The Baltimore Ravens’ playoff hopes took another hit Sunday as they fell 27-22 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 14.
The loss marked Baltimore’s seventh of the season and their second consecutive defeat, leaving the team scrambling to keep its postseason ambitions alive. At the center of the struggle is quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has yet to regain the MVP form that defined his early career.
Jackson, a two-time league MVP, completed 19 of 35 passes for 219 yards with one touchdown and one interception against Pittsburgh. While those numbers might seem serviceable, they mask the recent trend of difficulty he has faced in the passing game.
Prior to this matchup, Jackson had failed to throw a touchdown in his previous three games and had accumulated just one passing score against four interceptions over the past four weeks.
Former NFL cornerback Richard Sherman weighed in on Jackson‘s struggles during his Sunday podcast, hinting that the Ravens may be managing an undisclosed injury to their star quarterback.
“I think there’s something going on,” Sherman said. “They started the season 1-5 after he got hurt, but they didn’t look that great then. We can talk about it, I mean, it all really, really started to go downhill maybe after that Buffalo game when Derrick Henry fumbled that ball in the fourth quarter and things kind of just started to cascade… Lamar Jackson just looks out of sorts right now for some reason.”
Jackson‘s performance against the Steelers underscores that concern, as his mobility and timing-once defining attributes of his game-appeared limited.
Earlier this season, Jackson had been dealing with knee and ankle injuries that forced him to miss time and likely affected his overall efficiency even upon his return.
Analysts, including ESPN’s NFL injury specialists, have noted that quarterbacks returning from lower-body injuries often require additional time to regain full confidence in their mechanics, which may partially explain Jackson‘s recent downturn.
Ravens face an uphill battle to reclaim momentum
Beyond the individual struggles of Jackson, the Ravens’ overall offense has shown inconsistency this season. Baltimore’s rushing attack, traditionally a strong component of their identity, has faltered at times, forcing Jackson into high-pressure passing situations.
The Steelers’ defense capitalized on these moments, applying consistent pressure that disrupted both Jackson’s timing and decision-making. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Jackson was under pressure on nearly 40 percent of dropbacks against Pittsburgh, leading to hurried throws and the lone interception of the game.
The Ravens’ playoff picture has grown increasingly murky. Sitting in the middle of the AFC standings, they now rely on both wins and favorable outcomes from other games to maintain postseason viability.
Head coach John Harbaugh has repeatedly stressed the importance of maintaining team morale and focusing on incremental improvements, yet there is little room for error in the coming weeks.
While Jackson‘s health and performance are central to Baltimore’s success, the team’s offensive line and supporting cast must also elevate their play. If Jackson can regain mobility and timing similar to his MVP seasons, and the Ravens can protect him effectively, Baltimore could still make a late-season push.
However, with multiple games remaining against playoff-caliber opponents, the margin for error is razor-thin.
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