- 9 months ago
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00It's presented by Geico. It feels good to Geico.
00:05Game 272. What a scene.
00:08Expect fireworks all night long.
00:10Welcome to the big stage.
00:11Let's crush you guys.
00:13Play 97. Animate. Go.
00:16I've been waiting all day for Sunday night.
00:20The toes get broke in a prime time fight.
00:24More than a game if everything's right.
00:27That's why we're waiting all day for Sunday night.
00:31All right. What a night. It's finally here.
00:34Sunday night football's kicking into high gear.
00:38The stars have lost. Come on. Get up and cheer.
00:42Hey, Trap. It's a back. A show back in town.
00:45Ravens and the Steelers in the final showdown.
00:49The stadium's rocking. Time to crank up the sound.
00:52The NFL's best have come to play.
00:55Coast to coast. There's just one thing left to say.
01:02I've been waiting all day for Sunday night.
01:06The target broke in a prime time fight.
01:10More than a game if everything's right.
01:13That's why we're waiting all day for Sunday night.
01:17The first Sunday night of 2026.
01:31A cold one at the confluence of the Three Rivers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
01:49The ideal setting for the final game of the regular season at Akershurst Stadium.
01:56Home of the six-time Super Bowl champion, Pittsburgh Steelers.
02:02Is this the final game for the four-time NFL MVP, Aaron Rodgers?
02:07He faces two-time MVP, LeVar Jackson, and the Baltimore Ravens on NBC's Sunday Night Football.
02:15Good evening, everyone. Mike Tirico, Chris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark on the sideline.
02:19Game 272, last game of the regular season.
02:21One game to win the AFC North.
02:23Chris, we've got the quarterbacks.
02:25They've won six of the last 14 NFL MVPs.
02:28Let's start with Aaron Rodgers.
02:29Could be the last game of his guaranteed Hall of Fame career.
02:32But the legacy talk, let's push that off for later.
02:34Tonight, what can he do to help the Steelers win the division?
02:38Protect the ball. That's all they've been talking about.
02:40No quarterback's ever been better protecting the ball than Aaron Rodgers.
02:44But last week, Rodgers struggled, I think, without D.K. Metcalf, who's suspended again for this one tonight.
02:51But as Mike Tomlin told us, these are the games we've got Aaron Rodgers for.
02:55On the other side, it's Baltimore, trying to be the fifth team to go from 1-5 and make the playoffs.
03:00Four games without Lamar Jackson this year, including last week.
03:03But he's a go-tonight. What do you expect from him?
03:07I don't know. It's been so long since I've seen true Lamar Jackson form, right?
03:12Maybe we see it tonight.
03:14But Derrick Henry is clearly the focal point for this Steelers defense.
03:18But that should also create some huge opportunities for Lamar Jackson to make plays down the field.
03:23We'll see. Let the fireworks begin.
03:26Houston will visit the winner of this one on Wild Card Weekend.
03:30Chris mentioned Derrick Henry turns 32, looking for a birthday bash.
03:34It's the return of the Steelers' T.J. Watt in the AFC North Championship game.
03:39The Ravens were FanDuel's second most popular bet to win the AFC Championship over the summer, behind only the Bills.
04:01Now they need a win over the Steelers tonight just to make the playoffs.
04:05The good news for Baltimore, Derrick Henry is coming off his best performance of the year.
04:10And Lamar Jackson is back tonight.
04:12Chessie, massive implications tonight.
04:15What are you rolling with for your FanDuel best bet?
04:17Yeah, we don't know the health of Lamar.
04:19Right.
04:19But you have to expect that in a game of this magnitude with all that's on the line.
04:24By the way, this is going to be a great game.
04:26Yeah, I'm excited.
04:26Can't wait to see this one.
04:28But Lamar's going to use his legs and take into consideration that the Pittsburgh Steelers,
04:32when it comes to blitz of all the teams that are in contention for the playoffs,
04:36the Steelers are the only team in the top ten in blitz rate.
04:40They're going to come after you also.
04:42T.J. Watt back in the lineup.
04:43Yep.
04:44The matchup for them against this Ravens offensive line, the Steelers got to be feeling pretty good about it.
04:49If Lamar is not able to get out and make plays with his legs, he's going to get dumped a bunch of times.
04:55I don't think they have success offensively.
04:57So, I like Lamar.
04:59Big stakes.
05:00Huge, huge game.
05:01Everything on the line, Lamar Jackson will take off if healthy.
05:05On the other end, let's look at this Pittsburgh offense.
05:08They have to find a way to take shots and get the ball down the field.
05:11Yeah.
05:12You can't.
05:12It's historic lows for Aaron Rodgers in regards to depth of target.
05:16He's getting the ball out quick, which is great.
05:18But they're not being aggressive at all.
05:20They're not getting the ball down the field to playmakers.
05:23They're not getting the ball down the field to playmakers.
05:25Jonu Smith's a guy that I look at.
05:27They haven't used him a ton, but he is a matchup issue.
05:30They just got to find ways.
05:31You have to stretch defense in the NFL.
05:33Otherwise, they're just not a threat.
05:35Anyway, this could be a great game.
05:36Yeah, it is.
05:37Chesney's running with Lamar Jackson.
05:38Over 27.5 rushing yards.
05:40Hey, he ran for 43 yards and a score in the first meeting between these teams.
05:44So, let's see what he can do with the AFC North title on the line.
05:47NBC Sports, home of Super Bowl 60, welcomes you to the following presentation of the National
05:56Football League.
05:59In the 23 years of the AFC North, the Steelers have won the division nine times, the Ravens
06:04eight.
06:05These teams who met in a wild card game last year play in a win or go home game tonight.
