The Steelers could have avoided this matchup, but they lost on Saturday night to the Bengals. Their punishment is a trip to Baltimore on Wild Card Weekend.
With Pittsburgh's loss and the Chargers' win over the Raiders, Los Angeles sealed the No. 5 seed in the AFC. The Steelers beat the Chargers earlier this season, so Los Angeles had to win in Las Vegas today to finish 11-6 and one game ahead of Pittsburgh.
So, here are opening Steelers vs. Ravens odds for the NFL Wild Card Round of the playoffs next weekend.
Steelers vs. Ravens Odds
| Steelers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+8.5 -105 | 46.5 -110o / -110u | +350 |
| Ravens Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-8.5 -115 | 46.5 -110o / -110u | -450 |
- Steelers vs. Ravens spread: Steelers +8.5 (-105), Ravens -8.5 (-115)
- Steelers vs. Ravens total: Over/Under 46.5 points scored
- Steelers vs. Ravens moneylines: Steelers +350, Ravens -450
These odds are as of Sunday at 9:17 p.m. ET.
Steelers vs. Ravens Projection
Sean Koerner, Action Network's director of predictive analytics, is delivering us his early projections for every playoff game as each matchup is set.
Koerner projects this spread as Ravens -9 with the over/under set at 46.5 points scored.
Pittsburgh Steelers
By Brandon Anderson
Pittsburgh still has never finished below .500 under head coach Mike Tomlin, but a promising season that started 8-2 has stumbled toward the finish line.
The Steelers offense has been plagued by inconsistency all season, even after Russell Wilson took the job, and it’s become clear how important George Pickens is. Much of the offense comes down to moon ball deep shots down the field.
Pittsburgh has outstanding special teams and coaching, but any playoff success will come down to the Steel Curtain defense, like usual. That defense has slipped over the back half of the season and the corners are especially beatable, but Pittsburgh’s elite pass rush led by potential Defensive Player of the Year Award-winner T.J. Watt remains its best mode of attack in any matchup.
Baltimore Ravens
By Brandon Anderson
For a second straight season, many advanced metrics rate the Ravens as the best team in football. Baltimore ranks No. 1 in DVOA both offensively and overall, with Baltimore accumulating the sixth-best DVOA ever heading into Week 18.
Lamar Jackson is the defending MVP and might well win it again. He’s had his best season as a passer, and the scary part is that he hasn’t even run the ball as much this season.
That’s because Derrick Henry has been the hammer for this team, controlling the clock and dictating pace all season. Add in improved offensive line play under offensive coordinator Todd Monken and this unit has been nearly unstoppable.
And don’t look now, but the Ravens defense has come together nicely. Senior advisor Dean Pees helped reshape this unit midseason by moving Marlon Humphrey back into the slot and unleashing Kyle Hamilton in a new role; Baltimore’s pass defense has leapt into the top five since the start of December to complement an already stout run defense.
Justin Tucker and the usually terrific Baltimore special teams remain a question mark, but outside of that, it’s simply time for this team to prove this formula can work in the playoffs.
