Steelers' Zach Frazier Drops Condemning Statement On Ravens Defenders After Narrow Victory

The Pittsburgh Steelers are moving on to the postseason after taking down the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night in what wound up being the AFC North title game. The winner would move on to the playoffs while the loser's season would come to a close, and thankfully the Steelers came out on top. Things did not start pretty as the Steelers struggled to show signs of life on offense, but the group figured things out in the second half and played well enough to win the game. The defense also stepped up for Pittsburgh as the Steelers outplayed the Ravens as the game went on.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers turned back the clock in the second half on Sunday and he put together some great touchdown drives. He was a big reason the Steelers were able to win this game. Another was the timely runs from Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. Warren was used more out of the backfield, while Gainwell continued to build his resume as a receiving back, but both players were impactful in the win. Warren was running with some power during the primetime showdown, and Pittsburgh's center Zach Frazier spoke with the media after the game about how he saw defenders for Baltimore being scared to try to bring him down.

"They did not want to tackle him," Frazier said. "He's a tough runner, and so is Kenny [Gainwell]. You love seeing them break tackles. As an offensive lineman, it fires you up."

Warren's stat line on the night isn't anything eye-popping, but he produced some big runs in the second half that were extremely timely. He finished the game with 14 carries for 66 yards, and his longest run of the night went for 15 yards. However, he had a couple of those in the second half of the contest that were game-changing. He embraces the physicality of this rivalry, and that is seen by the way he carries the football and searches for contact.

The duo of Warren and Gainwell has been huge for the Steelers during the 2025 season. Warren has been great on the ground while Gainwell has also chipped in, but Gainwell has also been one of the team's top receivers throughout the entire season. On Sunday night, he scored a touchdown on the ground and hauled in eight passes for 64 yards. That is rare from a running back, but it is something the Steelers count on, and Rodgers clearly trusts the running back coming out of the backfield.

Both Warren and Gainwell have been very physical throughout the year, and the Ravens got to experience that on Sunday night. The two backs are bruising and they often seek out contact. If either player has the chance to run out of bounds and time is not an issue, it is more than likely that they will stay in bounds and lower their shoulder. That is especially true when going up against Baltimore.

Steelers Must Retain Electrifying Running Back Duo

Neither Warren nor Gainwell is going to be at the top of the rushing leaderboards, but both players provide something that the offense can't live without in Pittsburgh. They are two efficient, unselfish players that love to see the other succeed. They each finished the year with at least 1,000 yards from scrimmage and they each scored eight touchdowns. That is great production from a backfield duo, and if Pittsburgh has any chance of going on a run during the postseason, it is because of each of its running backs.

Warren is under contract, but Gainwell is scheduled to be a free agent during the 2026 offseason. It is very important that the Steelers find a way to agree to a new deal with the running back before free agency opens up. The organization should not let him leave the building, especially not after winning Team MVP in 2025.

What do you think of Frazier's comments on Warren's impact against the Ravens? Let us know in the comments below!

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