06:10Two key stars back for this de facto playoff game.
06:13For more on that, here's Melissa Stark.
06:15Hi, Melissa.
06:15Hi, Mike.
06:17Yes, good news for both teams.
06:18As you said, each getting a key player back in the lineup tonight for the Ravens, two-time
06:24MVP Lamar Jackson, and for the Steelers, four-time All-Pro TJ Watt.
06:29Lamar returned as a full participant in practice this week after being sidelined for one game
06:34with a back contusion.
06:36He said he couldn't do anything last week, but he turned the corner on Monday.
06:40I asked him to grade the health of his back.
06:42He said it's an A and that there's no doubt in his mind about what he can do and that
06:46he's ready to go.
06:48He will be wearing a rib protector tonight, which he hasn't worn since his rookie season.
06:53You can see them putting the jersey on over it there.
06:56For the Steelers, TJ Watt returns after missing the last three games due to a partially collapsed
07:05lung suffered during a dry needling treatment at the team facility last month.
07:10He had surgery to repair the lung.
07:13He told us he knew on Monday that he could play tonight.
07:16He'll be wearing padding to protect the incision, but he said he's not on a snap count, and
07:21he has no limitations, Mike.
07:24We'll all be watching, Melissa.
07:25Final spot in the AFC tournament to be determined.
07:28The winner tonight, the four-seed, will host the Houston Texans.
07:32Chargers will visit New England.
07:34Buffalo to Jacksonville.
07:35Congratulations, Denver.
07:36The one-seed, the bye for Wild Card Weekend.
07:39Well, the days and the times of the games later tonight.
07:42This is the 40th all-time meeting between John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin.
07:47Only George Halas and Curly Lambeau have gone head-to-head more often in NFL history.
07:52The temperature's in the high 20s.
07:54There is minimal wind.
07:56There are a ton of terrible towels.
07:58And the seed is everything you would ask for for the final game of a Wild regular season.
08:06Pittsburgh won the toss.
08:07Deferred the option to the second half.
08:09So, Chris Boswell set to send it away for Pittsburgh.
08:15Back deep.
08:16Keaton Mitchell, Rasheen Ali, and a pair of running backs to get it for the Ravens.
08:22He played so many great games.
08:25Intense rivalry based in respect.
08:27This game for the championship for the AFC North.
08:30And off we go from Western PA.
08:32A lot of hang time brought back by Mitchell.
08:37Across the 30.
08:38Shy of the 35.
08:40Penalty marker to begin this one.
08:42Looks like it'll be an even longer field for Baltimore.
08:45Sean Smith is our referee tonight.
08:47During the return, Golden.
08:51Receiving team number 27.
08:53Here's the Baltimore offense.
08:58Lamar Jackson, Louisville.
09:02Derrick Henry, Alabama.
09:03Power card, Maine.
09:05Zay Flowers, Boston College.
09:07Mark Andrews, Oklahoma.
09:09Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina.
09:11Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame.
09:13Andrew Voorhees, USC.
09:15Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa.
09:16Daniel Falile, Minnesota.
09:18Roger Rosengarten, University of Washington.
09:21That line intact all but one game this year.
09:24They're the number one rushing attacker in the NFL.
09:28Penalty takes Lamar Jackson and the Ravens back to the 50.
09:31Here we go.
09:33First play.
09:34Henry.
09:35Right.
09:35And Derrick Henry into the open field right away.
09:38And down the sideline.
09:39Into Steelers territory.
09:41And all the way down to the 39-yard line with a flag at the back end of the play.
09:46So the man coming off the huge 216-yard gain against Green Bay starts off with a bang.
09:56And the Steelers' captain, Cam Hayward, is injured at the end of it.
10:03It's a 47-yard gain if it stands.
10:07During the run, personal foul, Louisville Blindside Block.
10:11Offense, number four.
10:1315-yard penalty.
10:15First down.
10:16That's on Zay Flowers, the wide receiver downfield.
10:23Flowers asking why.
10:25Looked up at the big screen and didn't agree with the call.
10:28Let's watch, Chris.
10:31All right.
10:31We're hearing from Terry this is not a foul.
10:34So we will check that out next.
10:36But Derrick Henry, as he's done typically on Sunday night,
10:40this guy ends up making huge plays right off the bat.
10:43But let's check this penalty here.
10:47Some Flowers on that one.
10:50Terry McCauley, our rules analyst, joins us.
10:52Terry?
10:53Yeah, Mike.
10:54For it to be an end of the Blindside Block,
10:55he has to be either moving parallel or back toward his own end line.
10:59He's moving toward the opponent's end line.
11:01This is a perfectly legal block.
11:03And here's what happens to Hayward, who is chasing the play down.
11:06This is about 50 yards of running down the field.
11:09And his own player, James Pierre, comes down and clips him.
11:13He walks off the field with the assistant to the athletic training staff.
11:16The ball backed up to the 41-yard line of Baltimore
11:19because it's from the spot of the foul.
11:22The net gain was 26.
11:24And Henry here gets three to the 44.
11:28Oh, we'll just settle into this one, huh?
11:31It's on tilt from the start.
11:32Lamar Jackson, it has been, in his words, a different and weird season.
11:37He's missed four games, three early with a hamstring.
11:39Last week, a back injury that Militia just talked about.
11:42A year with more injuries than incredible plays for the two-time league MVP
11:46who's trying to get his team to the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
11:50Second and seven will get it to Isaiah, likely the tight end on the edge,
11:59one shy of the first down as he's brought down right at midfield.
12:04Jalen Ramsey over there, third down coming up.
12:06All right, let's catch our breath here a little bit, all right?
12:08And start off with the fact that what did they do right off the bat?
