Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt warms up before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh have spent nearly two decades staring across the sideline from each other.

At some point, there’s going to be a last time. There’s a sense that the 40th meeting between them might be it.

On the surface, Sunday night’s showdown between the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) and Baltimore Ravens (8-8) is for the AFC North title, fitting for two rivals that have played ping-pong with the division crown over a span of nearly two decades.

Yet the outcome might have significant ripple effects for a pair of clubs that haven’t consistently looked like playoff-worthy teams over the last four months.

“I think both teams have their warts,” longtime Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward said. “But both teams have a chance to play their best ball late. And I would like to be the victor in that.”

Tomlin’s 19th season in Pittsburgh has been uneven. A month ago, fans at Acrisure Stadium were calling for his job.

In fitting Tomlin style, the Steelers responded by ripping off three straight victories — starting with a win at Baltimore on the first Sunday of December. And in fitting Tomlin style, Pittsburgh let a chance to wrap up the division slip away during a three-hour pratfall in the muck at Cleveland last weekend.

The Ravens appeared buried after an injury-plagued 1-5 start. They got it together enough to briefly join the Steelers atop the division, only to stumble yet again before an emphatic victory at Green Bay last weekend.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson plans to play after missing that game with a back injury, though it’s fair to start wondering where the marriage between the two-time MVP and the only head coach he’s ever known might be heading should Baltimore miss the playoffs.

Harbaugh, wrapping up his 18th season with the Ravens, understands the conversation even if he wants no part of it.

“All that stuff makes it all kind of interesting and kind of fun and real,” he said. “It’s sports, and that’s how sports are. And I think that’s part of the intrigue of it all, so I feel really honored to be a part of that.”

Pittsburgh hasn’t won the division since 2020 and hasn’t advanced in the playoffs since 2016. The Steelers have stressed repeatedly over the last 11¢ months the need to put an end to their six-game postseason losing streak.

The notoriously tunnel-visioned Tomlin, whose future beyond the end of this season has become the topic of what to this point remains idle speculation, declined to zoom out on what the fallout might be should the Ravens walk off the field as AFC North champions.

“The winner goes on,” Tomlin said simply.

And the loser will start an offseason that threatens to be more eventful than usual.

Ravens going for three

The Ravens are trying to become the first team to win the AFC North three times in a row.

“I’ve known that for a while. It was a surprise, but then not a surprise when I thought about it for about five seconds, because it’s so darn competitive,” Harbaugh said. “It’s a big deal, but it’s a game. It’s like any big game. There’s a lot riding on it, and there’s a lot to earn, but you have to go play a winning football game.”

The AFC North began in 2002. Baltimore won back-to-back division titles in 2011 and 2012, as well as in 2018 and 2019 — but couldn’t make it three straight either time.

Rodgers’ last stand?

Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been solid if not spectacular in his first — and perhaps only — season in Pittsburgh.

The 42-year-old four-time MVP has thrown 23 touchdown passes and seven interceptions and had possibly the best game of his 21st season four weeks ago at Baltimore, where he threw for 284 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for a score.

Rodgers won’t decide on whether he has a 22nd year in him until the offseason. He nudged the door open this week, saying he thinks he’ll have an option or two if he wants to run it back.

For now, he’s trying to relish playing meaningful football, something that didn’t happen during his two injury-marred seasons with the New York Jets.

“I’ve been a part of the locker room the last couple of years where I get to December and you start talking about your offseason plans, where you’re going to be, your travel plans,” he said. “That’s not a whole lot of fun. You want to be in here talking about the game, talking about meaningful snaps, talking about doing something special. And it starts with this week against Baltimore.”

Workhorse Henry is ready to go

Derrick Henry ran for 216 yards and four touchdowns last weekend at Green Bay, carrying the ball a career-high 36 times. The 31-year-old Henry doesn’t appear to be slowing down.

“I just know when it’s time to go to practice on Wednesday, I’m ready to go,” he said. “I just do my regular recovery, get my body back under me and be ready to go practice on Wednesday.”

Henry ranks third in the NFL with 1,469 yards rushing this season.

Steelers still miss Metcalf but could get Watt back

The Steelers will be without suspended wide receiver DK Metcalf, who will serve the second half of the two-game ban he received for making physical contact with a fan in Detroit on Dec. 21.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt is hopeful to play on Sunday night when the Baltimore Ravens visit with the AFC North title on the line. The perennial Pro Bowler has missed each of Pittsburgh’s past three games following a dry needling treatment mishap that led to surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung.

Watt called the accident, which was administered by a member of the club’s athletic/medical staff, a “fluke.” The 31-year-old, like many NFL players, has used the treatment — in which needles are inserted under the skin to target trigger points such as knotted or tender areas in muscles — for some time.

While Watt didn’t rule out turning to it down the road, he added with a grin that it won’t be a part of his recovery regimen in the short term.

Watt experienced discomfort after having treatment at the facility on Dec. 10. He went to the hospital, where the 2021 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year was told he needed surgery to fix his lung.

“Obviously very scary,” Watt said. “Just a significant amount of pain at the same time you’re going to work, and then all of a sudden you need surgery. It sucks. Just a lot of unknown.”

