The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for a big game in Week 18 as the team is going to be hosting the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football. The matchup is for the division as the winner will be crowned the champion of the AFC North for the 2025 season, while the loser will be eliminated from postseason contention. The Steelers could have completely avoided this situation had the team taken care of business against the Cleveland Browns in Week 17. The Steelers are now hinging their playoff hopes on this one game, and the fan base isn't very optimistic.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers' offense getting ready for a play against the Baltimore Ravens in the 2024 Wild Card Round.
This situation feels a bit similar to where Pittsburgh was during the 2024 season. The Steelers took on the Ravens in the first round of the playoffs, and things did not go well. Pittsburgh lost the game 28-14 after facing a deficit of 21-0, and the Black and Gold allowed nearly 300 rushing yards in the matchup. It was a complete blowout, and team insider Ray Fittipaldo was asked if a similar performance and outcome could be the end of Head Coach Mike Tomlin's time in Pittsburgh.
"If they get blown out, I think almost anything can happen," Fittipaldo wrote. "Buckle up."
The playoff game at the end of the 2024 season took place in Baltimore, and this time around, the regular season finale is in Pittsburgh. That should give the Steelers some sort of advantage, but it is still hard for the fan base to feel confident going into the matchup, especially with the way the offense looked in Week 17 against Cleveland without DK Metcalf on the field.
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Steelers' WR DK Metcalf sits on the bench during a game in Detroit in the 2025 NFL season.
A loss to the Ravens at home on Sunday would mean that the Steelers will miss the playoffs, which is simply not acceptable in Pittsburgh, especially after having a multi-game lead in the division at two different points in the season. Fans will be cheering for Tomlin to be fired or for the coach and the organization to mutually part ways, and that was already seen earlier in the season when Pittsburgh lost to the Buffalo Bills at home in Week 13. Fittipaldo believes that could happen again.
"I'm curious to see what will happen if the Steelers have another bad start and fall behind the Ravens," Fittipaldo wrote. "Will the fans turn on Tomlin again?"
The organization could look to be done with Tomlin, while the head coach could also look to move on himself. He could be interested in a career in broadcasting, or even coaching elsewhere during the 2026 season. That could open the door for the Steelers to consider trading him since he would still be under contract, or the two sides could part ways by coming to a buyout agreement. Tomlin hasn't spoken on his future, but he's been extremely adamant in the past that he wants to stay in Pittsburgh. Maybe that changes with a loss on Sunday.
Steelers Or Ravens Could See Major Changes After Week 18 Clash
There has been just as much turmoil in Baltimore throughout the 2025 season as there has been in Pittsburgh, and Head Coach John Harbaugh has had his job called into question throughout the year. His relationship with quarterback Lamar Jackson has seemed pretty weak at times, and there is some belief that his message has grown stale within the locker room.
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Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens hugs Head Coach John Harbaugh after a game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sept. 19, 2021, in Baltimore.
It is fair to think that the loser of this game could be facing a serious coaching change, whether that be in Pittsburgh or in Baltimore. The two are the longest-tenured head coaches in the league currerntly, so a change like that would be league-altering.
What do you think is going to happen during the Week 18 clash between the divisional rivals? Will Tomlin be fired if the Steelers get embarrassed on their home field? Let us know in the comments below!
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