12:12They decide they're going to go right after T.J. Watt, right?
12:15We're going to at least find out what's happening with him.
12:18This man has a collapsed lung.
12:20He had surgery.
12:21He sort of found his way back into the lineup.
12:24And they're going to find out right away.
12:25Their plan is to hit him from multiple directions in this run game tonight.
12:32Third and long one.
12:34And to keep, Jackson pulls it, runs to the edge, and he has the first down.
12:39So right away, the tone is set with Lamar Jackson, faking, keeping, and running.
12:45Well, and this was what we saw when these two teams played before.
12:49They're going to run down with T.J. Watt
12:51and try and take out Henry on this short yardage.
12:54Lamar Jackson, that was another question.
12:57This was an option play, right?
13:00Lamar Jackson, if he's not feeling right, he's going to hand that ball off
13:04no matter what T.J. Watt's doing.
13:06He kept it.
13:07Big first down.
13:08Good sign so far for the Ravens.
13:11That's out of the 45.
13:13Henry for a one-armed tackle.
13:14He'll gain two against this Pittsburgh defense.
13:18T.J. Watt.
13:19He walked.
13:20Cam Hayward, the Ohio State.
13:22Keanu Benton, Jamesville Craig High School.
13:24Derrick Harmon, Oregon.
13:26Alex Heisman, Charlotte.
13:27Patrick Queen, LSU.
13:29Malik Harrison, D.
13:30Ohio State University.
13:32James Pierre, FAU.
13:33Kyle Duggar, Lenoir Ryan.
13:35Daniel Ramsey, Curtis Perez.
13:37Joey Porter Jr., King in the North.
13:39It's not just Watt coming back, but Brandon Echols and James Pierre, big for this defense.
13:44Jackson's throw.
13:45Mark Andrews, the catch.
13:46He is tackled by Malik Harrison.
13:49The 38-yard line is where they're going to spot this, about three shy of another Baltimore first down.
13:56When Baltimore has the ball, the play calling will be Todd Munkin on the Ravens' side.
14:00Terrell Austin calling the defense in for the Steelers.
14:04That's third and short.
14:09You got Lamar on the keeper.
14:11Let's see what they do here.
14:13No Henry Rasheen Ali is in the back.
14:15He's got it.
14:16And he has stopped.
14:17Keanu Benton on the other side of the line.
14:21Loss of a yard.
14:22Fourth down from the 39.
14:23Field goal from here would be 57 yards.
14:26I'm thinking we're probably going to see him go for it here.
14:31Yep.
14:32At least we're going to do the hard count.
14:41Benton, the third-year man from Wisconsin.
14:44Part of that stout front for the Steelers.
14:47That inside defense relied on a lot tonight.
14:51Fourth and three.
14:51No more shot.
14:56Bateman, the receiver's out from the Ravens.
14:58Pressure from the Steelers.
15:00Jackson throws complete.
15:01And downfield for the touchdown is Devontez Walker.
15:08His third of the season without Bateman.
15:12More people need to step up in the receiving core.
15:15Fourth down, Walker walks into the end zone.
15:18Baltimore scores first.
15:20Jalen Ramsey was expecting something quick if, in fact, they did throw the ball.
15:25Instead, Lamar held it and ran right past Ramsey with this one.
15:30No slant, no quick throw.
15:32Go for the bomb.
15:33And there you go.
15:34The Ravens wide open from the start in this one.
15:41The rookie out of Arizona, Tyler Loop.
15:44On for the extra point.
15:45It is two all year.
15:49Well, you like a good ratio catches to touchdowns.
15:53That's career catch number six for Devontez Walker.
15:56Four of them have been touchdowns.
15:57None bigger than that one to put Baltimore up in this North Championship game.
16:027-0.
16:03The NFL on TSN is Sunday Night Football is brought to you by Hyundai.
16:13Welcome to more in the all-new Hyundai Palisade Hybrid.
16:16By Greenland.
16:17Two.
16:18Migration.
16:19In theaters this Friday.
16:21And by Pepsi.
16:22Food deserves Pepsi.
16:24Through the years.
16:27Great matchup.
16:28Harbaugh and Tomlin had a really nice conversation at midfield.
16:33May have seen that in Football Night in America.
16:3518 seasons, John Harbaugh.
16:3719 for Mike Tomlin.
16:39Both immense respect for how the program on each side is handled.
16:46Ravens up 7-0.
16:47Tyler Loop kicks to the two running backs active for Pittsburgh.
16:51Kenneth Gainwell and Jalen Warren.
16:56And it will be Warren from the six.
17:01A nice block on the edge.
17:03Got past his would-be tackler.
17:05Now to the 37-yard line.
17:07Nice return as Chris Biko back to the touchdown.
17:10Yeah, Jalen Ramsey was expecting this all-out blitz to get there.
17:15And ordinarily, you don't have time to throw anything down the field like that.
17:19So he squatted on the route and got burned.
17:22And right there is the point at which Jalen Ramsey knew it was over.
17:28Big-time play by Walker there.
17:30Little semi-no-look.
17:32Throw it off the side shoulder.
17:34And I would say Lamar Jackson is as fine as he told us he was.
17:38We talked to him last night.
17:40And he said, as Melissa told you, he was fully ready to go.
17:44So, too, is Aaron Rodgers.
17:45And he went to the edge.
17:46Bring it down over here.
17:48Le 58!
17:49Le 58!
17:50Le 58!
17:50Drive begins in the 37.
17:52And he'll go to the air through the traffic.
17:54And he's Warren.
17:55He'll get two.
17:56And the penalty flag comes down right away.
17:59And thrown right at the block that was being put down by Isaac Samalu.
