The Baltimore Ravens have everything on the line in Week 18. They’ve somehow built their disappointing 2025 campaign into one with realistic playoff chances. Their clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers is win-or-go-home, with the winner clinching a playoff berth in the last game of the regular season.
Thankfully, the Ravens will be close to full strength come game time. Sure, they will be without wide receiver Rashod Bateman and defensive tackle Taven Bryan, but their stars are set to play. That includes quarterback Lamar Jackson, who confirmed his return on Thursday and is reportedly as healthy as he’s been since Week 4.
With all the marbles on the table, Baltimore needs everyone to play their roles to help claim the final playoff spot. These five players in particular, though, play a pivotal role in carving that path to the postseason.
5 Ravens who must show out in Week 18
Derrick Henry
Let’s start with the obvious one. While Jackson is returning, his back injury remains something to monitor. When it comes to January football, rushing attacks dominate. Running back Derrick Henry needs to lead the way on Sunday.
After rushing for 216 yards and four touchdowns on 36 carries last week, the Ravens need to lean on Henry again. It’s The King’s birthday, too, and he tends to celebrate that day with a heck of an outing.
Derrick Henry has another birthday opportunity this Sunday. 🎉 pic.twitter.com/2zVXlcCSNM
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) January 1, 2026
In this one, Baltimore needs to focus on winning the time of possession and dominating in the red zone. That should be done through Henry, as the now-32-year-old can also help put the passing game in manageable situations.
Daniel Faalele
It’s time for right guard Daniel Faalele to step up. He’s been the most polarizing starter this season and has failed to create rushing lanes and protect Jackson on passing downs. With Jackson coming off a back injury, that needs to change.
Faalele lines up across a talented Pittsburgh defensive line with the likes of T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, Nick Herbig, and Alex Highsmith. That’s a lot of starpower. They’re going to attack Faalele all night long, and the former fourth-round pick needs to come prepared.
He doesn’t need to be perfect, but he needs to do his part in keeping Jackson upright, while leading the way alongside center Tyler Linderbaum for chunk plays on the ground. As long as he looks alive and keeps himself off the grass, things should head in the right direction.
Tavius Robinson
The defensive line needs to step up, and if there’s one guy that can change the game in all facets, it’s outside linebacker Tavius Robinson. He can set the edge, stop the run, and get after the quarterback. He’s truly a do-it-all defensive lineman, and he needs to showcase that in Pittsburgh.
Robinson can help make the opposing offense stagnant and hopefully keep the momentum swinging in the Ravens’ favor. He’ll be asked to limit Jaylen Warren's and Kenneth Gainwell’s production, while keeping Aaron Rodgers uncomfortable in the pocket.
All year, Baltimore’s pass rush has been pitiful. As a result, the secondary has given up way too many big plays. If Robinson can get going, those problems could be hidden.
Nate Wiggins
Even if cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who has been dealing with an illness, plays, cornerback Nate Wiggins needs to take over and prove himself as a number-one corner. He is coming off possibly the worst outing of his career against the Green Bay Packers. Everyone’s talking about it, and Week 18 will be his chance to put those talks to bed.
The Steelers are without DK Metcalf, and it was clear last week that without him, their offense struggles, especially vertically. Calvin Austin III will return, but if Wiggins can help shut him down, Pittsburgh’s offense could quickly become one-dimensional.
Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr needs to let Wiggins loose. All year, he has been playing a ton of off coverage, but he needs to start playing closer to the line of scrimmage consistently. Wiggins needs to prove he can handle it by improving his physicality and tackling, but if he is allowed to play a more aggressive brand of football, a turnover or two could be coming. That would change everything.
Tyler Loop
In a rivalry matchup like the one between the Ravens and Steelers, special teams can become an afterthought. It's historically known for bruising defenses. However, in AFC North brawls, you need every point you can come by. That means relying on your kickers to put points on the board.
Rookie kicker Tyler Loop has hit 29-of-32 attempts this year. He has been reliable, but can’t seem to conquer his woes from distance. All three of his misses are from 50-plus, and he has made just one kick from that range. This one could be a tight contest until the very end, and Baltimore may need Loop in some clutch situations to keep the pressure on Pittsburgh.
The defense has also struggled in recent weeks, and Loop’s ability on kickoffs could also come into play. He’s had issues with the landing zone, but if he can shake those problems and help put the opposing offense behind schedule, that would be huge.