after Peat left, holding up well enough in pass protection to keep Rodgers clean.

Mitchell’s injury robbed Baltimore of their most explosive runner. His 76 yards on six carries (12.7 average) provided the spark the Ravens needed, but once he left after that 55-yard burst, Baltimore lost their big-play threat in the backfield.

Historical Context

This game marked the 64th meeting between these franchises since Baltimore entered the NFL in 1996. Pittsburgh now leads the all-time series 37-27, including a 16-15 record in Baltimore. The Steelers have won four of the last six games at M&T Bank Stadium.

Rodgers achieved his highest yardage total against Baltimore in his career.

Jackson fell to 22-5 in his career in December games or later as a starter.

Why Did Baltimore Lose Despite 217 Rushing Yards?

The Ravens dominated on the ground but failed where it mattered most. Red zone execution killed Baltimore’s chances, converting just two of six trips into touchdowns. The Ravens rank 30th in red zone touchdown conversion at 46.5% for the season, a massive drop from last year’s league-leading 74.2%.

Jackson’s struggles inside the 20 compounded the issue. His 42.5% completion rate in the red zone this season ranks lower than rookie Dillon Gabriel’s 45.2%. When Baltimore’s offense stalled in scoring position, it put massive pressure on the defense to create stops and turnovers.

Asked postgame to describe his frustration level, Jackson said it was “through the roof.”

Pittsburgh’s third-down efficiency proved decisive. The Steelers converted 43% (6-of-14) compared to Baltimore’s 39% (7-of-18). Those extra conversions kept drives alive and kept Baltimore’s offense on the sideline. Rodgers’ third-down completion to Austin for 31 yards set up Warren’s touchdown that re-established the 11-point lead.

The turnover battle proved equally critical. Pierre’s interception gave Pittsburgh the momentum for the touchdown that made it 17-3. The Steelers are 3-30-1 (.103) when they lose the turnover battle since 2019, highlighting how vital that single takeaway became.

Baltimore’s pass rush disappeared when needed most. Registering zero sacks against a 42-year-old quarterback with a fractured left wrist showed the defensive line couldn’t generate pressure. The absence of consistent pressure allowed Rodgers time to scan downfield and connect on those crucial deep balls to Metcalf.

Coach John Harbaugh addressed the controversial catch rulings postgame, stating the interpretation of catch rules is “about as clear as mud right now.” He acknowledged Baltimore had opportunities to overcome the officiating decisions but couldn’t execute in crucial moments, particularly the third-and-2 miscommunication that resulted in a 3-yard loss instead of potentially moving the chains.

Playoff Implications

The Steelers moved to 7-6, taking sole possession of first place in the AFC North. Baltimore fell to 6-7, seeing their playoff chances drop to 34% according to Next Gen Stats, a massive slide from the 81% they would have enjoyed with a win.

The two teams meet again in Week 18 at Acrisure Stadium, potentially deciding the division champion. Baltimore likely needs to win their final four games (at Cincinnati, vs. New England, vs. Green Bay, at Pittsburgh) to reach the postseason. Newzire provides comprehensive NFL coverage tracking division standings and playoff scenarios through the season’s final weeks.

Pittsburgh’s defense played bend-but-don’t-break football, allowing 420 yards and 217 rushing yards but forcing one turnover and holding Baltimore to field goals in crucial red zone trips. That approach, combined with Rodgers finding his form at the perfect time, gave the Steelers a massive divisional victory.

Jackson continues battling through injuries that have limited his explosiveness since late September. He’s averaging just 6.2 rushing yards per game on designed runs over his last five games and has gone three straight games failing to reach 30 yards on the ground for the first time in his career.

This December 7 matchup showed two franchises heading in opposite directions at a crucial point in the playoff race. Pittsburgh seized control of the division while Baltimore faces an uphill climb to extend their season beyond January.