18:04Personal foul.
18:11Face mask.
18:12Defense number 95.
18:1415-yard green.
18:15He added to the end of the run.
18:16Automatic first down.
18:17Tavius Robinson, who's been big in his return as an edge player,
18:22will take the ball across midfield for the Steelers.
18:25It'll be at the Ravens' 46, tacking on 15.
18:27Well, so, of course, this is going to be a wide-open offensive game.
18:31We knew it all along.
18:32We were trying to figure out, is this going to be 13-10, 16-14?
18:37What are we going to get out of this thing?
18:39And so far, everything's been wide open.
18:44They see a little bit of this tonight from the Steelers.
18:46Both backs, Gainwell and Warren, in the game.
18:49It's been effective when they've used it.
18:51Warren, open field.
18:52He is brought down by Marlon Humphrey.
18:54Let's meet this Pittsburgh offense.
18:55Aaron Rodgers, Chico, California.
18:59Jalen Warren, Oklahoma State.
19:00Calvin Austin III, Memphis State University.
19:03Adam Phelan, Detroit Lake.
19:05Pat Frybuth, Penn State.
19:06John Smith, FIU.
19:08Dylan Cook, University of Montana.
19:10Isaac Silmarlo, Oregon State.
19:12Zach Frazier, West Virginia.
19:14Mason McCormick, South Dakota State.
19:16Troy Fauton, Washington.
19:18Chris hit the big headline in the open.
19:20Game two without the suspended wide receiver, D.K. Metcalf.
19:23No touchdowns.
19:24Season-low six points.
19:25At Cleveland last week for Rodgers.
19:28Pocket collapses.
19:29Gets rid of it.
19:29Incomplete over the head of Kenneth Gainwell.
19:33So Rodgers had a very good game against Baltimore in the first meeting between these teams.
19:38This is game 272 of this season.
19:41It's game 286 of Aaron Rodgers' career.
19:4418 years at Green Bay.
19:45Two at the Jets.
19:46He started all but one this year for the Steelers.
19:48And overall, it's been pretty good trying to win a ninth division title as a starting quarterback here tonight.
19:56And they want to stay out of these third and 11.
19:58Almost caught him with a hard count.
20:09Kyle Van Nooy was leaving.
20:11No, you didn't.
20:11Rodgers down the field for Calvin Austin.
20:14And coverage incomplete.
20:15Nate Wiggins back defensively for Baltimore.
20:20That's slow to get up.
20:23And they'll call the athletic training staff out to look at the second-year corner out of Clemson.
20:32But, Mike, that's exactly what Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers did to this Ravens defense the last time they played.
20:39Deep balls all over the place.
20:41Seven for 148.
20:43Simply to DK Metcalf alone.
20:45So, they come out first drive here.
20:47Take another deep shot.
20:49And we have been seeing a little man coverage out of Baltimore.
20:52I was wondering without Metcalf if they might get back to that man-to-man that they played them in the first time.
21:01So, Wiggins goes off.
21:02Corlish Waitman will punt.
21:04Lajonte and Wester.
21:06Back for the Ravens.
21:07Lefty kicker hangs it high.
21:10Wester comes to fair catch that.
21:12The 14-yard line.
21:13Baltimore back on the field.
21:14Up seven.
21:16Went over to the stadium.
21:17Downtown.
21:18We're heading back to downtown.
21:19Go over the Roberto Clemente Bridge on this Sunday night.
21:25Heard by Walmart Plus.
21:29Here at Akra Shore.
21:30Tons of Steelers fans.
21:32Quieted for the moment.
21:34They enjoyed the Week 14 win in Baltimore.
21:3627-22.
21:38There's that controversial Isaiah Likely touchdown.
21:40That was overturned via replay.
21:45Derrick Henry left.
21:46Good run on the first play of the game.
21:49Brought down by Hayward.
21:50Back in the game.
21:51Only a gain of one.
21:52St.
21:57Tam Hayward has been one of the top pass rushers in the league this year
22:02and one of the best against the run.
22:05Amazing what he's been able to do throughout the course of his career.
22:08But what you saw that time was the Ravens came in with a huge group of tight ends and fullbacks
22:16And the Steelers answered by taking one of their defensive backs off the field to match it and made the play
22:23Zay flowers running around in motion the eye candy to divert the eyes from Henry
22:29Who runs a yard shy of the first down to the 23 yard lines Derrick Henry off that?
22:35216 yard game in Green Bay last Saturday night on Peacock
22:39Chrissy carried it 36 times. He's carried 290 times already this season and he's just got 292
22:46And he's just getting rolling it feels like yeah, and I think lesson learned from the Green Bay game
22:50Nobody can play this Baltimore offense with four down linemen and so you're seeing
22:56The Pittsburgh Steelers with five guys around the line of scrimmage at all times
23:01You're on third and one. It's a gift Henry's got the first down Keanu Benton was waiting
23:09Tackles of half 25, but the chains will move and we should talk about what happened in that playoff game
23:15That these teams played last year the Ravens ran it 50 times for 299 yards that lingered with Pittsburgh
23:22They drafted and acquired this year to fortify to try to stop that guy on a night like this
23:27No doubt about it. I mean they went out and got Derek Harmon in the first round
23:31Why a black in the fifth round and they really just felt like they ran out of big bodies at the end of it
23:37But they are slugging their way here so far
23:40There's two rookies in the game right now
23:44Lamar looking in the pocket
23:46Crowe and down in flowers deflecting it twice
23:49And incomplete with a lot of traffic around the top receiver for the Ravens this year is a flowers
23:57I want you to see how tight a window this was watch patrick queen right here
24:02It is going to whistle right by his inside ear here
24:07And that is more risk than they probably would like to take at this point in the ball game
24:12So that's what you're going to get with Lamar Jackson. You're going to get the spectacular
24:16You're going to get the big plays
24:18But you're also going to see a guy that will put it in harm's way occasionally
24:22Do you get more of the good than the bad?
