Steelers vs Ravens games are almost never easy. Both teams play hard, the scores are close, and fans talk about the games for days. Their latest meeting was no different. On January 4, 2026, the Steelers beat the Ravens 26-24 in Pittsburgh, and a missed kick on the very last play decided it.
If you want to know who played best, you are in the right place. Below, I go through the player stats from that game: quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, defenders, and kickers. I explain every number in simple words, so you do not need to be a football expert. At the end, I give you my pick for the best player and answer three common questions.
A quick note: as of October 2026, this is the most recent time these two teams have played each other. They meet again later this season, and you can find the dates near the end of the article.
Quick facts about the game
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, January 4, 2026 |
| Place | Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh |
| Final score | Steelers 26, Ravens 24 |
| Records after the game | Steelers 10-7, Ravens 8-9 |
| Crowd | 65,400 fans |
| Why it mattered | The winner took the AFC North title |
This was the last game of the regular season, so the stakes were high. The Steelers won the AFC North for the first time in five years. The Ravens had hoped to win the division for a third year in a row. Instead, they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
A few football words, explained
Before we look at the numbers, here are some words you will see a lot:
- Yards: how far the ball moved forward.
- TD (touchdown): a score worth six points.
- Sack: when a defender tackles the quarterback before he can throw.
- Interception: when a defender catches a pass that was meant for the other team.
- Passer rating: one number that shows how well a quarterback threw. A higher number is better.
- Target: a pass that was thrown to a player, even if he did not catch it.
How the game went
The Ravens started fast. Lamar Jackson threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Devontez Walker in the first quarter, and Tyler Loop added a field goal in the second quarter to make it 10-0. The Steelers answered with a 57-yard field goal from Chris Boswell before halftime.
In the third quarter, Connor Heyward scored on a 1-yard run to tie the game 10-10. Then a pass from Jackson was tipped, and T.J. Watt caught it. That turnover led to a Boswell field goal and the first Steelers lead, 13-10.
The fourth quarter was wild. According to the AP, there were four lead changes, and three of them came in the last four minutes. Here is how the scoring went:
| Time (4th quarter) | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Early | Zay Flowers 50-yard catch from Jackson | Ravens 17, Steelers 13 |
| Middle | Kenny Gainwell 2-yard run | Steelers 20, Ravens 17 |
| 2:20 left | Zay Flowers 64-yard catch from Jackson | Ravens 24, Steelers 20 |
| 0:55 left | Calvin Austin III 26-yard catch from Aaron Rodgers | Steelers 26, Ravens 24 |
Boswell missed the extra point after Austin’s touchdown. That was his first miss of the season after 40 makes in a row. It gave the Ravens one last chance. Jackson moved the team into range, but rookie kicker Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard field goal wide right as time ran out.
Quarterback stats: Lamar Jackson vs Aaron Rodgers
| Stat | Lamar Jackson (BAL) | Aaron Rodgers (PIT) |
|---|---|---|
| Completions / attempts | 11 / 18 | 31 / 47 |
| Passing yards | 238 | 294 |
| Touchdowns | 3 | 1 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 0 |
| Sacked | 3 times (16 yards lost) | 2 times (4 yards lost) |
| Yards per pass | 13.2 | 6.3 |
| Passer rating | 121.5 | 90.2 |
| Rushing | 4 carries, 9 yards | 1 carry, 20 yards |
The two quarterbacks played very different games. Jackson threw only 18 passes, but many of them went far down the field. His 13.2 yards per pass is a very high number. He also had a painful back bruise, according to the AP, and still threw three touchdowns. His one mistake was the interception that gave the Steelers their first lead.
Rodgers took a different path. He threw 47 passes and kept the ball short and safe. He had no interceptions, and he threw for a season-high 294 yards at age 42. His best moment came at the end. After the Ravens went ahead 24-20, Rodgers led the Steelers 65 yards in six plays and finished with the 26-yard touchdown pass to Austin. He also ran for 20 yards on a single carry, which gave the Steelers a first down.
If you only look at passer rating, Jackson wins. If you look at who gave his team the best chance in the final minutes, Rodgers has a strong case.
Running backs: Derrick Henry led all rushers
| Player | Team | Carries | Yards | Average | Longest | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derrick Henry | BAL | 20 | 126 | 6.3 | 41 | 0 |
| Jaylen Warren | PIT | 14 | 66 | 4.7 | 15 | 0 |
| Kenny Gainwell | PIT | 5 | 10 | 2.0 | 6 | 1 |
| Lamar Jackson | BAL | 4 | 9 | 2.3 | 5 | 0 |
| Connor Heyward | PIT | 3 | 2 | 0.7 | 1 | 1 |
Derrick Henry was the best runner on the field. He gained 126 yards and averaged more than six yards each time he touched the ball. He did not score, but he moved the chain with five rushing first downs.
The Steelers did not run the ball as well. They gained 100 yards as a team and spread the work between several backs. Their running game was more about short scores. Both Gainwell and Heyward scored from very close to the end zone.
Receivers: Zay Flowers stole the show
Ravens receivers
| Player | Catches | Yards | TD | Targets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zay Flowers | 4 | 138 | 2 | 6 |
| Devontez Walker | 2 | 46 | 1 | 2 |
| Isaiah Likely | 2 | 32 | 0 | 2 |
| Mark Andrews | 2 | 14 | 0 | 3 |
| Patrick Ricard | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
Steelers receivers
| Player | Catches | Yards | TD | Targets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenny Gainwell | 8 | 64 | 0 | 9 |
| Calvin Austin III | 3 | 55 | 1 | 7 |
| Pat Freiermuth | 3 | 51 | 0 | 5 |
| Adam Thielen | 3 | 43 | 0 | 6 |
| Marquez Valdes-Scantling | 5 | 34 | 0 | 7 |
| Jaylen Warren | 5 | 33 | 0 | 5 |
Zay Flowers had the best receiving game by far. He caught only four passes, but they went for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Both touchdowns, of 50 and 64 yards, put the Ravens in front in the fourth quarter. His average of 34.5 yards per catch is huge.
