The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2025 season took a sinuous path filled with a few sunny strolls and some dismal stumbles along the way. So too was their season finale against the Baltimore Ravens, with a double-digit deficit turned into a lead turned into a chaotic back-and-forth affair that only ended after two missed kicks sealed the Steelers' 26-24 victory, sending them to the postseason.
A hectic fourth quarter saw Aaron Rodgers twice lead the Steelers to touchdown drives, answering long Baltimore touchdown tosses. The former MVP quarterback found the answers to the Ravens riddle, punctuating the game with a 26-yard pass to Calvin Austin III for a score that put Pittsburgh up by two with 55 seconds remaining following Chris Boswell's missed PAT. The Steelers would hold on with Baltimore rookie Tyler Loop missing the potential 44-yard game-winner as time expired.
The Steelers secured the AFC North at 10-7, heading into a Wild Card Weekend matchup with the Houston Texans.
"This was the vision in the spring when we pursued him," head coach Mike Tomlin said of Rodgers, via ESPN. "That's why you do business with a 42-year-old guy, been-there, done-that guy with a résumé like his. He's not only capable; he thrives in it. I think he put that on display tonight."
Despite still missing DK Metcalf due to a suspension, Rodgers thrived, going 31-of-47 for 294 yards with a touchdown. The veteran might no longer be spry, but his accuracy remains otherworldly. His ability to hit targets in stride allowed the Steelers to gobble up 218 yards after the catch. The deep passing game remains an issue, but Rodgers hit the ones he needed, going 4-of-12 on passes of 10-plus air yards for 98 yards, including the game-winner to Austin.
"We haven't made it easy on ourselves, really all season, I guess," Rodgers said with a smirk. "But I'm proud of our guys. I'm proud of the way that we responded multiple times after they took a lead. It just takes a little belief at this point in the season."
With defensive busts allowing Lamar Jackson to heave 50- and 64-yard touchdowns in the fourth quarter, the Steelers could have shrunken and wandered into the offseason with back-to-back losses. But each time, Rodgers and the offense answered the bell.
"You see the ball in the hands of [No.] 8 there," Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt said. "it's like, [Rodgers] is here for a reason. This is why he's here. This is the best dude in the NFL for this moment. And to be able to see him deliver on a big stage like that was incredible to see."
Rodgers will be making his 12th playoff appearance as a starting QB, tied with Brett Favre and Ben Roethlisberger for the third-most in NFL history, behind only Tom Brady (20) and Peyton Manning (15). It marks Rodgers' ninth division title, tied for fourth-most behind Brady (19), Manning (12) and Otto Graham (10).
The Steelers signed Rodgers to win games like Sunday night, but getting into the postseason isn't the ultimate goal. For the first time since 2020, Pittsburgh is the AFC North champion, but with six consecutive playoff losses, a bigger hurdle lies ahead.
"We are AFC North champs," Tomlin said. "And that sounds good, and it feels good. But we didn't come here for that. We came here for what lies ahead, so excited about that."