24:24Oh
24:30Pete mitchell the running back
24:32Steelers bring five Lamar puts it up to mitchell couldn't bring it in
24:38Mitchell running the wheel up the sideline could not bring it in but there is a penalty flag down
24:44back by the quarterback
24:47Why a black that rookie chris just mentioned the fifth round pick one of those guys with the pressure
24:52Well, and you saw he kind of got tripped up no foul run from the passers defense
25:00low hit
25:0115-yard penalty automatic first foul can't go low mike tomlins out off the sideline
25:08Telling shots. I think my guy got tripped
25:11It looks like hit the leg got stuck out by voras there tripped him up and it was the steelers who got the penalty
25:18Yeah, so that's a net 30 yarder. It should be a penalty for tripping on baltimore instead
25:24It takes that to the 41
25:27For the ravens
25:30This raven's offense tough enough. You don't need any breaks going their way
25:35Henry right back to the game
25:38And he'll get about three right around the 44
25:42yard line
25:43Chris we were there the new england game these guys played a couple of weeks ago baltimore
25:47At the end of that game it became well-known 12 minutes without derrick henry getting on the field and john harbaugh even said last night
25:53Yeah, yeah, you know mitch will be in but I won 22 in the game as much as possible to well
25:57I won't give you the exact quote
26:00But when I asked one of the coaches
26:02I said are you still going to rotate your backs? He said we're not rotating
26:06Yeah, okay, yes
26:08The big moments two two is going to be back there like he is now
26:15As he was trying to accelerate minimal gain third and a half dozen coming up
26:21The other part that's been interesting to watch and t.j watt all over that
26:25But to see these guys and what they're doing defensively so malik harrison who used to be with baltimore
26:32Was brought here specifically to take on
26:36Derrick henry and this power running game so we've seen him a lot already in this first quarter
26:42The third six machine a leaves the back picks up the pressure for the moment
26:56Now he cannot get away
26:58The perfect has jackson for the sack
27:01Perfect too big too strong for ali
27:08And baltimore will punch it away
27:11But the edge players on this football team have always been the key alex highsmith is going to drop back
27:17Watt's going to come here and then lurking around the middle is the other one nick herbic
27:22And you get roquan or patrick queen in there to distract
27:27Beautifully done that time by pittsburgh and this game is on this is full pittsburgh steelers defense
27:33And we've seen the flash now of baltimore's offense
27:37jordan stout picking good pressure on him able to get it away
27:41calvin austin back is the return man
27:44From around the 15
27:45He went to the blocks and he doesn't have much support
27:48He's gonna be down around the 26 yard line heavy pressure on the punter
27:54But they get rid of it
27:56Steelers will take over right around the 26 a lot of familiar faces
28:00To familiar foes play for the championship of the aamc north on this sunday night
28:08Steeler fans both teams call this building home
28:12Gainwell is the back he'll take it inside on the hands from rogers a gain of two against the baltimore defense
28:19During my jones st. nation's high school john jenkins georgia travis jones connecticut davis robinson or miss
28:26Kyle van nooy brigham university real corn smith georgia tranton simpson clemson nate wiggins clemson
28:33kyle hamilton notre dame malachi starks georgia mary humphrey alabama
28:39And it was hamilton who made the tackle with humphrey over there against gainwell limiting the game
28:44Before third down melissa an update on the cornerback nate wiggins yes quick update when he came to the sideline
28:48He told the athletic training staff he was okay
28:51But then the spotters upstairs called down
28:53So they took him into the medical tent to be evaluated for a concussion cleared back in the game
28:59For the first two plays of this drive
29:02Third and a long five
29:06Defense in a lot of defensive backs on the field right now
29:12More rush rogers scans gainwell gets there first down
29:17At the 36 yard line with tavias robinson trying to get the ball in the man
29:22He gets neither first down pittsburgh
29:28So aaron rogers has his own signal his belly belly belly okay and everybody knew what that meant
29:34This team spends more time with their quarterback i think than any offense i've ever heard four nights a week together
29:4136 rogers on the throat toward the sideline it's caught by marquez valdez scheduling
29:47Around the 41 of course familiarity the teammates from green bay rogers keeping this at a quick tempo
29:53Those old sugar huddle not getting into a huddle
29:57And it's a big reason why he wanted veteran players around him right adam deal on this team mbs on this team
30:04Guys that understand what he's doing at the line of scrimmage
30:07Can afford this will be a run inside gainwell not much space to operate
30:12It will be third down
30:15Plays are being called technically by arthur smith the offensive coordinator for the steelers trying to
30:21Match wits with zachary or on the right side zach or has been a part of this rivalry
30:26But so much of what happens in this game is going to be aaron at the line of script no question
30:31And they spend hours and hours communicating with these skilled position players
30:36Exactly what aaron wants when he sees what the ravens are doing defensively
30:40Yes
30:4233 roquan smith backed out of that blitz it's getting
30:45Well stop shy of it by tretton simpson
30:49So the linebacker who has been benched a couple of times in there for the injured teddy buchanan
30:55Stops gainwell short of the first down
30:58Fourth down and about a yard or so to go
31:00And the offense staying out for the moment.
31:04That was some play there by Simpson.
31:06That looked like it was going to be an easy first down.
31:09It was not.
31:10And did I see Cam Hayward run on the field?
31:13It's up.
31:16It's a Ben Skoranek run out there.
