The Baltimore Ravens' 2025 season came to a brutal, self-inflicted end on Sunday night, with a 26-24 defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers that has thrown the future of long-serving head coach John Harbaugh into serious doubt.
A Referendum Game Ends in Disaster
This was more than a simple loss. In a classic, gritty AFC North battle with a playoff berth on the line, the game served as a stark referendum on the Ravens' direction. Despite missing key players, the Steelers scored on four of their five second-half drives. Baltimore's response, until the final minutes, was characterised by mistakes.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson then staged a heroic late rally, completing seven of nine passes for two touchdowns. His clutch fourth-down throw to Isaiah Likely with 21 seconds left seemed to have saved the season, setting up a potential game-winning field goal.
The Fateful Knee and Missed Kick
With 12 seconds remaining and one timeout left, the Ravens had a chance to gain extra yardage for rookie kicker Tyler Loop. Instead, John Harbaugh chose to take a knee, settling for a 44-yard attempt. Loop's kick sailed wide right, handing the Steelers the AFC North title and the No. 4 seed, while Baltimore's campaign was over.
This critical decision epitomised a growing concern around Harbaugh's tenure. Despite 180 career wins and a Super Bowl victory in 2012, his recent playoff record with Jackson stands at a disappointing 3-5. The Ravens have failed to capitalise on the prime years of a generational quarterback talent, with strategic missteps in crucial moments becoming a worrying pattern.
A Partnership Grows Stale
The season was marred by significant injuries to stars like Nnamdi Madubuike, and Jackson played through various ailments. While Harbaugh deserves credit for initially believing in Jackson and overseeing his two MVP-calibre seasons, the partnership appears to have stagnated. Next season will be their ninth together, and they seem further from contention than when they last missed the playoffs in 2021.
With Jackson having just two years left on his contract and rumours of tension, the organisation may need a fresh start. Potential replacements, should Harbaugh be let go, include offensive innovators like Mike McDaniel or former Ravens assistant Jesse Minter.
When a team possesses a quarterback of Jackson's rare ability, consistent playoff disappointment becomes unacceptable. The Ravens' season ended not with a bang, but with a conservative knee and a missed kick—a symbolic conclusion that suggests the moment may have finally passed John Harbaugh by.
Around the League: Playoff Picture Set
The AFC wildcard round will see the Houston Texans (5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4), the Los Angeles Chargers (7) at New England Patriots (2), and the Jacksonville Jaguars (3) hosting the Buffalo Bills (6). The Denver Broncos secured the No. 1 seed and a bye.
In the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks clinched the top seed. Their wildcard round features the Los Angeles Rams (5) at Carolina Panthers (4), the Green Bay Packers (7) at Chicago Bears (2), and the San Francisco 49ers (6) at the reigning champion Philadelphia Eagles (3).
Notable Performances and Records
Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns made history, breaking the NFL's single-season sack record with his 23rd of the year. He achieved the feat in significantly fewer pass-rush snaps than previous record-holders Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt.
In a bizarre statistical anomaly, the New York Jets finished the season without a single interception, becoming the first team in NFL history to do so. Their 3-14 collapse has put coach Aaron Glenn's future in extreme jeopardy.
The league celebrated a year of remarkable parity, with five teams making the playoffs after suffering 11-plus losses last season, including three 'worst-to-first' division champions.
