The Pittsburgh Steelers fumbled a perfect opportunity in Week 17 to win the AFC North division. An embarrassing loss to the Cleveland Browns officially now means there will be a win-or-go-home contest in the Steel City with the Baltimore Ravens coming to town. It will make for some great television, even though the black and gold faithful was hoping that Head Coach Mike Tomlin would have had the opportunity to rest his starters in thee final week of the 2025 regular season. That won't be the case, and the entire NFL fan base will be locked in on the massive showdown.
AP Photo / Don Wright
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.
With a lot going on around the league, it wasn't quite known when the Steelers' and Ravens' big-time battle would occur. The rivalry between the two organizations already makes for a good storyline consistently, but the idea of the AFC North division and final conference postseason berth being on the line makes the contest even more juicy. It could certainly be one of the most-watched games of the entire 2025 season.
Fans awaited the finish to an electrifying Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers game so the Week 18 contest could finally be released, and now the Steel City knows when the matchup will be held.
The Steelers had everything within their grasp, especially after a Week 16 victory over the Detroit Lions, but now, a collapse of epic proportions is on the line with the Ravens coming to town. The league and its advertisers weren't going to miss out on the chance to have the matchup be broadcasted in a standalone window, as it was officially announced when the two franchises would face off for the division title.
Ravens-Steelers in the regular season finale next Sunday night for the AFC North.
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) December 29, 2025
Fans of both squads will be sweating out a very nerve-racking face-off that will most likely be a very close-contested game that could completely change the complexion of the AFC postseason picture. Aaron Rodgers getting into the playoffs is not something that any team wants, specifically because of the current inexperience within the conference at the quarterback position.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers' quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks down intense focus in street clothes as the team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
The league could have easily decided to let the 49ers and Seahawks battle be the final game of the 2025 regular season, but the rivalry between the Steelers and Ravens was apparently too attractive to not put in the biggest primetime of spots. Now, all is on the line in the Steel City with millions of eyes watching.
Steelers Are In A Very Interesting Position After Week 17 Failure
Tomlin cannot be happy with the performance from his team in Cleveland. It is certainly not ideal to have a win-or-go-home matchup against your most-hated division rival. The positive is that the contest will take place in Pittsburgh, but the significance of the game could have been avoided if the Steelers took care of business versus the Browns.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin roams the practice field as his team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
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