Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers Picks and Predictions January 11th 2025

Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers January 11th 2025

AMZN will be covering this AFC North matchup between the Ravens and Steelers, with the Ravens favored at -530 on the money line. The game, which kicks off at 8:00 ET on Saturday, January 11th, is being played at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. The Ravens are -9.5 point favorites, and the over/under line is set at 45.5 points.

Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore Key Information

After ending the regular season on a four-game losing streak, the Steelers bounced back with a 18-10 win over the Falcons in week 1 of the playoffs. Pittsburgh entered the game as 4-point underdogs, but they managed to get the win and cover the spread. The combined score of 28 points fell short of the 43-point line, marking the second straight under in Steelers games.

Free NFL Picks You Can Rely On! View today’s free NFL football picks for expert insights.

Pittsburgh finished the regular season 10-7, putting them 6th in our power rankings. They were 11-6 against the spread, with a +1.9 scoring margin. Their O/U record was 8-9, with their games averaging 42.8 points (O/U line: 42).

Heading into the Wild Card round, the Steelers sit 22nd in our offensive power rankings. They are 15th in the league in scoring, averaging 22.4 points per game, and they rank 23rd in total yards per game with 319.4. Pittsburgh has leaned heavily on the run, ranking 4th in rushing attempts and 11th in rushing yards per game. On the passing side, they are 25th in attempts and 27th in passing yards per game.

In their Week 3 win over the Chargers, the Steelers scored 10 points in the 4th quarter. Justin Fields threw for 245 yards, completing 25 of 32 passes, with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Najee Harris led the ground game with 70 yards on 18 carries, while Calvin Austin III had 4 catches for 95 yards and a touchdown.

In their 19-17 loss to the Bengals, the Steelers’ defense allowed 80.4% completions in the passing game. Despite this, they did come up with four sacks and held the Bengals to 3.2 yards per attempt on the ground. Cincinnati finished with 246 passing yards on 37 completions and 314 total yards.

Pittsburgh’s defense also forced one interception and limited the Bengals to a 38.5% conversion rate on third down. However, the Bengals still managed to pull out the win with a late field goal.

The Ravens enter the playoffs on a four-game winning streak, which includes a 25-point win over the Browns in week 18. Baltimore was favored by 20 points in that game and won 35-10, easily covering the spread. The O/U line was set at 42 points, and the teams combined for 45. Before that, the Ravens picked up wins over the Texans (31-2), Steelers (34-17), and Giants (35-14).

With a 12-5 record, the Ravens finished first in the AFC North and are 3rd in the AFC. They were 10-6-1 ATS this season, with an average scoring margin of +9.2 points per game. Their O/U record was 13-4, with an average of 51.7 points scored in their games.

The Ravens have leaned heavily on their run game this season, ranking 2nd in rushing attempts and leading the NFL with 187.6 rushing yards per game. Derrick Henry had 25 carries for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns in week 3. Lamar Jackson rushed for 122 yards in week 1. Baltimore ranks 3rd in the NFL in 3rd-down conversions, with a 48.2% success rate.

Jackson posted a passer rating of 139 in week 3, going 12/15 for 182 yards and a touchdown. Before that, he threw for 247 yards in week 2 and 273 yards in week 1. Zay Flowers, who had 91 yards in week 2, is questionable for the Wild Card round with a knee injury.

In their most recent game, the Ravens’ defense held the Browns to just 56 yards rushing on 19 attempts. They also allowed only 174 passing yards on 18 completions, giving up just 5.1 yards per attempt. The Ravens intercepted two passes and held Cleveland to a 33.3% conversion rate on third downs. Overall, the Ravens’ defense allowed just 230 total yards in their 35-10 win over the Browns.

Our pick vs. the spread is to take the Ravens to cover as 9.5-point home favorites in this week one playoff matchup between the Ravens and Steelers. We have the Ravens winning by a score of 26-15.

For the over/under, with the line sitting at 45.5 points, we are leaning towards taking the under with a projected combined score of 41 points.

Ready To Bet Like A Pro?

Get Accurate NFL Predictions Now!

Join Now!

Lamar Jackson Seeks Redemption as Ravens Host Steelers in Wild-Card Showdown

The narrative for Lamar Jackson has been clear: phenomenal regular-season performances paired with underwhelming playoff outings. On Saturday night, the Baltimore Ravens‘ star quarterback aims to rewrite his postseason story when the third-seeded Ravens (12-5) host the sixth-seeded Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) in the AFC wild-card round.

Jackson’s Playoff Struggles

Jackson, who boasts an NFL MVP trophy but just two playoff wins, has faced criticism for his postseason inconsistency. In six career playoff games, he has thrown six interceptions, lost three fumbles, and accounted for nine total touchdowns (six passing, three rushing).

Acknowledging his struggles, Jackson said, “I’m just too excited — that’s all. Too antsy.” He added that experience has taught him to better balance his emotions, but Saturday’s matchup presents another opportunity to prove it.

Derrick Henry’s Impact

A key weapon for Jackson and the Ravens is Derrick Henry, who joined the team this season and rushed for 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns, ranking among the league’s best. Henry’s playoff experience, including leading the Tennessee Titans to the 2019 AFC Championship Game, will be pivotal as the Ravens aim to avoid another postseason disappointment.

Henry expressed urgency for a different outcome this year, saying, “We’ve got to be different this time. We all know what we’re capable of. Let’s go get it.”

Familiar Rivals

This marks the fifth postseason meeting between Baltimore and Pittsburgh, with the Steelers leading the all-time playoff series 3-1. However, the Ravens won the most recent clash, a 30-17 wild-card victory in 2015.

The teams split their regular-season meetings this year, with the Steelers edging out an 18-16 win on Nov. 17 thanks to six Chris Boswell field goals. The Ravens dominated the rematch on Dec. 21, with Jackson throwing three touchdown passes and Henry rushing for 162 yards in a 34-17 victory.

Steelers’ Challenges

The Steelers enter the postseason on a four-game losing streak, losing the AFC North crown to Baltimore. During the skid, Pittsburgh’s offense has sputtered, scoring no more than 17 points in any game and being outscored 109-57 over that span.

Despite the struggles, head coach Mike Tomlin remains focused. “It’s about this week for us,” Tomlin said. “We’re playing someone that we’re highly familiar with. They’re also highly familiar with us.”

Expand Your Betting Strategies With Expert Blog Insights Today!

Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson, with a Super Bowl title and a 9-7 postseason record, will be tasked with steadying Pittsburgh’s offense.

Injuries to Watch

Both teams are dealing with significant injury concerns. Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (knee) missed his second straight practice Wednesday and is unlikely to play. Baltimore return specialist Deonte Harty (knee), activated from injured reserve, was limited in practice.

For Pittsburgh, defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (illness), kicker Chris Boswell (illness), and tight end MyCole Pruitt (knee) all missed practice.

What to Expect

The Ravens’ dynamic rushing attack led by Henry and Jackson will face a stout Steelers defense anchored by T.J. Watt and (if healthy) Heyward. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, will lean on Wilson’s postseason experience to exploit a Baltimore secondary that has shown vulnerability at times this season.

With both teams knowing each other so well, this wild-card clash promises to be a tightly contested affair, with postseason survival and pride on the line.