AFC North: Ravens Close Gap to Steelers with Win Over Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers Cole Holcomb Lamar Jackson Baltimore Ravens AFC North
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson gets away from Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb in a game at a Acrsiure Stadium on Oct. 8, 2023. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

With a 35-14 road win over the lowly New York Giants during the afternoon window, the Baltimore Ravens snuggled closer to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North.

Lamar Jackson sparkled — passing for 290 yards and 5 touchdowns — while Rashod Bateman had three grabs for 80 yards and two scores. Big Blue starting signal-caller Tommy DeVito exited the game with a concussion in the first half and was replaced by Tim Boyle.

The Steelers downed Cleveland at home last Sunday, allowing Pittsburgh to gain a two-game lead in the standings. Oddsmakers didn’t expect the division race to play out like this.

Prior to the season, ESPN BET listed the Steelers at +750 to win the AFC North. Those were the lowest odds of any team in the grouping. Meanwhile, Baltimore was favored at +140. Cincinnati (+150 preseason odds) and Cleveland (+550) have faded, making it a two-horse race between Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

ESPN BET currently tabs the Ravens at +900 to win Super Bowl LIX. The Steelers are at +2000, right in front of Green Bay (+2200). Those are the third- and fourth-best odds in the AFC, behind Kansas City (+425) and Buffalo (+600). Detroit is the favorite to raise the Lombardi Trophy with +225 odds.

Pittsburgh Steelers Baltimore Ravens AFC North Derek Henry
Baltimore Ravens running back Najee Harris runs against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 17, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

If it’s to restore its two-game divisional advantage, Pittsburgh will have to pass a stiff test on the road in Philadelphia, where the Steelers haven’t won since 1965. The Eagles sport MVP candidate and former Penn State star Saquon Barkley, who’s rushed for a league-leading 1,623 yards through Philly’s first 13 games.

Following its matchup across the Keystone State, Pittsburgh will set its focus on its rematch with Baltimore — this time on the road after a home win last month. Dating back to 2020, the Steelers have won all but one of their last nine meetings with the Ravens. Pittsburgh hasn’t lost in Baltimore since 2019.

The Steelers are Ravens will meet at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

AFC NORTH STANDINGS

 OverallAFC NorthAFCHead-to-head
Steelers10-33-17-2BAL 1-0, CIN 1-0, CLE 1-1
Ravens9-52-25-4CIN 2-0, CLE 0-1, PIT 0-1
Bengals5-81-32-6BAL 0-2, CLE 1-0, PIT 0-1
Browns3-102-23-5BAL 1-0, CIN, 0-1, PIT 1-1
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