Steelers win AFC North after Ravens’ Tyler Loop misses walk-off field goal

The last game of the 2025 NFL regular season was perhaps the best and it came down to the final seconds.

In the fourth quarter, 27 points were scored instead of 30 when Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop missed the walk-off field goal that would send the Ravens into the playoffs.

Instead, the Ravens’ season ended in heartbreak as the AFC North title went to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who had their fair share of miraculous efforts in the fourth quarter.

It’s no secret that Lamar Jackson hasn’t been the face of the Ravens all season, but he had the best play of the season and perhaps his career midway through the fourth quarter. Trailing by three on third-and-four from midfield, Jackson recovered from a sack and allowed one to fly to Zay Flowers, who quickly caught it for a long touchdown pass, giving the Ravens a 17-13 lead. But the Steelers weren’t breaking any sweat, taking a 20-17 lead with 3:49 left in the game on a goal by Kenneth Gainwell, who responded with an eight-game lead. But it appeared Jackson saved his best for last and found Flowers again, this time for a 64-yarder for a 24-20 lead with 2:20 left.

The Steelers quickly crossed midfield and on third-and-10, Aaron Rodgers found Calvin Austin wide open for the score with 55 seconds left. But Chris Boswell missed the extra point and was only up by two points. The Ravens returned the kickoff to their own 47-yard line and called three timeouts; This was a golden opportunity.

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Jackson completed his first pass, but faced fourth-and-7 after an illegal formation and two fumbles. Jackson recited a prayer and Isaiah stepped it up for what would have been an incredible catch. Jackson took a knee to set up the field goal unit with two seconds left, but it was to no avail, as it was the Steelers who celebrated the right wing shot.

Aaron Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after scoring a fourth-quarter touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 4, 2026. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

The scoring started from an unlikely source as Lamar Jackson found Devontez Walker for a 38-yard touchdown pass to take the early lead. Both teams punted before the Steelers turned the ball over on downs, and the Ravens took advantage by kicking a field goal to take a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter. Pittsburgh answered its first score with a field goal of its own.

In the final seconds of the first half, the Steelers took advantage of a defensive penalty that put them at the 2-yard line with two seconds left. They opted to go for a field goal, but the decision backfired as Kenneth Gainwell was blocked as the clock reached zero.

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Fortunately, the Steelers got the ball to start the second half and didn’t let their first drive go to waste, finding the end zone to tie the game at 10. Then, in his first game back from a collapsed lung, TJ Watt caught a batted ball at the line for an interception. Pittsburgh then added a field goal for their first lead of the game.

Connor Heyward (83) of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates scoring a touchdown pass with Pat Freiermuth (88) in the third quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 4, 2026. (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

The Steelers, with the 42-year-old Rodgers and head coach Mike Tomlin whom fans are ready to give up on, finished the season 10-7 and will host the Houston Texans in the wild-card round on Monday night.

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