Pittsburgh Steelers 14-28 Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson stars as Ravens make dominant start to 2025 NFL playoffs

Lamar Jackson threw for two touchdowns in a flawless first half, while Derrick Henry scored twice, as the Baltimore Ravens beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-14 on Saturday night to advance into the Divisional round of the NFL Playoffs.

The Ravens all-but secured the win against their AFC North rivals by racing into a 21-0 halftime lead before comfortably holding on as the Steelers attempted to fight back.

Baltimore had a 19-2 advantage in first downs in the first half, when they produced touchdown drives of 95, 85 and 90 yards,

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Henry ran for 186 yards, and Baltimore outrushed the Steelers 299-29. It was the most yards rushing allowed by Pittsburgh in a playoff game, breaking the mark of 232 set by the Oakland Raiders 51 years ago.

Jackson, the two-time MVP still seeking a postseason breakthrough, made it clear from the start he was going to make Pittsburgh (10-8) defend his arm and his legs. He kept the chains moving, and the Ravens (13-5) were happy to advance the ball methodically against a Steelers team that has relied heavily this season on forcing turnovers.

Pittsburgh's season ends with five straight losses, two of which came in Baltimore. The ending was a familiar story for the Steelers, who have lost six consecutive playoff games. The last three times they've been in the post-season, they've fallen on the road in games that have exemplified the gap between Pittsburgh and the conference's true contenders.

Stats leaders

Pittsburgh Steelers

• Passing: Russell Wilson, 20/29, 270 yards, 2 TDs
• Rushing: Najee Harris, 6 carries, 17 yards
• Receiving: George Pickens, 5 catches, 87 yards, 1 TD

Baltimore Ravens

• Passing: Lamar Jackson, 16/21, 175 yards, 2 TDs
• Rushing: Derrick Henry, 26 carries, 186 yards, 2 TDs
• Receiving: Isaiah Likely, 3 catches, 53 yards

The Steelers had made a habit recently of winning tight games against the Ravens, capitalising on Baltimore's mistakes, but the Ravens successfully avoided that problem Saturday, taking few major risks.

They did get creative on the first drive, lining Henry up for a direct snap from center while Jackson came across and faked a sweep. Henry kept the ball for a 34-yard gain. Jackson capped the possession with a 15-yard scoring strike to Rashod Bateman, who was Baltimore's top healthy receiver with Zay Flowers (knee) unavailable.

Henry made it 14-0 with an 8-yard run with 4:09 left in the half. After a Pittsburgh punt, the Steelers called timeout on third-and-2 from the Baltimore 18, hoping to get the ball back, but the Ravens converted and then quickly moved into position to score.

On second down from the Pittsburgh 5 with 11 seconds left, Jackson nearly used up the remaining time scrambling around, but he eventually dumped the ball off to an open Justice Hill, who went into the end zone with 2 seconds left.

The Steelers drove 98 yards for a touchdown on their first second-half possession, with Russell Wilson throwing a 30-yard scoring pass to Van Jefferson. Baltimore quickly answered when Henry broke free up the middle for a 44-yard TD -

Pittsburgh defenders were caught out of position because Jackson faked a run to the left after handing the ball off.
Wilson answered with a 36-yard touchdown strike to George Pickens in the third, but that was it for the scoring. Wilson went 20 of 29 for 270 yards on a night when neither team turned the ball over.

Jackson, Henry catch the eye in impressive win - the post-game reaction

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh:

"Derrick Henry was running hard, physical. Lamar started it off. Lamar carried the ball at different times in the first drive or two.

"They understood how to win a football game like this. "It's one thing to know it, it's another thing to execute it and do it, and they did it."

Sky Sports NFL's Jason Bell:

"They started off like a boxing match. You're thinking you are going to go for the head and it was all body shots! It was serious body blows and it was over and over and it was repeatedly. The next thing you know you're taking the knee thinking 'what just happened?'

"They went out, they were dominant, they pushed around the defensive line and when they had the pace, they made it happen.

"Of course you've got Lamar Jackson, he's been one of the most accurate passers in the league this season, and Derrick Henry is showing you exactly who he is - a physical dominant runner that has long speed. So when he gets in the open field, good luck."

Sky Sports NFL's Phoebe Schecter:

"Whether up the middle, outside, toss plays, the second that [Henry] gets going he is the most dangerous because of his speed, his physicality and, ultimately, his will and desire to get into the end zone. He just chips away at you all night long."

What next?

The Ravens will now advance to the Divisional round of the playoffs next weekend, where their most likely opponents are the Buffalo Bills if the seedings hold through Wild Card weekend.

Wild Card weekend continues on Sunday evening when the Bills host the Denver Broncos from 6pm, followed by the Green Bay Packers against the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Monday night then sees Sam Darnold's Minnesota Vikings take on the Los Angeles Rams, with kick-off at 1am GMT in the early hours of Tuesday, live on Sky Sports.

(c) Sky Sports 2025: Pittsburgh Steelers 14-28 Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson stars as Ravens make dominant start to 2025 NFL playoffs