BALTIMORE — — Lamar Jackson was strong in Baltimore’s greatest recreation of the season up to now.
Then, after one of many star quarterback’s uncommon slip-ups, one in all his teammates delivered the play of the day.
Jackson threw three landing passes and Marlon Humphrey scored on a fourth-quarter interception return to assist the Ravens pull even with Pittsburgh atop the AFC North with a 34-17 victory over the Steelers on Saturday.
Pittsburgh (10-5) would have clinched the division with a victory, however now the groups are deadlocked after the Ravens (10-5) gained for simply the second time within the final 10 video games on this collection. Baltimore clinched a playoff berth. The Steelers had already carried out so.
“It was cool to get a pick-6, however clinching a spot within the playoffs, to beat the Steelers, I am simply glad that the fellows got here in, put within the work, and we simply took care of enterprise,” Humphrey mentioned. “I felt that this workforce has had our quantity over time. Simply handle enterprise, man. I felt just like the efficiency we placed on wasn’t good, however I felt like that is what we had been presupposed to do.”
Russell Wilson threw two landing passes, the second of which tied the sport at 17 with 5:14 left within the third quarter. Jackson answered with a 7-yard scoring strike to Mark Andrews, and after Pittsburgh turned the ball over on downs, a 44-yard run by Derrick Henry put the Ravens within the purple zone.
That drive got here to nothing when Jackson was intercepted for simply the fourth time this season, however then Humphrey — who was celebrating the current delivery of his son Duke — picked off Wilson and went 37 yards to the tip zone to present Baltimore a cushion in a collection that’s been razor-thin of late. The earlier 9 video games between the Steelers and Ravens had been determined by seven factors or fewer.
“My entire household’s on the town to assist out with my spouse and all the pieces,” Humphrey mentioned. “I used to be texting her earlier than. I am presupposed to go decide her up from the hospital, discharge her with the newborn. So there’s loads of simply nice issues that occurred this week.”
Jackson improved to 2-4 in opposition to Pittsburgh as a starter. This was his first time dealing with the Steelers at dwelling since 2020.
“I really feel like we have been busting our behind all season lengthy, had ups and downs all through this entire season, however to clinch a playoff in opposition to an incredible workforce like that, that is nice,” Jackson mentioned. “Which means we’re transferring in the suitable path.”
Henry rushed for 162 yards.
Pittsburgh entered the sport with a plus-18 margin in turnovers, however the Ravens had the sting in that division Saturday. Baltimore recovered three of its personal fumbles and had two massive takeaways.
“We didn’t management the run recreation. We by no means did. Whenever you don’t, you’ve received to do some splash performs or win the turnover battle in a major manner, and we didn’t try this both,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin mentioned. “There have been some balls on the bottom that we didn’t get. Then clearly we turned the ball over moving into — it took seven factors off the board — they usually had a pick-6. The remaining is historical past, as they are saying.”
Jackson discovered Isaiah Probably for a 9-yard landing to open the scoring. Wilson answered with a 1-yard scoring cross to MyCole Pruitt, and the Steelers appeared poised to take the lead when the veteran quarterback broke free for a 19-yard run in Baltimore territory.
However Ar’Darius Washington delivered a punishing hit on Wilson on the finish of that play, jarring the ball free. Kyle Van Noy recovered for the Ravens on the Baltimore 4.
The Ravens then drove 96 yards and took a 14-7 lead on Jackson’s 14-yard landing toss to Rashod Bateman.
Wilson threw a 12-yard TD to Cordarrelle Patterson to tie it within the third.
Milestones
Jackson set a workforce report along with his thirty seventh landing cross of the season, and he is now as much as a profession excessive of three,787 yards.
Ravens receiver Zay Flowers had 5 catches for 100 yards, surpassing 1,000 on the season.
Henry has exceeded 1,500 yards speeding for the fourth time. He is now as much as 1,636, a mark he is solely surpassed as soon as — in his 2,027-yard marketing campaign of 2020.
Accidents
Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. injured his calf, and WR Ben Skowronek damage his hip. … Baltimore RB Justice Hill left the sport due to a concussion.
Up subsequent
Each groups play on Christmas Day to wrap up stretches of three video games in 11 days. Pittsburgh hosts Kansas Metropolis on Wednesday and Baltimore performs at Houston.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl