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.
In Week 14 of the 2025 NFL regular season, the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and host AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens got close, competitively, in the waning moments of the fourth and final quarter of the game. Thanks to a big play, the Steelers celebrated a win with the linebacker who was nominated as the team’s Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee..
A perfect ending by Highsmith
Outside linebackers T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig, Jack Sawyer, and Alex Highsmith entered the rivalry game with a goal larger than just generating a near-constant pass rush. With Watt and Highsmith garnering the most defensive snaps, the duo helped set the edge and limit the rushing threat of Ravens running back Derrick Henry.
As the game continued, that effort opened up more opportunities to utilize different schemes to pressure Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson.
With the Steelers ahead by just five points, a series of wild plays, including two overturned by replay review, gave both offenses opportunities to change the score.
The Ravens got the ball back with just 1:56 left in the game. Historically, that might have been too much time to give Jackson for a Baltimore comeback. Jackson moved the offense from the BAL 26 to the PIT 30 on 8 plays as time ticked away, putting his team in position for the winning score.
On 3rd & 1 – the ninth play of the drive – Highsmith opted to end the game and hand the Steelers the victory instead.
As Jackson received the snap from shotgun, Highsmith beat the outside block and looped in on Jackson’s blind side. Feeling the pressure, Jackson attempted to step up and get away. Highsmith grabbed Jackson low and held on to make the game-winning sack.
Highsmith finished the game with seven tackles – all solo – to help hand Pittsburgh a much-needed win to give the Steelers the lead in the AFC North division once again this season.
Check back each week as we continue spotlighting the plays that defined the Steelers’ 2025 season, one moment at a time.