The Steelers passing game worked in a different way. Nine different players caught a pass. Kenny Gainwell led the team with eight catches, and Calvin Austin III had the biggest play with the winning touchdown. Pittsburgh also played without receiver DK Metcalf, so the team shared the ball around.
Defense: sacks, an interception, and tackles
Neither defense had a big night in the sack column, but both made important plays.
- Steelers sacks: Derrick Harmon, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig each had one. That made three sacks in total.
- Ravens sacks: Tavius Robinson and Travis Jones each had one, for two in total.
- Interception: T.J. Watt caught the tipped pass that turned the game in the third quarter.
The Ravens had more tackles. Trenton Simpson and Kyle Hamilton each had nine, and Alohi Gilman had eight. For the Steelers, Keeanu Benton and Cameron Heyward each made seven, and Jalen Ramsey made six.
Do not read too much into the tackle numbers. The Ravens defense simply spent more time on the field. Pittsburgh ran 73 plays, while Baltimore ran only 48. More plays against you means more tackles. The Ravens also had a hard time with open-field tackling, according to the team’s own game recap.
Kickers and punters
| Player | Team | Field goals | Extra points | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Boswell | PIT | 2 of 2 | 2 of 3 | Made a 57-yard kick |
| Tyler Loop | BAL | 1 of 2 | 3 of 3 | Missed the 44-yard kick at the end |
| Jordan Stout | BAL | 4 punts, 47.8 yard average | ||
| Corliss Waitman | PIT | 3 punts, 39.7 yard average |
The kickers had a big say in this game. Boswell’s 57-yard field goal was one of the longest kicks of the night, and his 25-yard kick gave the Steelers the lead for the first time. But his missed extra point almost cost his team the game. Loop had made 30 of 33 field goals before his last kick. He said afterward that he “just mishit the ball.”
Jordan Stout also had a strong night for Baltimore. His punts averaged almost eight yards more than Pittsburgh’s.
Team stats: why the Steelers won
| Stat | Ravens | Steelers |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 12 | 24 |
| Total net yards | 359 | 390 |
| Rushing yards | 137 | 100 |
| Passing yards (net) | 222 | 290 |
| Total plays | 48 | 73 |
| Third downs | 4 of 12 | 9 of 16 |
| Time with the ball | 25:49 | 34:11 |
| Penalties | 9 for 78 yards | 5 for 45 yards |
The Ravens made the big plays, and the Steelers kept the ball. Pittsburgh had twice as many first downs and held the ball for more than nine extra minutes. They also converted 56% of their third downs, while the Ravens only converted 33%. That steady offense kept the Ravens defense tired and kept the Steelers close until their final push.
The moments that decided the game
Stats tell you a lot, but a few plays changed the whole night:
- Watt’s interception. It gave the Steelers the ball in good field position and led to their first lead.
- Loop’s kickoff out of bounds. The Ravens site says it gave Pittsburgh a short field on a key fourth-quarter drive.
- The open receiver. On the winning play, Calvin Austin III was all alone down the left side after a Ravens defender slipped.
- Boswell’s missed extra point. It kept the game within one field goal.
- Loop’s last kick. A 44-yard try sailed wide right, and the game was over.
So, who played best?
Here is my top five. This is my opinion, based on the numbers above.
- Aaron Rodgers (Steelers): He threw for 294 yards with no interceptions and led the winning drive when it mattered most. He is my player of the game.
- Zay Flowers (Ravens): He had the best stat line of the day with 138 yards and two touchdowns on four catches. He was a very close second.
- Derrick Henry (Ravens): He gained 126 yards and kept the Ravens offense moving.
- T.J. Watt (Steelers): One interception, but it changed the game.
- Kenny Gainwell (Steelers): He had eight catches and a rushing touchdown, and he was a safe target for Rodgers all night.
Some fans will pick Lamar Jackson because of his three touchdowns and 121.5 passer rating. That is a fair choice too. The best answer depends on whether you value big numbers or the final result.
When do these teams play again?
Both games are on the 2026 NFL schedule:
- Sunday, December 20, 2026: Ravens at Steelers in Pittsburgh.
- Sunday, January 10, 2027: Steelers at Ravens in Baltimore. This game is marked as a flex game, so the date or time could change. Check the NFL schedule before you make plans.
Final thoughts
The Steelers vs Ravens rivalry gives us close games again and again, and the latest one was a good example. Jackson and Flowers had the flashy numbers, Henry ran hard, and the Steelers kept the ball and won in the last minute. The next two meetings are on the schedule, so you will soon have new stats to compare.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the latest Steelers vs Ravens game?
The Steelers won 26-24 on January 4, 2026, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. Aaron Rodgers threw the go-ahead touchdown to Calvin Austin III with 55 seconds left. Ravens kicker Tyler Loop then missed a 44-yard field goal as time ran out. The win gave the Steelers the AFC North title.
Which player had the best stats in the Steelers vs Ravens game?
For raw numbers, Zay Flowers of the Ravens had the best game, with four catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Derrick Henry had the most rushing yards with 126, and Aaron Rodgers had the most passing yards with 294. Lamar Jackson had the best passer rating at 121.5.
Where can I find full player stats for Steelers vs Ravens games?
You can find full box scores on ESPN, Pro Football Reference, Yahoo Sports, Fox Sports, and FootballDB. Covers.com also shows past results and records for this matchup. Box scores usually show passing, rushing, receiving, defense, and kicking stats for every player.
