Steelers Gain Massive AFC North Cushion As Ravens' Historic Collapse Hits A New Low

The Pittsburgh Steelers spent Thursday night on their bye week, and they still came out of it in a better spot than when it started. The Baltimore Ravens were blown out 33-10 by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday Night Football at M&T Bank Stadium, and the numbers behind the loss are some of the worst in franchise history.

Baltimore has now lost four straight games and fallen to 4-5, last place in the AFC North. It was the Ravens' third straight loss by 20 or more points, which had never happened before in the franchise's 31-year history, according to ESPN. They have also been held under 14 points in four straight games, another first for the team.

Undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano made his first career start with two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and backup Tyler Huntley both hurt. Playing on a heavily wrapped ankle, Fagnano completed 10 of 18 passes for 60 yards with two interceptions. Baltimore's longest completion of the night went for 14 yards.

The Ravens also kept beating themselves before the snap. They were flagged for four more false starts, giving them 24 on the season, the most in the NFL. Two of them came back-to-back from left tackle Ronnie Stanley and tight end Mark Andrews, turning a second-and-5 into a second-and-15.

"The pre-snap penalties are unacceptable," Head Coach Jesse Minter said via the team's website.

The home crowd let the Ravens hear it, especially after a third-quarter turnover on downs while trailing 20-3. Andrews did not argue with the fans.

"They have every right to boo or do whatever they want to do," Andrews said after the game, per Pro Football Network. "Obviously, us in here, we have to stay together, be on one accord and just keep on relying on each other."

There was one small bright spot for Baltimore. Derrick Henry ran for 57 yards on 17 carries and passed Steelers legend Jerome Bettis and LaDainian Tomlinson for seventh place on the NFL's all-time rushing list.

Steelers Now Hold The Upper Hand In The AFC North

The loss changes the look of the division in a big way. Pittsburgh sits at 6-2 and leads the AFC North, with the Cincinnati Bengals at 5-2, the Cleveland Browns at 5-3 and Baltimore now 2.5 games behind the Steelers.

For years, the road to an AFC North title has gone through Baltimore. This season, it is looking like a race between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, with Cleveland hanging around. The Steelers have already beaten the Bengals once, winning 30-27 in Week 3, and they visit Cincinnati on Sunday Night Football on Nov. 15 coming out of the bye.

Head Coach Mike McCarthy and his team have won four straight games since losing in Cleveland on Oct. 1. Baltimore is headed the other direction, and help is not coming quickly. Jackson was placed on injured reserve with a right thumb injury on Thursday and will miss at least the next three games. Huntley is dealing with turf toe, and safety Kyle Hamilton left Thursday's game in the third quarter with a hip injury.

That is why the Ravens are expected to finalize a trade for Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett this weekend. SteelerNation reported earlier this week that Baltimore was looking for a veteran to steady the position, and Brissett would likely start against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football on Nov. 16.

Brissett would give the Ravens a veteran who protects the ball, but it is hard to see one quarterback fixing everything that went wrong on Thursday. The offense could not push the ball downfield, the line could not stay onside and the defense allowed 33 points.

None of this means the Steelers can look past Baltimore. The two teams have not played yet, and they meet twice in the final three weeks of the season: Sunday, Dec. 20, at Acrisure Stadium, and again in Baltimore in Week 18. By then, Jackson could be back.

For now, though, the Steelers enjoy their week off in first place, while their biggest rival is trying to figure out how to stop the bleeding.

This story was produced with the help of AI and reviewed by SteelerNation editors.

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