2025 NFL AFC Wild Card Preview - Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore: Can the Steelers cage the Ravens at M&T Stadium? January 9, 2024 by Marc Jerbs

The anticipation is really building for the 2025 NFL AFC Wild Card game as the ageless rivalry of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens rekindles itself. Set to kick off at 8:00 PM EST on January 11, 2025, in M&T Bank Stadium, this clash has a lot to do with the two organizations because they will vie for playoff titles with a backdrop of history and recent controversy.

The Ravens finished the season in commendable style with a 12-5 record while moving into the playoffs, proving itself as a resilient team and finishing strong in the regular season. Among their best recent performances would be the victory over the rival Steelers just two weeks before this deciding game, a win that may provide additional impetus in the Ravens' camp. Lamar Jackson, the ultimate dynamic quarterback, led the Ravens with offense, gaining impressive stats throughout the season which also included a lot of help from Derrick Henry with the rushing attack. Before entering the playoffs, the Ravens have been riding high on a four-game momentum shift.

Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore Sports Bet Odds

The Ravens are the favorites to win the game. Here are our latest odds:

• The Ravens are favored by 10 points, with a money line of -515.
• The Steelers are the underdogs by 10 points, with a money line of +410.
• The over/under is set at 43.5 points, with the over at -110 and the under at -110.

On the other hand, the Steelers have limped into the playoffs at 10-7. The closing stages were characterized by effort, without much success, and culminated in a four-game suffering bear followed up by a playoff entry. Problems on the offensive side were key, particularly at quarterback, with Russell Wilson struggling too much recently to find any sort of rhythm or effectiveness. But history against rival teams leverages a little psychological edge for the Steelers; they have beaten the Ravens three times in four playoff games concluding, proving their ability to perform under pressure stars now.

Both teams will head into the Wild Card clash with significant injury narratives. The Ravens have reported injuries to pivotal players, including Zay Flowers and Justice Hill, both of whom could impede the team's strategic offensive and defensive capabilities. Flowers, a key receiver, is particularly critical in augmenting the passing game alongside veteran tight end Mark Andrews. Meanwhile, the Steelers have also been hit hard by injuries, notably featuring a long list of questionable players ahead of the game. The return of players like George Pickens and Deshon Elliott could bolster the Steelers' efforts significantly, as they strive to capitalize on their playmaking abilities against a Ravens defense that has proven formidable throughout the season.

Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore Injury Report

Pittsburgh Steelers

PLAYER	POSITION	STATUS
Cameron Heyward	DT	Questionable
Chris Boswell	PK	Questionable
MyCole Pruitt	TE	Questionable

Baltimore Ravens

PLAYER	POSITION	STATUS
Justice Hill	RB	Questionable
Zay Flowers	WR	Questionable

Indeed, the bitter rivalry of the Steelers and Ravens promises quite a fury in the NFL, marking the match as one between mere ordinary folks and an entity that has all it takes to endorse physical contact and spirited competition. The series saw the Steelers leading with a record of 36-26, and the battles are historical, always rather close, and defined mostly by defensive fronts and turnovers. Known for their hard-hitting defensive linemen, neither team is afraid to raise the mean stakes, hence low scoring - dictated by defensive transformations and in-game adjustments.

It is sure gonna be a party at an M&T Bank Stadium because Ravens fans are not just legendary for that; they are pack a wallop in home-field advantage. You can already imagine the noise making talks even more difficult for rival quarterbacks and thereby making the challenge ahead stiffer for the Steelers' offensive line. Not only this, but also does the home advantage serve as psychological warfare for Ravens having the added intensity due to the glory of their wins on the turf.

So brace yourselves fans for a very final game that matches all the essences of NFL playoff football in that it will be intense, highly physical, and leave with it a bucket full of emotional moments. Well set with the all-important question of which offense takes better of care of poaching the defense, another chapter in NFL's greatest rivalry is ready to be written.

2024-25 Comparative Pittsburgh vs Baltimore Stats

Pittsburgh Steelers 6th AFC (10-7) Away (5-4) | W1		Baltimore Ravens 3rd AFC (12-5) Home (8-0) | W4
22.4	Points Per Game	30.5
192.0	Passing Yards Per Game	237.4
187.6	Rushing Yards Per Game	127.4
40	Total Sacks	54
17	Total Interceptions	12