Watt sat out three critical games while recovering. The Steelers went 2-1 during that stretch — doubling the win total the club had without Watt in the lineup during the first eight seasons of his career — and can win the division for the first time since 2020 by beating the Ravens on Sunday night.

Watt called the rehab process “unique” but felt really good after practice on Friday at Acrisure Stadium.

“I have no limitations,” Watt said. “I tried to simulate as much as I could with shoulder pads and stuff like that. But you can only simulate so much. So I feel really good right now. Hopefully that’s the case on Sunday as well.”

Watt declined to get into specifics about how he was affected physically, instead focusing on what he can do to help Pittsburgh get into the playoffs. The Steelers have reached the postseason five times during Watt’s career, but have yet to advance.

“Everyone knows the magnitude of this game,” Watt said. “It’s just a matter of going out and getting it done. That’s kind of the key. Everybody knows how important these games are. Everybody knows this is what you train all offseason, your whole career for games like this.”

Watt, who receives a significant amount of attention from opposing linemen, tight end and running backs, has just seven sacks this season, his lowest total in a year in which he’s played at least 13 games since his rookie year in 2017.

Longtime teammate Cam Heyward said the Steelers need Watt to do “T.J. Watt” things against the Ravens. Watt has 17 of his 115 sacks against Pittsburgh’s longtime rival.

While Watt is well aware of the one major hole on his resume, he’s also simply happy that he may have a chance to make an impact instead of watching from afar or on the sideline as he’s been forced to do while he recovers.

“I’m glad to have the doctors that we had, the surgeon that I had,” Watt said. “(And) to be able to be here playing football games this weekend.”

Ravens at Steelers

Records: Ravens (8-8); Steelers (9-7)

TV: Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC

BetMGM NFL odds: Ravens by 3.5

Against the spread: Ravens 6-10; Steelers 8-7-1

Series record: Steelers lead 38-26

Last meeting: Steelers won 27-22 on Dec. 7 in Baltimore

Last week: Ravens beat Packers 41-24; Steelers lost to Browns 13-6

Ravens offense: overall (16), rush (1), pass (28), scoring (11)

Ravens defense: overall (25), rush (11), pass (29), scoring (18)

Steelers offense: overall (26), rush (26), pass (22), scoring (15)

Steelers defense: overall (27), rush (12), pass (29), scoring (15)

Turnover differential: Ravens minus-2; Steelers plus-11

Ravens player to watch: QB Lamar Jackson. No sense overcomplicating this. Jackson has missed four games this season, including last weekend against Green Bay. It’s been easily his least effective season in terms of being a running threat, and amid all of his injuries recently, some criticism has popped up about his professionalism and reliability. Jackson still has plenty of people in his corner, however, and this is a chance for him to quiet down some of the negative chatter.

Steelers player to watch: QB Aaron Rodgers. The four-time MVP could be playing the final game of his stellar career on Sunday night. The 42-year-old has been steady if not spectacular at times, though he did throw for a season-high 284 yards in Pittsburgh’s first meeting with Baltimore. That performance, however, comes with a caveat: it happened with wide receiver DK Metcalf in the lineup. Metcalf will be unavailable as he serves a two-game suspension after making physical contact with a fan in Detroit.

Key matchup: Steelers inside linebackers Patrick Queen, Malik Harrison and Payton Wilson against Ravens running back Derrick Henry. Henry has averaged a staggering 147.3 yards rushing in his past three games against Pittsburgh and is coming off a 216-yard, four-touchdown masterpiece last week in Green Bay. The Steelers’ best chance at winning depends on stopping Henry and forcing Jackson to throw it in wintry conditions.

Key injuries: Ravens–Jackson (back) returned to practice on Wednesday and is expected to play Sunday. WR Rashod Bateman (illness) and LB Kyle Van Noy (quadriceps) missed practice time this week. LB Roquan Smith (hamstring) was limited. Steelers–LB TJ Watt (lung surgery) could return after sitting out each of the past three games. … TE Darnell Washington (broken arm) was placed on injured reserve, ending his season. … LG Isaac Seumalo (triceps) was a full participant on Thursday and could be back after missing two games. … WR Calvin Austin III (hamstring) and CB Brandon Echols (groin) may also return after sitting out last week.

Series notes: The Steelers have won 9 of 12 against their longtime rivals in a series that remains tight regardless of the venue. All nine of Pittsburgh’s victories during that span have been decided by seven points or fewer. … Pittsburgh is 21-12 all time at home against the Ravens (playoffs included) and holds a 6-2 advantage overall in January games versus Baltimore. … A full 40 of the team’s 64 games against each other have been decided by one score. The Steelers hold a 25-15 edge in those games. … Pittsburgh is 6-5 all time against Baltimore on Sunday night prime-time games.

Stats and stuff: The winner earns the AFC North title and a home playoff game next week against the top-seeded AFC wild-card team. … The meeting is the 10th “winner take all” final week matchup to decide a division winner since 2002. The Steelers had one such game during that stretch, a 27-17 win over Cincinnati in 2014. … Baltimore RB Derrick Henry has 122 rushing touchdowns, one behind Marcus Allen for third on the NFL’s career list.