The Baltimore Ravens are gearing up for one of their biggest games of the season: a showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers that could determine the AFC North title.
But for Lamar Jackson, it’s not about the opponent. It’s about fixing the issues that have plagued Baltimore in recent matchups against their division rivals.
Speaking to the media this week, Jackson was asked about his 1-4 career record as a starter against Pittsburgh and the Ravens’ frustrating 1-8 stretch in the rivalry. His response? Simple and direct: “Losing, in general, bothers me – not the team we play, really. [We’ve] just got to find a way to get a ‘dub.’”
Lamar Jackson on his 1-4 record against the Steelers: Losing in general bothers him, not the team. pic.twitter.com/vdzOS8eRBL
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) December 17, 2024
That’s been easier said than done against a Steelers team that’s repeatedly found ways to frustrate the Ravens, including in their Week 11 matchup. Despite not scoring a touchdown, Pittsburgh walked away with an 18-16 win, thanks to Baltimore’s self-inflicted mistakes.
Jackson knows the Ravens can’t afford to repeat that performance with so much at stake.
Lamar Jackson puts winning above everything else
Jackson didn’t shy away from what went wrong in Week 11: "We did move the ball; we just weren’t finishing drives. And penalties, turnovers – stuff like that – we’ve got to clean up. We’ve got to find a way to just put points on the board,” Jackson said.
The Ravens committed 12 penalties for 80 yards and turned the ball over three times in that loss, gifting Pittsburgh extra opportunities in a game they couldn’t afford to squander.
This week, the focus in Baltimore has been on playing disciplined, mistake-free football—something that’s been a talking point all season. Against a Steelers team coached by Mike Tomlin, known for grinding out close games, the Ravens know they’ll need to be sharp in every phase. “Tomlin wants to just keep the game close and then win it at the end, and honestly, that strategy works pretty well when they play us,” cornerback Marlon Humphrey said.
The Ravens enter this matchup with momentum, fresh off Jackson’s five-touchdown explosion against the New York Giants. But past performances won’t matter if Baltimore can’t shake its recent struggles against Pittsburgh. For Jackson, it’s all about execution. He acknowledged the Steelers’ knack for switching up personnel and creating challenges, but his focus is on taking advantage of opportunities when they come.
“From a personnel standpoint, the Steelers like to switch it up a little bit, here and there,” Jackson said. “I really didn’t go back to the [Week 11] game and watch it a lot. Obviously, after the game, I watched it and saw things on film I didn’t like, [and] some things, I did like.”
With the AFC North title still within reach, the Ravens know what’s at stake. For Jackson, Saturday’s game isn’t about the past—it’s about finally flipping the script.