Steelers Crowned AFC North Champions with an Epic Victory
Cigarette smoke wafted from the tunnel connecting the Steelers’ locker room to the Acrisure Stadium press room, following Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who smiled as he took his seat in the stands wearing his new “Been There, Won That” AFC North champion t-shirt.Led by coach Mike Tomlin and their bet on Rodgers, the Steelers (10-7) placed their trust in the four-time MVP during the offseason, and he proved on Sunday why they were right, by helping the Steelers beat the Baltimore Ravens 26-24 in a division title game and a playoff spot.“We haven’t made it easy on ourselves, really, all season, I guess,” he said with a smile. “But I’m proud of our guys. I’m proud of the way we responded multiple times after they took the lead. It just takes a little bit of belief at this point in the season.”
Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers and the Steelers, seeded as number four, are now heading to the postseason and will host the Houston Texans, seeded as number five, on “Monday Night” (8:20 p.m., ESPN) in the wild card round next week.“This was the vision in the spring when we pursued him,” Tomlin said. “That’s why you do business with a 42-year-old guy, who’s been there, who’s done that, with a resume like his. He’s not just capable; he thrives on it. I think he proved it tonight.”
Mike Tomlin
Rodgers, who is returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2021, completed 11 of 14 attempts for 133 yards in the final quarter, including a 26-yard touchdown to wide receiver Calvin Austin III with 55 seconds remaining. The quarterback finished the game completing 31 of 47 attempts for 294 yards and a score. Rodgers also had a 20-yard run to convert a third and long in the second half.“We are AFC North champions,” Tomlin said. “And that sounds good, and it feels good. But we didn’t come here for that. We came here for what’s next, so we’re excited about that.”
Mike Tomlin
Near where Rodgers and his teammates spoke, the bass thundered through the speakers and permeated the cement block walls as the Steelers handed out more jerseys and caps to celebrate the franchise’s 25th division title and the first since 2020. The night before the game, defensive captain Cameron Heyward, the longest-tenured player on the team, gave a speech that urged his teammates to channel their frustration over last year’s crushing playoff defeat to the Ravens and change their luck this time. «’This is what we’ve all been waiting for’», Heyward said to his teammates. «Last year, the playoffs, going to Baltimore, it hurt us a lot. I remember T.J. and I were sitting in the training room, scratching our heads. Coming out here this year and playing against the same team, we had some success in different ways, but it was a team performance. There isn’t a guy in that locker room who hasn’t stepped up in a different way, and today we needed everyone». The Ravens (8-9) took a 10-3 lead at halftime, largely thanks to a 79-yard first drive by running back Derrick Henry. But the Steelers reacted by adjusting their run defense, getting a timely interception by Watt and using their own dominant running game to score 10 unanswered points in the third quarter. The two teams traded blows in the final quarter, combining for 27 points, after scoring 23 points in the first three quarters. The four touchdown lead changes in the final 10 minutes of the quarter tied the most in any game this season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Leading by two points with less than a minute to play after Pittsburgh kicker Chris Boswell missed his first extra point attempt in more than two seasons, the Steelers’ title hopes rested on the foot of Ravens kicker Tyler Loop. After Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson converted a fourth-and-7 with a 26-yard pass to Isaiah Likely with 14 seconds remaining, the Ravens’ rookie’s 44-yard field goal attempt to win the game sailed wide right.“You see the ball in the hands of number 8,” said Pittsburgh star, quarterback T.J. Watt, “it’s like, [Rodgers] is here for a reason. This is why he’s here. This is the best guy in the NFL for this moment. And to be able to see him deliver on a big stage like that was incredible.”
T.J. Watt
“I heard the stadium go crazy,” said Pittsburgh linebacker Patrick Queen, who added that he couldn’t see Loop’s shot. “I was in shock. I was in shock. I didn’t look back. I didn’t look at the scoreboard. I literally just stood there.”
Patrick Queen
That the Steelers won the AFC North title after squandering an opportunity against the Cleveland Browns last week is a testament to the resilience of the locker room. It’s a trait, Steelers players said, that comes from their coach, whose future in Pittsburgh seemed uncertain in the week leading up to the end of the regular season. After the victory, the Steelers players emphatically supported Tomlin while smoking cigars.“I turned around,” Heyward said. “And I thought, ‘Damn, he missed it.’ We haven’t had many misses here. I remember early in our career, [former Ravens kicker Justin] Tucker had one to win the game, and that kind of ended our season. So, we owed them one back.”
Cameron Heyward
“It’s incredible, man… to be able to get this for Coach T,” said tight end Pat Freiermuth, who had three significant receptions in the second half for 51 yards.
Pat Freiermuth
The Steelers began the season at +475 to win the division, and according to DraftKings Sportsbook, they have the second-longest odds to win the Super Bowl, just ahead of the Carolina Panthers, champions of the NFC South. However, the Steelers are not listening to the forecasters.“Coach T is the best coach I’ve ever played for. And I think a lot of people in this locker room feel the same way. And he’s unique. We wouldn’t be here without him. He instills belief. He instills confidence in us. And I’m very grateful to be here with him.”
Pat Freiermuth
“At the end of the day, we have Coach T and the 8,” Austin said. “So we always have a chance.”
Calvin Austin
