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The final game of the 2025 NFL regular season might be the best, and it came down to the final seconds.
Twenty-seven points were scored in the fourth quarter instead of 30, as Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop missed what would have been a go-ahead field goal to send the Ravens to the playoffs.
Instead, the AFC North title went to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who had their fair share of spectacular fourth-quarter efforts, while the Ravens’ season ended in heartbreak.
Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop (33) reacts after missing the game-winning field goal against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second half at Acrisure Stadium. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
It’s no secret that the face of the Ravens, Lamar Jackson, hasn’t been himself this entire season, but he had his best game of the campaign — and possibly his career — midway through the fourth quarter. On third-and-4 from midfield and trailing by three, Jackson dodged a sack and let one fly to Zay Flowers, who took it in for a long touchdown to give the Ravens a 17-13 lead. The Steelers didn’t sweat it, though, as they responded with an eight-play drive that ended with a Kenneth Gainwell touchdown to take a 20-17 lead with 3:49 left. But apparently, Jackson saved his best for last, finding Flowers again, this time 64 yards to go up 24-20 with 2:20 left.
The Steelers quickly drove down the middle of the field, and on third-and-10, Aaron Rodgers found Calvin Austin wide open for a score with 55 seconds left. However, Chris Boswell missed the extra point, and it was just a two point lead. The Ravens took the kickoff to their own 47-yard line and had three timeouts – a good opportunity.
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Jackson completed his first pass, but after two illegal formations and two incompletions, he faced a fourth-and-7. Jackson made a prayer, and Isaiah probably pointed it up for an unbelievable catch. Jackson took a knee to set up a field goal drive between the hashes with two seconds left, but it was to no avail, as the Steelers were celebrating a wide right kick.
Aaron Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium on Jan. 4, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
The scoring started from an unlikely source, as Lamar Jackson found Devontez Walker for a 38-yard touchdown to take the early lead. Both teams then traded possessions before the Steelers turned the ball over on downs, and the Ravens took advantage by kicking a field goal to go up 10-0 early in the second quarter. Pittsburgh responded with a field goal of its own on its first score.
In the final minutes of the first half, the Steelers benefited from a defensive penalty that put them at the 2-yard line with two seconds left. They opted to go for a touchdown instead of a field goal, but the decision backfired, as Kenneth Gainwell was focused as the clock struck zero.
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Happily for them, the Steelers got the ball to start the second half, and they didn’t let their opening drive go to waste, finding the end zone to tie the game at 10. Then, in his first game back from a broken lung, TJ Watt caught a pass on the line for an interception. Pittsburgh then added a field goal for its first lead of the game.
Connor Heyward (83) of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates a touchdown with Pat Freiermuth (88) in the third quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium on Jan. 4, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
The Steelers, with 42-year-old Rodgers and head coach Mike Tomlin who fans were ready to let go of, finished the season 10-7 and will host the Houston Texans on Monday night in the wild-card round.
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