NFL results and highlights: Lamar Jackson leads Baltimore Ravens to playoff-clinching win over Pittsburgh Steelers

Lamar Jackson threw three touchdowns and Marlon Humphrey scored on a fourth-quarter interception return as the Baltimore Ravens beat the Pittsburgh Steelers to go level with their rivals at the top of the AFC North standings.

The Steelers (10-5) would have clinched the division with a victory, but now the teams are deadlocked after the Ravens (10-5) won for just the second time in the last 10 meetings between the sides.

Pittsburgh quarterback Russell Wilson threw two touchdown passes, the second of which to Cordarrelle Patterson tied the game at 17 with just over five minutes left in the third quarter. But Ravens QB Jackson answered with a seven-yard scoring strike of his own to Mark Andrews to restore their lead.

Humphrey then iced the win early in the fourth quarter, picking off Wilson running the ball back 37 yards to the end zone as Baltimore confirmed a playoff berth.

Pittsburgh had entered the game with a plus-18 margin in turnovers, but the Ravens had the edge in that department on Saturday, Baltimore recovering three of their own fumbles and picking up two big takeaways.

Jackson found Isaiah Likely for a nine-yard touchdown to open the scoring in the first quarter, while Wilson answered with a one-yard TD toss to MyCole Pruitt, and the Steelers had appeared poised to take the lead when the veteran quarterback broke loose for a 19-yard run in Baltimore territory only for the QB to fumble the football after a huge hit by Ar’Darius Washington at the end of the same play.

The Ravens then drove 96 yards down the field and took a 14-7 lead on a Jackson 14-yard touchdown pass to Rashod Bateman, before Justin Tucker and Chris Boswell traded in 51-yard field goals to end the first half.

After Wilson and Patterson’s scoring connection tied the game for the Steelers in the third quarter, the Ravens would ultimately run away with things thereafter.

Stats leaders

Pittsburgh Steelers

• Passing: Russell Wilson, 22/33, 217 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
• Rushing: Jaylen Warren, 12 carries, 48 yards
• Receiving: Calvin Austin, 4 catches, 65 yards

Baltimore Ravens

• Passing: Lamar Jackson, 15/23, 207 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
• Rushing: Derrick Henry, 24 carries, 162 yards
• Receiving: Zay Flowers, 5 catches, 100 yards

Scoring Summary

What was said?

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson: “I feel like we’ve been busting our behind all season long, had ups and downs throughout this whole season, but to clinch a playoff against a great team like that, that’s great. That means we’re moving in the right direction.”

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin: “We didn’t control the run game. We never did. When you don’t, you’ve got to do some splash plays or win the turnover battle in a significant way, and we didn’t do that either. The rest is history, as they say.”

What’s next?

The Steelers host the reigning Super Bowl-champion Kansas City Chiefs, with the Ravens travelling to the Houston Texans, both games taking place on Christmas Day to kick off the penultimate week of the 2024 NFL regular season.

Watch the Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Commanders from 6pm Sunday, live on Sky Sports NFL, followed by Minnesota Vikings @ Seattle Seahawks. Stream with NOW.