The Baltimore Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16 and this is a massive game between the two rivals. Not only would a win then give the Ravens the same record as the Steelers and help propel them to their second straight AFC North title but it'd give them their first win over Pittsburgh since December 2022.
The Ravens have lost their last four games against the Steelers and that's led to Good Morning Football co-host Kyle Brandt proclaiming that the rivalry isn't much of a rivalry anymore.
"This great rivalry, this rivalry right now, it's not a rivalry. It is not. A rival is not history. It is not playing twice a year. It is back-and-forth, you win, I win, you win, I win. I challenge you to tell me this is a great rivalry right now without using the names Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Jerome Bettis, Hines Ward. Just talk about the current guys and you can't."
Kyle Brandt says the Ravens/Steelers rivalry isn't a rivalry anymore
The Ravens last beat the Steelers in December 2022. Since then, it's been four straight losses to Pittsburgh, all of them being one-score losses, making the situation even more frustrating.
The latest loss to the Steelers, a Week 11 field goal fest, was even more crushing considering that Justin Tucker, a normally dominant kicker, missed two field goals. That cost the Ravens dearly, as they lost this game by two points.
What Brandt said is sadly something that Ravens fans can't dispute right now. Until the Ravens can start winning games against Pittsburgh, they'll continue to be viewed as the little brother in the match-up.
Fortunately, a win this weekend puts the Ravens in a great spot moving forward. They'd have the same record as the Steelers and close out the year against the Texans and Browns while the Steelers have the Chiefs on a short week and the Bengals. Baltimore's schedule is more favorable and that hopefully pays off for them.
But, to take full advantage of that, the Ravens have to end their losing streak to the Steelers and make this a rivalry again. Otherwise, that AFC North title probably isn't going to happen for them in 2024 and they'll have to wait until next year to reignite the Ravens-Steelers rivalry.