The AFC North is always a battleground, and this Sunday, it’s set to be a full-on slugfest as the Baltimore Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers with the division lead hanging in the balance. Both teams have hit some bumps lately, and with the Wild Card race tightening across the AFC, this matchup could end up deciding more than just bragging rights-it could crown the division champ.
For the Ravens, this season has been a rollercoaster, and a lot of that ride has revolved around Lamar Jackson. The former MVP has had a tough stretch since returning from a midseason hamstring injury, and the criticism has followed. But Jackson isn’t letting the outside noise shake him.
“It’s just noise. Most of us NFL players are built off noise,” Jackson said earlier this week, adding that he uses the criticism as fuel.
That mindset might be exactly what Baltimore needs right now. Jackson missed three games after tweaking his hamstring back in Week 4 against the Chiefs.
In that span, the Ravens dropped both games started by Cooper Rush, though Tyler Huntley managed to spark a five-game win streak with a win in his lone start. That streak carried through Thanksgiving-but since then, things have cooled off.
Jackson’s return started strong. He lit up the Dolphins with four touchdown passes on Thursday Night Football, a vintage Lamar performance that reminded everyone of what he’s capable of.
But since then, the offense has sputtered. He managed just 176 passing yards and a single touchdown in a win over the Vikings, and now he’s gone three straight games without a touchdown-the longest drought of his career.
This hasn’t been the MVP-level season Ravens fans hoped for, and the numbers back that up. Baltimore sits in the playoff hunt more because of the Steelers’ recent collapse than their own dominance.
They’ve taken advantage of a soft spot in the schedule, picking up wins over the Browns and Jets to get to 6-5. But when Joe Burrow and the Bengals came to town on Thanksgiving, the Ravens got overwhelmed.
The good news for Baltimore? They’re finally healthy.
After battling injuries early in the year, they now have their full offensive arsenal available. Zay Flowers is emerging as a legitimate threat on the outside, Derrick Henry brings power to the backfield, and Mark Andrews remains one of the league’s most reliable tight ends.
On paper, that should mean more open looks for Jackson. But the dynamic running threat that makes him so dangerous hasn’t quite been there this year.
Part of that may be the lingering effects of injury. This marks the fourth straight week Jackson has missed at least one practice due to a lower-body issue.
This week, it was a toe injury that kept him out of Thursday’s session. Both Jackson and head coach John Harbaugh have tried to downplay the severity, but if you’ve been watching the games, it’s clear he’s not moving with the same burst.
Still, this is the kind of moment where stars can flip the narrative. If Jackson can lead the Ravens to a season sweep over the Steelers, Baltimore would be in the driver’s seat for the AFC North title.
For all the frustration and inconsistency this season, a strong December could erase a lot of that. The stage is set.
Now it’s up to Lamar to deliver.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. In a rivalry that never disappoints, this one might just decide who’s playing at home in January-and who’s watching from the couch.