The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense headed into the 2025 NFL season with very high expectations. Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin was walking around cashing lots of checks about just how great his defense could be. Through the first 12 games of the 2025 season, the Steelers' defense hasn’t lived up to the billing. The team is 6-6 and heading to Baltimore to face off against the Ravens in a must-win game for the AFC North division.
Don Wright / ap photo
Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh (left) and Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin talk on the field prior to a competitive matchup in Pittsburgh, PA.
The Ravens and Steelers both sit at 6-6, and the two games they have against each other in the 2025 season will determine a lot about their playoff picture.
The Steelers got hit with some terrible news on Friday that new safety Kyle Dugger will be forced to miss the Week 14 contest against the Ravens. This news comes from Steelers insider Brian Batko, who took to his social media to provide the update.
Steelers starting strong safety Kyle Dugger (hand) is out vs. Ravens after missing practice the past two days. Not sure what happened there, but Chuck Clark, a former Raven, is likely the next man up.
— Brian Batko (@BrianBatko) December 5, 2025
Calvin Anderson (knee) is out too so look for Dylan Cook to be swing tackle.
Dugger, who was traded for ahead of the deadline to bring physicality and versatility to the secondary, has been one of the more consistent performers on a defense that has struggled to find its identity.
AP Photo / Michael Ainsworth
Former New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger gets ready for a snap as he participates in a professional football game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA.
Losing him in a pivotal AFC North showdown is a major blow, especially against a Ravens offense that thrives on creating mismatches in the intermediate passing game.
Steelers Facing Their Greatest Task Of The 2025 Season In Baltimore
This matchup was already shaping up to be the Steelers’ toughest test of the season, and now it becomes even more daunting. At .500 and sitting squarely on the playoff bubble, Pittsburgh cannot afford another defensive letdown.
Tomlin has been adamant that his defense is capable of playing at an elite level, but time is running out for the group to prove it. The emotional and physical intensity of Steelers-Ravens games tends to bring out the best in both teams, and Pittsburgh will need one of its most disciplined performances of the season to keep pace in the AFC North race.
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Steelers coaches Mike Tomlin (left), Karl Dunbar (middle) and Teryl Austin (right) stand on the sideline during a home game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
The final stretch of the season will define whether these Steelers are true contenders or a talented team that never managed to put it all together. Losing Dugger only raises the stakes, and now the pressure is squarely on Tomlin’s defense to respond.
Steeler Nation, what do you believe the score will be in Week 14's game between the Steelers and Ravens? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me. I will respond!
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