At a Glance
- Steelers edge Ravens 26-24 in Sunday Night Football.
- Aaron Rodgers leads late touchdown drive; Chris Boswell misses two-point conversion.
- Rookie Tyler Loop fails 44-yard field goal, ending playoff hopes.
- Why it matters: The win keeps Pittsburgh alive and sets up a wild-card clash with Houston Texans.
The 2025-26 NFL regular season wrapped up on Sunday Night Football with a 26-24 victory for the Pittsburgh Steelers over the Baltimore Ravens, a game that delivered drama from the opening kickoff to the final seconds.
Game Summary
A late touchdown drive from the Steelers, orchestrated by Aaron Rodgers, answered a Lamar Jackson-Zay Flowers connection that had given the Ravens the lead. The subsequent two-point conversion attempt by Chris Boswell fell short, a miss that kept the score tight.
After the kickoff, Keaton Mitchell returned the ball 41 yards, setting the Steelers up for a promising drive that culminated in an unlikely Isaiah Likely catch on Jalen Ramsey during a 4th-and-7. The play, however, did not produce a field-goal opportunity.
- Late touchdown drive by Rodgers
- Boswell’s missed two-point conversion
- Mitchell’s 41-yard kickoff return
- Likely’s improbable catch
Rookie Kicker Risk
Tyler Loop, the fifth-round pick who replaced Justin Tucker, missed a 44-yard attempt that would have sealed the win. Loop has missed all three kicks beyond 50 yards this season, raising questions about rookie pressure in playoff-hopeful teams.
Boswell’s Redemption
Boswell, who had an 89-straight extra-point streak, shanked an extra point in a critical moment. The miss nearly cost Pittsburgh, but the subsequent kickoff return by Mitchell gave the Steelers a chance to recover.
Superstitions
Before the game, a priest blessed the field with holy water. Loop’s miss came from the same side of the end zone that the priest sprayed, a coincidence noted by fans.
Next Steps
With the win, the Steelers advance to host the No. 5 Houston Texans in a wild-card matchup on Monday, Jan. 12, while Aaron Rodgers re-enters the NFL playoffs.
Key Takeaways
- Steelers win 26-24, keeping playoff hopes alive.
- Rodgers’ late drive and Boswell’s miss shaped the outcome.
- Loop’s failure highlights rookie kicker risk.
The Steelers’ victory sets the stage for a high-stakes wild-card game against the Texans, while Rodgers’ playoff return adds another chapter to the season’s drama.
