Steelers' Calvin Austin III Drops A Powerful Response After Game-Winning TD Versus Ravens

The Pittsburgh Steelers escaped out of Acrisure Stadium with a narrow 26-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens to clinch the AFC North. What had been an up-and-down season for Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin turned dramatic in the final moments, as Ravens kicker Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard field goal that would have won the game as time expired. The miss sealed the division title for Pittsburgh and capped off a chaotic finish in one of the NFL’s most intense rivalries.

Moments before Loop’s miss, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers delivered the defining play of the night, finding Calvin Austin III for a go-ahead touchdown. The score gave Pittsburgh a late lead, but the drama was far from over after kicker Chris Boswell missed his first extra point of the season, leaving the door open for Baltimore to respond. That miss set the stage for one final Ravens opportunity, one that ultimately came up empty.

After the win, Austin spoke to the media about the game-winning touchdown and how it transpired, detailing the trust Rodgers showed in him in the biggest moment of the season. Austin explained the play call, the coverage he recognized, and the confidence he felt as the ball came his way. In a season defined by highs and lows, the connection between Rodgers and Austin delivered a division title and another unforgettable chapter in the Steelers–Ravens rivalry.

"Eight [Aaron Rodgers] called the play, he called the route," Austin said while speaking to the Steelers media about his game-winning touchdown. "I went out and executed. We have been practicing that type of route for a minute and you never know when it is gonna come to fruition. Shoutout to eight for believing in me."

When the Steelers decided to go all in to acquire Rodgers during the 2025 offseason, the move was met with mixed reactions across the league. Many pundits were confused, while others embraced the idea, but expectations were tempered due to Rodgers winning just five games with the New York Jets. Concerns also centered on his age, now 42 years old, and the fact that he had not reached the playoffs since the 2021 season.

Still, there was a strong belief that Rodgers joining a more stable organization like the Steelers could be mutually beneficial. That belief proved justified, as Rodgers led Pittsburgh to a 10-7 record and an AFC North title. Now, the next step is clear. The Steelers need a playoff win for this experiment to be considered truly successful in the eyes of the fan base.

Steelers' Calvin Austin III Puts Ravens' Chidobe Awuzie On The Floor

That late touchdown pass from Rodgers to Austin was the defining moment and the exact reason Tomlin wanted him so badly. Rodgers recognized something in the Ravens’ defense pre-snap and audibled to a stutter-and-go route for Austin. 

The execution was flawless. Austin sent Ravens defensive back Chidobe Awuzie stumbling with his move, and that brief separation was all Rodgers needed to deliver the game-changing throw. 

Now the Steelers turn their attention to the postseason, hosting the Houston Texans at home on Monday night in the Wild Card Round. If Pittsburgh can carry the momentum from Rodgers’ late heroics, this could be the start of something special for the team and its fans.

Do you think the Rodgers experiment is already a success after winning the AFC North, or does it all come down to whether the Steelers can finally win a playoff game? 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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