Steel City Underground presents our 2025 Plays of the Year series: a weekly rewind through the biggest moments, breakout performances, and unforgettable highlights from last season’s Pittsburgh Steelers campaign.
The Pittsburgh Steelers came out ready for the primetime Sunday Night Football game against the Baltimore Ravens in the battle for the AFC North title and final game of the 2025 regular season. Pittsburgh won the coin toss and put their defense up against the Ravens right away.
The Ravens scored first on a drive that went 85 yards on eight plays, leaving a bad taste in the mouths of the Steelers — especially after their own offense was forced to punt the ball away on its opening series.
Getting back to work, Pittsburgh loaded up the middle of the defensive line to bottle-up Ravens rusher Derrick Henry while mixing in some unique pressure packages on Lamar Jackson.
On 3rd-and-6 at the Baltimore 32-yard line, with Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt on the edge, Jackson took the shotgun snap. The Ravens offensive line could not compensate when outside linebacker Nick Herbig, lined up in the middle of the field, blitzed.
Herbig shed his block and wrapped up Jackson for a sack and a loss of 13 yards.
AREA 51 😤 @nickherbig_
📲 Stream on NFL+: pic.twitter.com/oGcmgTA81j
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 5, 2026
The Ravens were forced to punt the ball away on the next play.
In the game, Herbig was joined by Highsmith and Derrick Harmon in bringing Jackson to the turf for 3.0 total sacks by the Steelers defense. Herbig’s sack raised his season total to 7.5.
🔋🔋🔋#ForTheCelly | @Budlight pic.twitter.com/eA7An4VRLK
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 5, 2026
The Steelers won the game, 26-24, taking the AFC North title.
Check back each week as we continue spotlighting the plays that defined the Steelers’ 2025 season — one moment at a time.