31:18No, it wasn't Cam.
31:20That is.
31:21He got it.
31:23Inside, it's the push of Conor Hayward.
31:26I don't know if he got there.
31:30Damn it.
31:31Conor Hayward was stopped short of the first down.
31:35And the ball belongs to the Ravens.
31:39So Hayward has been the tush-push guy for this team this year.
31:44There is Cam in the backfield trying to push his brother along.
31:48Help a brother along.
31:50It is all new meaning to the brotherly shove on the opposite side of the state.
31:54But it comes up short.
31:56That is amazing that they tried that play right there.
32:01That was a good, healthy couple of yards there.
32:06And for Harbaugh, that was room for celebration.
32:10I don't think he could believe it because there was a lot of movement.
32:12But you can't ask for a whole lot more success on a quarterback sneak than that.
32:17And yet it still didn't get there.
32:19You made the good point.
32:20It was a healthy yard that they had to get there.
32:22Oh, yeah.
32:22So denied and handing Baltimore great field position at the Steelers, 45.
32:30And Henry left for four.
32:33The 41-yard line, Derrick Henry has run it on nine of the 16 Baltimore plays in this first quarter.
32:41Yeah, and that means that Malik Harrison, the linebacker, is in there as well.
32:46They were telling us that when Derrick Henry's in the game, you're going to see number 50, Malik Harrison, in the game.
32:52And when they get it to more of that passing kind of set, number 41, Peyton Wilson, the linebacker,
32:57more of the coverage guy will be in there.
32:59Come in, game, game, game.
33:00Woo!
33:00Woo!
33:04Seven and six.
33:05Another Henry around this one around the edge.
33:08And Henry's got the first down to the 27-yard line.
33:11Benton downfield comes to get him.
33:14But they were able to get the edge and get the first down with Henry.
33:18Yeah, I don't know why they did that.
33:19They had Malik Harrison out on the edge who used to play an inside right out here.
33:25And right on the inside is Alex Heismith, the guy who typically is the one playing on the edge.
33:31And so they allow Derrick Henry to get outside of the less experienced edge player.
33:36Chris Henry already 10 carries, 79 yards.
33:42He had the one big one for 41, but it is exactly what the Ravens are doing.
33:48Don't overthink it.
33:50Give it to 22.
33:51He's out.
33:52Mitchell's in.
33:53And Speedy back gets to the 23 as we come to the end of a first quarter where Baltimore
33:58has had the upper hand throughout.
34:01Out gaining Pittsburgh, 125-21.
34:05Outscoring them 7-0.
34:07Stopping Rodgers in the offense on fourth down.
34:10And the Ravens are on the move.
34:12In this game for the AFC North Championship.
34:1515 minutes through.
34:16Ravens 7.
34:17Steal is up.
34:18Sunday Night Football continues after these messages.
34:26Provided by Nationwide.
34:29If you're here at Akershire Stadium, great place to be.
34:32The Steelers' Hall of Honor Museum.
34:34Over 50 inductees last month.
34:36The Class of 2025.
34:37Ben Roethlisberger, Marquise Pouncey, Joey Porter Sr., Joey Porter Jr.
34:42and the Steelers' defense on the field.
34:44And a bit on the ropes here.
34:457-0 as we begin the second quarter in the game that will decide the fourth seed in the
34:51AFC.
34:53Team that will host Houston on wild card weekend.
34:56Back to Henry inside.
34:58Two yards.
34:59Now 81 for Derek on 11 carries to begin this game.
35:04They are going huge up front for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
35:07Eight guys up, one defensive back off the field.
35:10And they are just simply going to have to play man-to-man coverage, which means pretty soon
35:15you're going to see the Ravens come back at this thing and throw the football again.
35:20They're not going to let Pittsburgh just sit out there one-on-one and not take a few shots at it.
35:25Now they bring the DVs back in the game on third and beating.
35:28Third and five.
35:31Touchdown earlier was on fourth down to the man in motion, Devontes Walker.
35:38Henry in there, picked up the blocks in a moment, the chase by Highsmith.
35:42Jackson to the line of scrimmage.
35:45And that's about it as he's pulled down by the rookie, Derek Harmon.
35:48It's no gain, it's fourth down, it's a Tyler Luke field goal attempt coming from about 40 yards.
35:55How impressive was that from Harmon to get out on the edge?
35:58That looked like in any other circumstance, you got Lamar Jackson against a defensive lineman.
36:03He's going to outrun that guy every time Harmon took the right angle and saved what would
36:08have been a touchdown.
36:09So we know Justin Tucker was with the Ravens for a long period, many big kicks, but they
36:18drafted for the first time in their 30-year history of kicker, Tyler Luke.
36:22He's had a good season.
36:23From 40.
36:25Luke.
36:27Knocks it through.
36:28So the decision to go for it on fourth down leaves a short field.
36:33It's only a 23-yard drive to get the field goal.
36:35Ravens lead 10-0.
36:36No, if you like it, when you come through the Fort Pitt Tunnel, you see Pittsburgh bumming
36:41right now.
36:42They're Steelers in downtown.
36:44Ball is brought to you by Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL.
36:49Let's go places.
36:51By AWS AI, how the NFL levels up the game.
36:55And by Johnson & Johnson.
36:58Some very memorable moments, including the immaculate extension on Christmas Day 2016.
37:05And you see 54 there for the Ravens?
37:07That's Zachary Orr, their defensive coordinator, who, as I said, was a partner on the field
37:12during his time with Baltimore.
37:14So many good games over the years.
37:17Meaningful games.
37:19These teams usually right in the mix.
37:20And tonight is the first win-or-go-home Ravens-Steelers game.
