John Harbaugh explains the decision before the ugly end against the Steelers
Sunday 18 brought the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers into a pressure cooker with NFL playoff stakes on the line, and the ending became raw and unforgettable. The rivalry carried weight and the emotions showed it. The ravens overwhelmed the faith, but the Steelers didn’t give up. John Harbaugh he lived every swing from the sideline, steady in expression but training under fire. And in the final seconds, the decision everyone will remember came down to a shot. Tyler Loop lined up and the stadium held its breath. The ball flew wide, and the season changed course in an instant.
John Harbaugh faced the questions immediately and remained firm. He explained why the Ravens decided to center the ball instead of going for more yards before the last field goal attempt. Speaking to reporters, Harbaugh said, “I don’t think it was a bad decision reported Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Banner. Staff wanted Loop time in case of bad footage. They valued control. They valued security. The choice reflected that thinking under pressure. Bo Smolka from PressBok he added that Harbaugh didn’t want “something bad to happen on the run before the FG attempt” and believed Baltimore was “in a good spot.” The plan was safe. The end was brutal.
The loss, the aftermath and what it means for the Ravens now
The Steelers escaped with a 26-24 victory, sealed by Aaron Rodgers’ late touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III. earlier, Lamar Jackson responded with a 64-yard strike to Zay Flowers. The momentum was swinging all night. Jackson finished 11-of-18 for 238 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He gave life to Baltimore. The missed shot is over.
With the loss, the Ravens will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2021. The Steelers now host the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round. And the story no longer ends at one game. Rumors are swirling about Harbaugh’s future with the Ravensand his situation feels very much in flux.
Under the lights, one question remains for Baltimore: What next after missing the NFL playoffs?
2026-01-05 11:05:00
