The Steelers have a long history of memorable moments throughout the years, and during the 2025 season we are going to highlight those moments against each week's opponent.
This week, we feature the Baltimore Ravens at home.
January 20, 2002
AFC Divisional Playoffs
Steelers 27, Baltimore Ravens 10
The first-ever playoff game at the Steelers new home didn't disappoint, as the Steelers put on a great show, beating their division rival Baltimore Ravens 27-10.
Leading up to the game Ravens linebacker Jamie Sharper made headlines when he said the Ravens "Were looking for the Steelers in Round Three" in the playoffs.
Coach Bill Cowher fired the Steelers up, telling them pregame, "They wanted us and now they got us."
There were some pregame concerns when running back Jerome Bettis, who had participated in pregame warmups, had an adverse reaction to an injection for a groin injury that ended up striking a nerve.
"Jerome had an adverse reaction to medication prior to the game and that was unfortunate," said Cowher postgame. "I called the team in after warmups and reminded them that Jerome didn't play in that game in Baltimore when we beat them."
A fired up team took the field and made it work with whoever was out there. The Steelers forced four turnovers and limited the Ravens to 150 yards and only seven first downs.
The Steelers jumped out to a 20-0 lead courtesy of two touchdowns by running back Amos Zereoue and two Kris Brown field goals and they never looked back.
The Ravens scored on a third quarter touchdown on a punt return by Jamal Lewis, but the Steelers put it away when receiver Plaxico Burress caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kordell Stewart.
The defense got pressure on quarterback Elvis Grbac, and defensive backs Brent Alexander had two interceptions and Chad Scott added one.
Steelers 23, Baltimore Ravens 14
AFC Championship Game
January 18, 2009
When the Steelers needed him the most, safety Troy Polamalu came through big.
With a trip to Super Bowl XLV on the line, Polamalu had five tackles, four of them solo stops and two passes defensed.
But it was a key fourth quarter interception of Ravens' quarterback Joe Flacco that the game was all about.
The Ravens pulled to within two of the Steelers on a Willis McGahee one-yard touchdown run. The Steelers offense followed with a three-and-out, and Flacco got the ball back looking to take the lead.
On third-and-13 from the Ravens' 29-yard line, Polamalu intercepted Flacco at the 40-yard line and took it all the way back for a 40-yard touchdown and 23-14 Steelers lead, which would secure the win and a trip to the Super Bowl.
Earlier in the same game, Polamalu was also Flacco's biggest foe. The Ravens were going for it on fourth-and-one from the Steelers' 34-yard line. Polamalu fought his way over the pile and stopped any forward progress by Flacco, forcing the Ravens to turn the ball over on downs.
Steelers 31, Baltimore Ravens 24
AFC Divisional Round Game
January 15, 2011
Things looked bleak for the Steelers at halftime when they trailed the Ravens 21-7, but this Steelers team wasn't about to be denied.
Linebacker James Harrison sacked Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco on the first play of the Ravens first offensive series in the second half, and two plays later safety Ryan Clark forced a fumble that linebacker LaMarr Woodley recovered to give the Steelers the ball at the 23-yard line.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took advantage, hitting tight end Heath Miller for a nine-yard touchdown to close the gap to 21-14.
After exchanging possessions, the Ravens got the ball back and Clark intercepted Flacco and returned it to the 25-yard line. Four plays later Roethlisberger hit receiver Hines Ward for an eight-yard touchdown and a 21-21 tie. The Steelers took their first lead of the game, 24-21, with an early fourth quarter field goal, but the Ravens responded to tie the game at 24-24.
The Steelers had the final say, though, on running back Rashard Mendenhall's game-winning two-yard touchdown run for the 31-24 win.
Steelers 31, Baltimore Ravens 27
December 25, 2016
Merry Christmas.
For the first time ever, the Steelers played on Christmas Day, and they delivered the perfect gift to their fans.
By defeating the Baltimore Ravens, 31-27, the Steelers clinched the AFC North.
"Man, it's great to be AFC North Champs," said Coach Mike Tomlin after the game. "We tip our cap to the Ravens, they're a tough, tough opponent, not only today, but always. I like the mentality that the guys showed. We knew it was going to be a tough football game. It was just great to see the no-blink mentality, the competitive spirit. We helped one another. We were turning the ball over, the defense kept us in it there at the early portions of the second half. And then, we gave a drive up late and the offense responded. And that's just good team ball.
"All of the men are to be congratulated. It's significant. We punched our ticket. And that's an awesome thing."
And they punched their ticket in exciting fashion.
When the big guns were needed, they came though. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and receiver Antonio Brown were among the playmakers for the Steelers offense and on the final, pivotal, playoffs on the line, offensive drive, they came through.
The Steelers were down 27-24, with just 1:18 to play, after the Ravens scored a go-ahead touchdown. Roethlisberger, starting at his own 25-yard line, completed eight of eight passes, and spiked the ball twice, as he drove the offense down the field with incredible precision, completing passes to five different receivers.
But the play of the game, and possibly of the season, was a four-yard pass to Brown where he wouldn't be denied getting into the end zone for the 31-27 win. Brown, who looked like he was stopped short, extended his arm and got the ball over the goal line. And fittingly enough, it was the 50th touchdown the two combined for, the most ever by a quarterback-receiver combination in Steelers' history.
"No one stopped believing," said Roethlisberger. "It's pretty special the way we won it. Especially after feeling the way I felt at a certain point in that game and feeling like you let guys down and you blew it. So, to come back and win it is pretty special."