37:27It'll be Gainwell on the return from the three.
37:33Gainwell got through the first wave.
37:35Flag is down on the opposite side.
37:37As Gainwell sashays his way to the 45.
37:40However, his flag was thrown on the far side of the field.
37:44Away from where the blocking was taking place.
37:46That is on Jabril Peppers and takes away the good field position.
38:05You played in what was the early formation of this division.
38:08You know what this rivalry is like.
38:10We both called a bunch of these.
38:11What is it about this rivalry that just takes it to another level?
38:14Well, it used to be that the coaches all hated each other back when I was playing.
38:18That was a good part of it.
38:20But it always turns into the same thing.
38:22I always feel like when I leave the stadium from calling one of these games,
38:26it's who out hit who, right?
38:27I mean, it really comes down to that.
38:30And by that standard, so far, you have to say Baltimore is clearly winning this game.
38:35Now, I know T.J. Watt and some of these guys maybe not 100%.
38:39But at some point, that has to switch.
38:42You go back to the days, Ben Roethlisberger with the broken nose,
38:46and everybody said, yeah, it's just a flesh wound, right?
38:48It was that kind of a game when you got reports from the sideline.
38:52But this is really, so far, going exactly the way the Ravens was.
38:58Jalen Warren on the run here for Pittsburgh.
39:02Two yards, probably 27-yard line.
39:06John Jenkins, Brent Urban in there for that Baltimore defense.
39:10It's been a slow start offensively for the Steelers.
39:12It has been.
39:14And I think that we just basically have to go back to the fact that, you know,
39:19without Metcalf, what is this team going to be?
39:22We haven't seen them be good yet.
39:25They're not good tonight.
39:27So this is five quarters without him that they have not been good.
39:30But this ends up being the most consequential suspension maybe in a long, long time.
39:37Anyway, I'll say that.
39:38You can hear the frustration from the Steelers fans speaking to Chris's point.
39:54Only six points scored last week against Cleveland, and none so far tonight.
39:58I tell you, the guy that has really stepped up right now is Travis Jones for the Ravens.
40:05Watch the way he fights his way through.
40:07He was tremendous a week ago.
40:09And he has, since he got paid that contract, he has gotten even better.
40:14And that's a rare guy that that happens with.
40:16Third and seven.
40:25Rockers has time.
40:27Gainwell gets there again for the second time tonight.
40:30Gainwell runs for the first down with his yards after catch.
40:34It'll bring it to the 40-yard line.
40:36Well, there's a reason why Kenneth Gainwell was voted as the MVP of this team.
40:41And you're seeing it.
40:42I really thought without Metcalf, you were going to see him have to make a lot of these kinds of plays.
40:49Now, so far, the pressure hasn't been extraordinary on Aaron Rodgers.
40:54And sometimes, whenever he gets a chance to look down the field, things start to happen.
40:58But for right now, I think it'll be the tight ends, and I think it'll be Gainwell who gets this offense jump-started.
41:04Down from the 40, Rodgers dealing it out to Warren.
41:07Got a block from Johnny Smith.
41:09Made a man miss.
41:10Got a first down and more.
41:11Gain of 17 as Jalen Warren.
41:16These running backs have to be a factor in the passing game for Pittsburgh.
41:20And they have been on back-to-back play.
41:22Well, this is effectively like a running play almost.
41:26Because you've got Johnny Smith, who is like a lead fullback, going out there to block Kyle Hamilton.
41:31He had to go out and take him.
41:33So, they are being very creative.
41:35Even though it looks like a passing game, effectively, this is a way to run the football outside that they can't get when they're just handing the ball off.
41:43See that number there.
41:44See that number there.
41:45A lot of it is throw short and go get it.
41:47To throw into their passing yards, come after the throw.
41:50They pass Rodgers, looking deep downfield.
41:54The crosser over the head of Smith.
41:56Valdez, Scantling, cleared it out.
42:01Smith was coming across.
42:04Rodgers and he disconnect.
42:06That's terrible.
42:09That was their big home run play.
42:10And it was there.
42:12You had MVS going to clear out down here.
42:15And then you've got the route coming over.
42:16Look how wide open this is.
42:18Look at the space.
42:20And they can't hit that play?
42:24I don't know what happened to the timing.
42:26You could see Aaron kind of shuffle his feet for a minute.
42:29Maybe he wasn't sure if he's going deep or across the field.
42:32But, oh, my goodness.
42:33You can't miss home run plays like that.
42:37Second and ten.
42:39An inside throw.
42:40A little game four with Scottie Miller.
42:43Scottie Miller, Adam Thielen, Marquez, Valdez, Scantling, and Calvin Austin.
42:48Those are the four receivers working for Rodgers essentially tonight.
42:52That's why you see a lot of tight ends and running backs.
42:54There's not a number one, quote, unquote, receiver on this team right now.
42:58There really is.
42:59And Calvin Austin is probably the one deep threat that we can talk about.
43:03MBS as well.
43:04Marquez, Valdez, Scantling.
43:06Can be.
43:07But on that play, he was best used clearing space out.
43:11And they just missed the throw.
43:16Third and six.
43:19Ravens drop one.
43:20So four rush.
43:22Rodgers finds space.
43:23Will he take off and run for it?
43:25Stops.
43:25Stops.
43:26Can't do it.
43:27Robinson throws him out of bounds.
43:30Tavius Robinson saw it right there.
43:32Throws him out of bounds.
43:33Field goal from here is 57 yards.
43:35And I'll tell you, Boswell struggled with long field goals pregame.
43:39I've never seen that from Aaron Rodgers.
43:41In his heyday, this is the first down every time.
43:44He simply backed away from it because he knew the angle wasn't going to work for him.
