Week 15
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
December 20, 2026
Acrisure Stadium
AFC North Rivalry
Ravens–Steelers
The NFL's most physical rivalry
Widely regarded as one of the most intense rivalries in pro football, defined by bruising defense and tight, low-scoring games. Pittsburgh and Baltimore have met repeatedly with division titles and playoff berths hanging in the balance.
The Rivalry
The series began in 1996, the Ravens' inaugural season after the franchise's relocation from Cleveland, and quickly grew into a defining AFC North feud. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s the games became known for ferocious, physical play, headlined by Hall of Fame Baltimore defenders Ray Lewis and Ed Reed against Pittsburgh's hard-hitting units. The rivalry's reputation was forged in the postseason: the teams met five times in the playoffs, including the Steelers' 23-14 win in the 2008 AFC Championship Game on their way to a Super Bowl title. Margins are famously thin — many recent meetings have been decided by a single score, among them a 39-38 Pittsburgh thriller in 2017. Pittsburgh holds the overall edge, but few series have produced more consistently tense, defense-first football.
What's at Stake
As a twice-yearly AFC North clash, every meeting shapes the division race, seeding and playoff positioning. The rivalry's defining trait is its physicality, with games routinely turning on a single defensive play or late drive. Pittsburgh and Baltimore lie roughly 250 miles apart along the I-70 corridor, close enough that visiting supporters travel in force, turning each stadium into a divided, electric environment.
Famous Moments
- 2008 — Pittsburgh beat Baltimore 23-14 in the AFC Championship Game en route to a Super Bowl title.
- 2011 — Joe Flacco threw a touchdown with eight seconds left to give Baltimore a 23-20 win.
- 2015 — In the Wild Card round, Baltimore won 30-17, sealed by a Terrell Suggs interception.
- 2017 — Pittsburgh held off a furious Baltimore rally to win 39-38, the tightest game in the rivalry.
- 2025 — In the Wild Card round, Baltimore routed Pittsburgh 28-14 as Derrick Henry ran for 186 yards.
The Ravens–Steelers Games in 2026
The Two Teams
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
M&T Bank Stadium · Baltimore
A defense-defined franchise since 1996, the Ravens have won two Super Bowls.
AFC North
Pittsburgh Steelers
Acrisure Stadium · Pittsburgh
Tied for the most Super Bowl titles with six, the Steelers are defined by the 1970s "Steel Curtain" and the Terrible Towel.
Plan the Trip
A Steelers-Ravens game is a cornerstone of any NFL bucket list. Pittsburgh plays along the Allegheny River at Acrisure Stadium on the North Shore, while Baltimore hosts at M&T Bank Stadium in a downtown sports complex beside Camden Yards. The roughly four-hour drive between the cities makes a home-and-home weekend feasible, and the rivalry's reputation for bruising, down-to-the-wire football makes either venue a must-see divisional experience.
Frequently Asked Questions: Ravens–Steelers
The two teams first met in 1996. Widely regarded as one of the most intense rivalries in pro football, defined by bruising defense and tight, low-scoring games. Pittsburgh and Baltimore have met repeatedly with division titles and playoff berths hanging in the balance.
As a twice-yearly AFC North clash, every meeting shapes the division race, seeding and playoff positioning. The rivalry's defining trait is its physicality, with games routinely turning on a single defensive play or late drive. Pittsburgh and Baltimore lie roughly 250 miles apart along the I-70 corridor, close enough that visiting supporters travel in force, turning each stadium into a divided, electric environment.
Yes — they meet 2 times in the 2026 NFL season. The game pages, each with a fan-travel guide, are linked on this page.
Baltimore Ravens host at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore; Pittsburgh Steelers play at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.
