The Steelers are entrusting Mason Rudolph with their NFL playoff hopes. (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Mason Rudolph has been handed the keys with the Steelers’ NFL playoff hopes at stake.
The fourth-year veteran will start a third straight game for Pittsburgh in a critical matchup against the rival Baltimore Ravens. Kenny Pickett is healthy enough to play but will be the backup.
The Steelers have multiple paths to the postseason, each of them requiring help. Their best bet is to pick up a win over the Ravens, which would clinch a playoff spot alongside a Bills or Jaguars loss on Sunday.
The Ravens have locked up the AFC’s No. 1 seed and having nothing to play for in terms of playoff positioning. But that hasn’t stopped them before in the exact same scenario with a chance to spoil their rivals’ playoff hopes. The Ravens beat the Steelers in the 2019 season finale having already locked up the No. 1 seed.
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for highlights and updates from Saturday’s game.
Live25 updates
This is how you celebrate a bonus in almost-freezing weather:
Game’s tied after the extra point and Jadeveon Clowney sacks Rudolph! It brings him to 9.5 sacks for the year. He confirmed reports that the number triggers a $750K bonus by dancing on the field.
Ravens are alive!! Huntley passes deep right to tight end Isaiah Likely for a 27-yard touchdown. He had to break some tackles to make it happen.
There was some drama surrounding the Ravens’ punt but the Steelers got the ball and punted after 9 yards. This is going to be a short game.
Mark Robinson sacks Huntley, first of the game.
That was Melvin Gordon’s 19th career lost fumble, the most by any non-QB since 2015, per ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.
The Steelers’ defense forces a turnover. After the Ravens got their 1st first down of the game, Melvin Gordon fumbled.
The Steelers were called for having 12 players out for the punt to open the second. The flag was pretty delayed after the play ended so they had to punt again.
…And that’s all she wrote for the first quarter. Ravens didn’t have a single first down.
Here’s Najee’s score. If you can’t tell by the water on the camera, it’s still raining.
Steelers punt after a failed deep shot from Rudolph on third-and-3.
Things aren’t going well for the Ravens so far. Steelers are back on offense.
Tyler Huntley and Ravens offense have gone 3-and-out on first two possessions. It’s a total of 10 yards on six plays.
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) January 6, 2024
Najee Harris gets in the end zone! Boswell’s extra point is good and the Steelers are up 7-0. Harris already has eight carries, feels like he’s carrying the Steelers’ offense right now.
We have some life! Warren runs for 23 yards, brings the Steelers to the Ravens 43-yard line.
Steelers get a 3-and-out after the Ravens are only able to go 7 yards on the opening drive. One of Huntley’s passes looked good though.
Steelers couldn’t convert on third down and had to punt. Tyler Huntley is up!
First couple of carries were a big indicator of what we’ll be seeing throughout this game. Steelers running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren both bobbled the ball in the slippery conditions.
Ravens win the toss and defer, Steelers will get the ball first.
This is the 35th matchup between Tomlin’s Steelers and John Harbaugh’s Ravens, as noted on the pregame broadcast. Plenty of history between these coaches.
