Mike Tomlin just made history - and he did it by outdueling a familiar foe.
With the Steelers’ 27-22 road win over the Ravens, Tomlin notched his 22nd career victory against John Harbaugh, the most head-to-head wins one NFL head coach has ever recorded over another in the Super Bowl era. That’s not just a footnote - it’s a testament to one of the league’s most enduring and hard-fought coaching rivalries.
These two have been squaring off since 2008, and Sunday marked the 39th chapter in their ongoing chess match. Only George Halas and Curly Lambeau, two icons from football’s earliest days, have met more times on opposite sidelines. That puts Tomlin and Harbaugh in truly rare company - and this latest win tilts the scale to 22-17 in Tomlin’s favor.
But this wasn’t just about history. The win broke a first-place tie in the AFC North and may end up being a turning point in a division that’s been a dogfight all season. Instead of slipping below .500 with a third straight loss, Pittsburgh now sits a game ahead of Baltimore with four weeks to go.
And they earned it the hard way.
Baltimore actually outrushed Pittsburgh by 183 yards, but the Steelers made the plays that mattered. They kept Lamar Jackson in check - no easy task against the two-time MVP.
Jackson threw for 219 yards, a touchdown, and an interception on 35 attempts. While those numbers aren’t disastrous, they’re far from the kind of dominant outing we’ve seen from him against other teams.
Credit the Steelers’ defense for continuing to be one of the few units that seems to have a blueprint for slowing him down.
On the offensive side, Aaron Rodgers put together a composed, efficient performance when Pittsburgh needed it most. His 103.1 passer rating doesn’t just look good on paper - it reflects the kind of poise and clutch execution that helped seal the deal in a tight divisional game.
This was the kind of win that does more than just shift the standings - it reinforces the Steelers’ identity. Tomlin’s squad is built on resilience, and this game was a perfect example of that. They didn’t dominate the stat sheet, but they won the moments that mattered.
Looking ahead, Pittsburgh’s path to the postseason is anything but smooth. December brings matchups against the Dolphins, Lions, and Browns - three teams with real playoff aspirations and plenty of firepower. But if the Steelers can navigate that gauntlet, they’ll head into Week 18 with a shot to close the regular season against Baltimore in what could be a winner-take-all AFC North showdown.
And if that happens, Tomlin will have a chance to add win No. 23 against Harbaugh - and possibly lock up another division crown in the process.