PITTSBURGH – The schedule doesn’t lie. Some games are bigger than others, not because of records or headlines, but because of what they represent. For DK LaFleur and the Pittsburgh Steelers, this week’s matchup against the Baltimore Ravens isn’t just another divisional game. It’s personal.
The last time these two AFC North rivals met, the Ravens handed the Steelers a crushing Week 18 loss that eliminated them from playoff contention. Pittsburgh went into that game knowing a win meant a postseason berth. Instead, they left Baltimore stunned, outmatched, and heartbroken. It’s the kind of loss that lingers through the offseason, into training camp, and straight into the rematch that’s now just days away.
However, this Ravens team, at least on paper, looks very different from the one that ended Pittsburgh’s season.
A New Era in Baltimore
Gone are many of the household names that defined Baltimore’s identity over the last several years. Roquan Smith, the captain and centerpiece of their defense, is gone. Jaire Alexander and Marlon Humphrey, once the backbone of their secondary, are also gone. On offense, superstar tight end Mark Andrews has moved on, and longtime left tackle Ronnie Stanley was let go in what insiders described as a “hard but necessary cap decision.”
It’s a purge that shocked much of the PML community, but one that Ravens management insists was strategic, a move to get younger, cheaper, and more flexible for the future.
What remains, however, is the heart of the franchise: Lamar Jackson.
Still one of the league’s most dynamic quarterbacks, Lamar remains the engine of Baltimore’s offense. His dual-threat ability to extend plays, attack vertically, or break a defense with his legs continues to make the Ravens dangerous, even as the roster around him undergoes major transformation.
“Anytime you’ve got Lamar on the field, you’ve got a chance,” DK LaFleur said in his midweek press conference. “You can take away pieces, change personnel, shift philosophies. it doesn’t matter. He’s that special. If we don’t contain him, nothing else matters.”
The State of the Rivalry
Few rivalries in the league carry the intensity, history, and mutual respect that the Steelers and Ravens share. Every meeting feels like a playoff game. Every hit, every tackle, every snap carries weight. The records rarely matter, and both teams know it.
Last season, Pittsburgh managed to split the series 1–1. They took the first matchup behind a balanced offensive performance and a standout game from their defensive front, which managed to sack Jackson five times. But in the season finale, with everything on the line, it was Baltimore who stood taller. Lamar made enough plays down the stretch, while the Steelers’ offense sputtered in key moments.
That Week 18 defeat still stings inside the facility.
“You don’t forget something like that,” edge rusher T.J. Watt said this week. “They kept us out of the playoffs. That doesn’t leave your mind. This game’s about respect, and we owe them one.”
Opportunity Meets Urgency
At 1-2, the Steelers enter this matchup still searching for consistency. The offense has shown flashes of dominance, particularly in the Week 2 win over New Orleans, but turnovers and slow starts have plagued them in both losses. LaFleur has emphasized execution all week, stressing the importance of finishing drives and eliminating unforced mistakes.
For Desmond Ridder, who threw for 386 yards and 4 touchdowns against Jacksonville despite two early interceptions, this is a test of rhythm and control. The Ravens defense, while missing its star veterans, remains aggressive and unpredictable. Their youth movement has infused fresh legs into the lineup, and Ridder will need to stay disciplined in his reads to avoid giving them confidence.
Meanwhile, the Steelers’ run game, led by Nate Carter, could be in position to break out. Baltimore’s revamped front seven lacks Roquan Smith’s sideline-to-sideline range, which may open up opportunities for Carter to establish balance early. Through three games, Carter has been steady but not explosive, averaging 4.6 yards per carry and nearly 90 scrimmage yards per game. A dominant outing here could be the spark he and the offense have been waiting for.
“We’ve been right there,” LaFleur said. “One block, one throw, one cut away from breaking something big. I believe this is the week it happens.”
Containing Lamar
Defensively, the Steelers’ priority is clear: contain Lamar Jackson. That means closing interior running lanes, maintaining edge discipline, and tackling with precision, something that’s easier said than done.
Baltimore may be thinner on talent, but their scheme still revolves around chaos and misdirection. Lamar’s connection with receiver Zay Flowers continues to evolve into one of the division’s most exciting young duos.
Expect Patrick Queen, facing his former team to play with extra emotion. Queen has been a force through three weeks, filling up the stat sheet with tackles, turnovers, and backfield stops. His familiarity with Lamar’s tendencies could give the Steelers a strategic edge in limiting Baltimore’s option packages.
“You can’t stop Lamar, you can only hope to slow him down,” Queen said Thursday. “He’s going to make plays, but if we can make him uncomfortable early, get some hits on him, and force long third downs, we’ll be in good shape.”
The Revenge Factor
For LaFleur, this game is about more than standings. It’s about redemption. After the noise of last week, the media questioning his coaching ceiling, the national debates about his leadership, this is his chance to make a statement.
He doesn’t need a blowout. He needs a clean, disciplined, complete performance. One that silences the outside chatter and reminds the league that the Steelers remain very much in the fight.
And for his players, it’s about fight. About reclaiming control of a rivalry that has long defined the AFC North.
“Everything we want is still in front of us,” LaFleur said. “To get there, we’ve got to handle the division first. That starts Sunday.”
The Ravens may look different this year, but make no mistake, this is still Baltimore, still Lamar, and still one of the most physical rivalries in football.
Only one team will walk off that field feeling like they took a step toward the postseason. For the Steelers, this isn’t just another game. It’s payback.
– Forged In Steel Times
