OTL: Santa Delivers for the Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens got everything on their wish list eventually; they just waited to celebrate Christmas till over the weekend. First, they beat the Green Bay Packers as a gift to themselves. Then under the tree was a Steelers’ loss to the Browns. The Steelers could only manage two field goals on Sunday, and fell in Cleveland 13-6. The Ravens playoff chances were in the single digits but now they have a win-and-in showdown with the Steelers. You guessed it, the battle is on Sunday Night Football.

Yesterday afternoon, the Ravens’ playoff odds were 4%, per NYT playoff simulator. After beating the Packers and watching the Browns upset the Steelers, Baltimore now owns a 52% chance to make the postseason.

— Sam Cohn (@samdcohn) December 28, 2025

The Ravens put themselves in a position where they needed help. They needed to win out and they needed the Steelers to lose to the Browns, setting up a chance for them to beat Pittsburgh in the final game. The Ravens are essentially pulling off a Han Solo-like defiance, saying, “Never tell me the odds.” The Star Wars reference seems fitting because the Ravens perfect weekend felt like science fiction.

“Never tell me the odds.” ~ Han Solo pic.twitter.com/Ryc0V7Z5NY

— Basso (@Ryanilbasso) June 15, 2025

How did it happen? The Steelers struggled on offense and Derrick Henry shoved the Packers into submission.

The Steelers struggled on offense. In a USA Today What We Learned Post of the week, Nate Davis noted the Steelers most troubling absence:

Think the team could have used [DK Metcalf] Sunday in a game it lost 13-6 to the lowly Cleveland Browns? Pittsburgh, which had just 160 net passing yards in its defeat, blew a chance to win the AFC North and will now have to do so by sweeping the archrival Baltimore Ravens in Week 18 at Acrisure Stadium.

The Steelers had no rhythm offensively. They kept taking shots at Marquez Valdes-Scantling who was covered by Pro Bowl corner Denzel Ward. It did not work and the Steelers were held to just 168 passing yards. There was some controversy at the end of the game, as the Steelers insisted MVS was interfered with on the final play. This late game call did not go the Steelers’ way and the Ravens were given life.

https://twitter.com/Browns/status/2005382880214847661

The Ravens showed appreciation for the Browns victory on X. The Browns clapped back, quoting the tweet “Don’t think we did this for you.” The Ravens benefited from the dynamics of the AFC North. Divisional games are never easy and the Steelers have developed a habit of losing in Cleveland over the past few years. The Browns hatred of the Steelers was the perfect propellant for the surprising outcome.

Many legends have walked Green Bay’s hallowed visiting tunnel.

This one produced the most rushing yards (216) ever by an opposing player at Lambeau Field. pic.twitter.com/sIa4KzIHot

— Baltimore Ravens Communications (@Ravens_Comms) December 28, 2025

The Packers got hit by a freight train called King Henry. In all the historic moments of Lambeau Field, nobody has ever rushed for more yards than Derrick Henry. His 216-yard performance came with four touchdowns. The Ravens got the message from their loss against the Patriots, where Henry was on the sideline for the pivotal moments. Everyone in the sports media world critiqued the Ravens for not closing that Patriots game with Henry. In Green Bay, the Ravens made Henry the focal point to historic success. Henry should be the key to the Ravens’ season finale no matter who is playing quarterback.

The Football Night in America analysts have boiled this down to the most simple answer: The Ravens must rely on Henry. It took 17 weeks, but the answer seems that simple. The Ravens seem more functional when they are a ground and pound team. The offensive line seems like less of a liability, and the offense itself just had one of its most efficient games without Lamar Jackson. Jackson playing against the Steelers is a toss-up. This means Henry is the answer and then some.

Tyler Huntley has had ice in his veins on third down tonight. Whole NFL world watching. Making himself some money for years to come. pic.twitter.com/nHrFqa4pTd

— Bobby Trosset (@bobbybaltim0re) December 28, 2025

Don’t sell the Ravens short if they need to call on Tyler Huntley again. He had 107 yards and a touchdown against the Packers. He only had four incomplete passes, and some of these passes were clutch. This highlight of Huntley finding Zay Flowers in the end zone says a lot about the Ravens offense with Huntley in command. As long as Henry is the centerpiece, Huntley can get the job done.

Tyler Huntley put on a cheese grater after beating the Packers pic.twitter.com/79xewNubsM

— Jacob Zanolla (@jacobzanolla) December 28, 2025

Something tells me Huntley can get a free beer anytime he wants it in Chicago. The Ravens win made the Bears the NFC North Champions. Huntley wore a cheese grater hat after the game, popularized a week earlier by the Bears. The Cheeseheads had a rough week, but are still a playoff team.

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Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2025/12/29/out-to-lunch/santa-browns/