Steelers vs Ravens Free Pick, NFL Free Picks, NFL Predictions 1/4/25
- J.A. Cavalier
- Jan 4
- 3 min read
BALTIMORE @ PITTSBURGH (BAL -3.5, 40.5)
NFL ODDS, NFL PREDICTIONS, NFL PREVIEWS
STEELERS VS RAVEN 1/4/26
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens will play each other to end the regular season on Sunday for the fourth time in seven seasons. The stakes for this Week 18 matchup have never been higher.
Baltimore (8-8) wins the division title with a win. Pittsburgh (9-7) can win or tie tonight’s game and win the AFC North title. The team that does not win the division will not receive a wild-card and will not participate in the AFC playoffs.
"We need to play smart but not play timid," stated Kyle Hamilton, a safety with the Ravens.
That's exactly what Baltimore did to maintain its chances of winning the AFC North for the third consecutive year. Following their bye, the Ravens went on a five-game winning streak, overcoming a 1–5 start.
Despite Baltimore's 2-3 record since Thanksgiving, which includes a home loss to Pittsburgh on December 7, the Steelers' recent games have given the Ravens a chance.
Pittsburgh would have won the division for the first time since 2020 if they had defeated the Cleveland Browns, who are 4-12, last week. However, with star wide receiver DK Metcalf serving the first of a two-game suspension for behavior detrimental to the NFL, the Steelers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers found it difficult to establish an offensive rhythm.
After suffering a broken arm during the first half of the 13-6 loss, tight end Darnell Washington was placed on injured reserve. Linebacker T.J. Watt (lung) was fully active on Friday, and Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (hamstring) returned to practice this week after missing the Browns game.
After missing last week's victory in Green Bay, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (back contusion) practiced all week. Jackson declared that he was prepared to play the Steelers. When asked if he will play, Jackson responded, "One hundred," on Thursday. "I'm gonna be out there."
Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh was very optimistic that Jackson will be ready to play. He feels the same way about the Ravens locker room as a whole.
"I think this team has a lot of character, a lot of grit, a lot of toughness," Harbaugh stated.
Although Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin expressed regret for losing out on a postseason berth last week, he claimed to have "learned to always move forward" and that "frustration doesn't get the job done."
A Steelers win would guarantee QB Aaron Rodgers at least one more Pittsburgh game. The 42-year-old veteran, who signed a one-year contract with the Steelers, stated he would rather not talk about his impending choice to retire or keep playing.
On and off the field, everyone in Pittsburgh has been amazing to me, and I've cherished this experience," Rodgers remarked. This experience has been even greater than I had anticipated.
Despite a strong afternoon from the Ravens' ground attack, visiting Pittsburgh defeated Baltimore 27-22 in Week 14. Derrick Henry led the attack with 94 yards on 25 attempts as Baltimore ran for 217 yards (5.4 yards per carry).
Rodgers finished 23-for-34 for 284 yards and a touchdown pass to Jaylen Warren, which extended the Steelers lead to 27-16. Metcalf set season highs with seven catches for 148 yards.
Three Ravens players were listed as questionable for Sunday: defensive tackle Taven Bryan (knee), cornerback Marlon Humphrey (sickness), and wide receiver Rashod Bateman (illness).
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ZAY FLOWERS OVER 60.5 RECEIVING YARDS
Rashod Bateman is out tonight and that means a few more targets for Flowers. He leads the Ravens in targets (112), receptions (82), and receiving yards (1,078). He’s averaging 67.1 receiving yards per game and has gone Over this prop in 11 of the Ravens 16 games this season. Pittsburgh’s pass defense isn’t very good and they rank 27th in the NFL in yards allowed to wide receivers. In the first meeting with the Steelers this season, Flowers caught 8 passes for 124 yards.
