PITTSBURGH – The crowd inside Acrisure Stadium was silent as the final interception fell into Baltimore’s hands. The scoreboard read Ravens 44, Steelers 37. The overtime clock hit zero. Just like that, the season was over.
A win-and-in scenario had turned into heartbreak. The Steelers’ playoff hopes, alive and well just days ago, vanished in a matter of moments. After fighting their way back from a 1-2 start under Coach DK LaFleur, Pittsburgh finished 9-8, missing the postseason by a single game.
A Season That Slipped Away
It was not supposed to end like this. The Steelers had clawed their way through adversity, risen from the depths of the standings, and positioned themselves for a playoff berth despite the odds. But three straight losses to close the season, each more painful than the last, proved to be their undoing.
Coach LaFleur’s message after the game was clear. “We’ve made a lot of progress, but this isn’t good enough,” he said. “We had every opportunity to finish, and we didn’t. That’s on all of us, starting with me. It’s disappointing, but I promise you this, it won’t happen again while I’m here.”
Those words hung heavy in the air. Pittsburgh had transformed into a disciplined, dangerous team under LaFleur, but their late-season slide will serve as a lesson about execution, composure, and closing.
A Battle to the End
Sunday’s showdown with the Ravens had everything. Momentum swings, explosive plays, emotional highs, and crushing lows. It was football in it’s rawest form, with two bitter rivals leaving everything on the field with their seasons on the line.
Quarterback Desmond Ridder played one of the best games of his career, throwing for a staggering 470 yards and four touchdowns. He was efficient, confident, and nearly flawless for most of the afternoon. But the two mistakes he did make, an interception in the first half that led to a Baltimore touchdown and another in overtime that sealed the loss were the difference.
“You can’t turn it over in moments like that,” Ridder said afterward. “I played my heart out, but that doesn’t matter when we come up short. I take full responsibility.”
Despite the loss, Ridder’s growth since joining Pittsburgh midseason has been undeniable. His leadership and command of the offense have set the tone for what this team could become in the years to come.
A Costly Choice
If there was one moment that summed up the agony of the night, it came with under a minute left in regulation. Tight end Jonnu Smith, who had been unstoppable all game, caught a pass and broke free down the sideline. The end zone was in sight. Pittsburgh could have taken the lead with less than a minute to go. Instead, Smith slid down at the 8-yard line to keep the clock running in an effort to score with less than 30 seconds left.
It was the kind of situational awareness that PML coaches dream about, except this time, it backfired.
On third and goal, Smith was wide open again, but the throw was just behind him and deflected. The Steelers settled for a short field goal to tie it at 37 and head into overtime.
“We were trying to play it smart,” LaFleur said. “We wanted to control the clock. In hindsight, you want that touchdown. Jonnu was trying to make the right play, and I respect that. We just didn’t finish the drive.”
The irony was cruel. Smith finished with 10 catches for 167 yards and a touchdown, one of the best performances of his career, but it was the play he didn’t finish that everyone will remember.
Offensive Fireworks, Defensive Struggles
While the offense moved the ball with ease, the defense had its hands full from the opening kickoff. Baltimore’s passing attack found success throughout the game, exploiting holes in coverage and extending drives with precision and Lamar’s legs.
Rookie edge rusher Nick Herbig recorded one sack and brought relentless pressure, but it wasn’t enough to contain the Ravens’ rhythm. Pittsburgh’s defense gave up several big plays in key moments and simply could not get the stop they needed most.
“We’ve got to close,” said linebacker Patrick Queen after the game. “We’ve had games this year where we were dominant, and then we’ve had others where one or two plays break everything open. That’s something we’ve got to fix.”
The Steelers’ inability to get off the field on third down was particularly costly, as Baltimore converted multiple situations.
A Look Ahead
Despite the loss, there are reasons for optimism in Pittsburgh. LaFleur’s leadership has already reshaped the culture inside the locker room. What began as a team searching for identity has become one that believes in discipline, physicality, and accountability.
“I’m proud of how far we’ve come, but this isn’t where we want to be,” LaFleur said. “We’re going to use this offseason to grow, to build, and to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
LaFleur’s first full offseason as head coach will allow him to implement his scheme entirely, tailor the roster to his vision, and prepare his players for a full season under his leadership. From refining Desmond Ridder’s decision-making to reinforcing the offensive line and adding defensive depth, this offseason will be critical in turning the Steelers from a good team into a great one.
“This hurts,” LaFleur admitted. “But you learn from pain. You take that feeling into the weight room, into film study, into every practice next year. You don’t forget it.”
The Foundation Remains Strong
The Steelers’ 2025 season will be remembered for what could have been, but it will also be remembered as the year the foundation was laid. Nate Carter’s emergence as a dual-threat weapon, Jonnu Smith’s resurgence, and Ridder’s development all point to a promising future.
For now, though, the wound is fresh. The locker room is quiet. And while the season ends one step shy of the postseason, there’s a clear belief inside the building that this is just the beginning of something special.
As LaFleur walked off the field, he offered one final thought to reporters waiting near the tunnel.
“It’s still a disappointment,” he said. “We were right there. But I’ll tell you this, it won’t happen again. Not under my watch.”
– Forged In Steel Times
