Mason Rudolph connected with Diontae Johnson for a go-ahead 71-yard touchdown and the Pittsburgh Steelers took one step closer to a playoff berth by beating the host Baltimore Ravens 17-10 in their regular-season finale on Saturday night. Rudolph completed 18 of 20 passes for 152 yards, and Najee Harris racked up 112 yards and a rushing touchdown on 26 carries for Pittsburgh, which outgained Baltimore 289-224 amid pouring rain. The Steelers (10-7) would clinch a playoff spot if the Indianapolis Colts and visiting Houston Texans tie later Saturday night. If not, a loss by the Jacksonville Jaguars or Buffalo Bills on Sunday will be enough for Pittsburgh to earn a wild card
The Ravens (13-4) had already locked up the No. 1 playoff seed in the AFC, so they rested Lamar Jackson and several other starters. Tyler Huntley threw for 146 yards and a touchdown on 15-for-28 passing. Before leaving the game in the third quarter with a knee injury, Steelers star pass rusher T.J. Watt recorded two sacks to reach 19 for the season for the second time in his career. The first player with multiple 19-sack seasons was his older brother, J.J. Watt. The Steelers chewed up 76 yards and 7:32 of game clock in 12 plays on their second drive. Three different rushers carried the ball before Harris did the honors from 6 yards out, and Pittsburgh led with 2:36 left in the first
Both teams lost at least one fumble in the wet conditions during the second quarter, but the Ravens got clicking with time winding down. Two plays after Gus Edwards ripped off a 29-yard run, Huntley hit Isaiah Likely for a 27-yard touchdown with 2:19 left before halftime. It was the tight end’s fifth touchdown in five games. While the sides traded punts during the third quarter, Watt and teammate Montravius Adams made inadvertent knee-to-knee contact during a play, and Watt went down in pain. He was able to walk to the locker room under his own power. Rudolph’s go-ahead touchdown pass came on a third-and-4 on the first play of the fourth quarter. He went over the top to Johnson, who caught it in stride and hustled away for a 14-7 lead with 14:49 to play.
The Ravens were then forced to punt, and on their following possession, Eric Rowe stripped Edwards of the ball and Markus Golden recovered for Pittsburgh. Chris Boswell tacked on a 25-yard field goal for a 10-point advantage with 3:13 left. Justin Tucker made a 36-yard field goal for the Ravens with 16 seconds left, but they were unable to recover a last-ditch onside kick.