43:49But Tavius Robinson, a defensive lineman, ran him down.
43:52And back in the day, that's first and ten.
43:56Chris Boswell, eight of ten from 50-plus.
43:58This is a 57-yarder.
44:00Missed multiple 50-plus field goals in warm-ups.
44:03But he dialed it up for Showtime.
44:08Bangs it through from 57 to put the Ravens on the board.
44:14Great, you say, Chris.
44:15You know, that was an important possession.
44:16They get three here.
44:18Had to get on the board.
44:21Boswell good for 57.
44:22The Baltimore lead is 10-3.
44:28The hunt is on for the most notorious criminals the world has ever seen.
44:32The hunting party Thursday on NBC and the next day on Peacock.
44:36The star of that show, Melissa Roxburgh, who is in Pittsburgh because she's a big Steelers fan.
44:42So you see Melissa tonight.
44:43You see her Thursday in the hunting party.
44:4610-3.
44:47Ravens lead.
44:48Boswell has a kick.
44:50It is one yard into the end zone, so a touchback comes out to the 35, Chris.
44:54Let's go back to T.J. Watt here.
44:56He is coming off that collapsed lung.
44:58He had surgery, and he's been able to play at a very high level so far.
45:04And I say so far because I'm not sure how long he can sustain.
45:09He has told us that he was in tremendous pain when he was going through this.
45:14And that hit by Rick Clark.
45:16Watch him get up off the ground, sort of hold his side, and you know he's playing on guts alone out here tonight.
45:25Mike Tomlin wasn't really sure in there.
45:28The conversation.
45:29Mike told us exactly that.
45:30We'll be checking in with T.J. as the night goes on to see how much he had, how he was feeling coming back from that surgery.
45:37First down, Lamar Jackson with a play pass, nothing open, looking to take off here.
45:42Flag is down.
45:43Jalen Ramsey comes to get him, as Jackson didn't pull away.
45:47It's a gain of three for the moment.
45:49We've got a flag, and we've also got an injured Raven.
45:52Oh.
45:53Daniel Fa'olele, the right guard.
45:59Cam Hayward came right into the back in the middle of a battle.
46:02I think the hold was on Ronnie Stanley, and that really is sort of what initiated this whole thing.
46:27Watch this whole pile come this way.
46:29Here's Fa'olele here, and you'll see whack.
46:36So you get the pressure above the shoulder pads and the pressure below, and he is a key, key part of this offense.
46:47You see Roger Rosengarten pick him up.
46:50He and Fa'olele have been next to each other for virtually every snap of the season.
46:55There were only a couple of snaps this year, too, where Rosengarten went over to left tackle.
46:59So that has been a duo that has been relied on by the Ravens.
47:03He gets up in a ton of pain.
47:06Emory Jones will come check in for the Ravens.
47:10Jones has played just 33 snaps working out of LSU.
47:14When we saw the Ravens on Thanksgiving before their game against the Bengals,
47:19John Harbaugh told us he wanted to get Jones in the lineup.
47:22They spelled him in for a couple of series.
47:25But he didn't play the next game.
47:27He played 13 snaps in the Sunday night game against New England.
47:30And now here he is in the biggest game of the season.
47:33And here's where Lamar Jackson has to be careful right now.
47:39You've got a lead, and you're first and a long way to go, right?
47:45He can play within this offense.
47:47There you go.
47:48Emory on the run.
47:49He's three after that first and 20.
47:51Going to be second and 17.
47:53Hey, we're in the tackle again.
47:54He's all over the place.
47:55The one thing they do not want to have happen is that they fall out of love with punting.
48:03Punting is fine in a game like this.
48:05The Pittsburgh Steelers are notoriously patient.
48:09They will slowly grind the game down until you get in about the middle of the fourth quarter.
48:14They play renegade.
48:15Here we go.
48:16And that's when they win games.
48:18What they can't handle is if a team like Baltimore runs off on it.
48:22And they have to play catch up.
48:25Henry is out.
48:27Keaton Mitchell's the back.
48:29Second and 17.
48:32Thought about the jump pass.
48:33Couldn't get it over Highsmith.
48:34Tries to take off.
48:36Highsmith tracks him down.
48:37Lost a three for Jackson.
48:41Alex Highsmith, who when Watt was out and others not available, continues to answer the call.
48:49When Highsmith tells his grandkids about what he did in the National Football League,
48:54this play will be part of that team.
48:56He got fooled and then he ran down Lamar Jackson.
49:00And that was a big moment.
49:02Now you've got him third and very long.
49:04And I'll be stunned if they do very much down the field at all here.
49:09And a big day.
49:13He plays in the line.
49:14Places in line.
49:15Just give it to Henry.
49:16He can get you 20.
49:17He gets six that time.
49:19But a play buzzing down by Kyle Duggar, who came over from the Patriots.
49:24He had the hit on Henry and will force a punt.
49:27let's call that a momentum shift right it felt like everything was going the
49:31Ravens way and they got a little three-point drive out that's great but
49:36we have seen this defense awaken now he was making sure that nobody punted one
49:43over his head he was on the other side of the Roberto Clemente bridge get 12
49:47yards out they had a big rush on stout this looks like it's more set up to
49:51block for a Calvin Austin return good hang time here kick is 54 tossing from the
50:0116 Ravens had it well covered not much of a return Valentine Starks was down there
50:08so to Rasheen Ali that's a first-round pick there the NFL draft is here in 108
50:14days right in Pittsburgh and the Raiders are on the clock
50:22quarterback company Aaron Rodgers top five with Brady degrees Manning and far in
50:28passing yards and passing touchdowns all those magical moments spellbinding plays