Aaron Rodgers heads into Week 18 with full confidence, but the Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in a tough position following a disappointing defeat against the Cleveland Browns. As they prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC North title next Sunday, the momentum is decidedly not in their favor.
Last Sunday in Cleveland, the Steelers had a golden opportunity in front of them. They needed to defeat a struggling 3-12 Browns team led by a rookie quarterback and dealing with a battered offensive line. A win would have secured the AFC North for Pittsburgh, guaranteed a home playoff game, and eliminated Baltimore from postseason contention. Instead, the Steelers left the field with a jarring 13-6 loss that felt both surprising and all too familiar. Despite a solid defensive performance that forced turnovers and limited Cleveland to just 13 points, the Steelers” offense faltered, managing only six points even with several favorable situations. This scenario mirrored the infamous “Tomlin Special,” where Pittsburgh often stumbles against lesser opponents.
What should have been a celebratory situation has now turned into a winner-takes-all clash with the Ravens. The Steelers are haunted by past failures, as this loss reopened wounds from last season when they finished with a four-game losing streak before being eliminated in the playoffs by Baltimore. The current season has been a rollercoaster for the Steelers, who began 2025 at 4-1, dipped to 6-6, and now find themselves in turmoil after a dismal performance against one of the league”s weakest teams.
Even with his confidence intact, Rodgers acknowledged the challenges ahead. “I have full confidence we”ll go home and win next week,” he stated after the game. “We”ve handled adversity well. When we had to play our best ball we did, other than today.” However, confidence alone may not be enough to tackle the daunting task that lies ahead.
The Ravens present a significantly tougher challenge. Earlier in the season, the Steelers narrowly escaped with a victory against Baltimore, largely due to an overturned touchdown by Isaiah Likely late in the game. Now, they face a revitalized Ravens squad. Derrick Henry is coming off a remarkable performance, while Lamar Jackson may return to action. Compounding their difficulties, the Steelers” offense is further weakened, as wide receiver DK Metcalf is suspended, Calvin Austin is dealing with a hamstring injury, and tight end Darnell Washington suffered a broken arm in Cleveland.
Pittsburgh had a chance to make Week 18 a non-factor and demonstrate that this year”s team was different. Instead, they fell short against a 3-12 Browns team, scoring only six points and now facing the daunting task of defeating Baltimore to keep their playoff hopes alive. There is a possibility they could rise to the occasion, with Rodgers delivering a standout performance, or the defense stepping up when needed. But with the recent collapse in Cleveland and mounting injuries, the situation bears a striking resemblance to the unraveling of last season, and this time, their margin for error has evaporated.
