🔥 Steelers vs Ravens: The Call That Shocked Everyone — And Flipped the AFC North

December 08, 2025
Image Source :: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Introduction

Steelers vs Ravens delivered everything the rivalry sells: late-game tension, controversial replay decisions, and quotable heat from the locker rooms. On Dec. 7, 2025, Pittsburgh walked out of Baltimore with a 27–22 win that gave the Steelers sole possession of the AFC North — and sparked fresh debate over catch rules and officiating. Here's a plain-spoken breakdown of what happened, why the overturned Isaiah Likely touchdown mattered, and what the result means for both clubs as the stretch run begins.

The game in short: final score, key moments

Pittsburgh beat Baltimore 27–22 in a game that came down to the final possessions. Aaron Rodgers put together a steady performance to keep drives alive; Lamar Jackson pushed the Ravens late but came up short when a fourth-quarter catch by tight end Isaiah Likely was overturned on review. That reversal erased what would have been a go-ahead score with less than three minutes left, and the Steelers held on to claim the division lead. CBS Sports+1

Why the Likely no-TD call flipped the script

The overturned play is the headline, and not just because it changed the scoreboard. Isaiah Likely appeared to haul in a 13-yard touchdown from Lamar Jackson and briefly gave Baltimore the lead. Replay officials later ruled the ball came loose before Likely completed an act common to the game — specifically, he didn’t make the “third step” while maintaining control — so the call on the field was changed to an incomplete pass. The NFL’s vice president of instant replay, Mark Butterworth, explained that control is the first priority, then feet in bounds, and finally an act common to the game; the league concluded the ball was dislodged before that third foot landed. That official explanation is why the call stood after review, but it hardly ended the argument. NFL.com+1

What the stats and box score tell us

  • Final: Steelers 27, Ravens 22. That result pushed Pittsburgh to 7–6 and dropped Baltimore to 6–7 in the standings. ESPN+1

  • Rodgers paced the Steelers through the crunch; postgame reports credited him with a multi-hundred-yard passing day and a touchdown, steadying the offense when it mattered. The Steelers’ defensive stand — including Alex Highsmith’s pressure late in the game — sealed the win. Reuters+1

  • On Baltimore’s side, Lamar Jackson produced two total touchdowns and made the plays to give his team a chance; Derrick Henry and Zay Flowers were active contributors in the ground and receiving games. Still, red-zone and replay reversals haunted the Ravens. Reuters+1

(If you want full player-by-player box score numbers, the official game box on ESPN/CBS/NFL has the detailed breakdowns.) ESPN+1

The fallout: coaches, players and the media circus

John Harbaugh and several Ravens players publicly questioned the calls in the postgame atmosphere — a natural reaction when a pivotal play is overturned in that way. Harbaugh described his frustration, saying the game swung on decisions he didn’t agree with. Meanwhile, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin received a shot of validation from the win — and from Aaron Rodgers, who bluntly told reporters something to the effect of “maybe you guys will shut the hell up for a week” when asked about the coaching noise around Tomlin. That line drew headlines and underscored how much narrative can swirl around a single rivalry result. ESPN+1

How this affects the AFC North picture

The loss dropped the Ravens behind Pittsburgh in the division with only a handful of games to go, which matters a lot in the NFL: divisional tiebreakers and home-field for late-season games can shift a playoff path dramatically. The Ravens’ playoff probability took a hit, and the Steelers — buoyed by the victory — have the momentum to push for the top seed in the AFC North if they keep winning. Both teams still have work to do, but the swing in standings after this game is real. ESPN+1

What to watch next — matchups, injuries, and lingering questions

  • Injury watch: Rivalry games get nasty. Keep an eye on late-week injury reports for anyone who left the game sore; short-term absences can alter how each team approaches upcoming opponents. (Teams will publish official updates.) Behind the Steel Curtain

  • Replay and rule debate: Expect analysts and fans to rehash the “catch” standard. The third-step control nuance will be dissected on sports shows and social feeds; whether it prompts any league-level clarification remains to be seen. NFL.com+1

  • Psychology and momentum: Pittsburgh’s locker-room morale just got a boost; Baltimore will need to convert frustration into focus. How each team responds the next two weeks will say a lot about their playoff readiness.

Bottom line

Steelers vs Ravens lived up to the billing: a gritty, close game decided by a razor-thin replay ruling and a few critical plays in the waning minutes. Pittsburgh walks away with the division lead and a controversial win. The Ravens walk away with questions — both about execution and officiating — and a narrow margin for error the rest of the way. Rivalries like this don’t just hand us a final score; they hand us storylines that linger into the playoffs.

References

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