Thrilling Thanksgiving Clash Ends in Defeat for the Baltimore Ravens

Thanksgiving Day in the NFL delivered a heart-stopping showdown at M&T Bank Stadium, where the Baltimore Ravens fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-21 in a divisional rivalry game that swung back and forth until the final seconds. The sold-out crowd, decked in purple and gold and fueled by turkey-day spirit, watched as the Ravens fought to protect their spot atop the AFC North, only to see their comeback bid fall short in the closing minutes. The game was a showcase of grit from both teams—featuring big plays from star quarterbacks, game-changing defensive stops, and moments of tension that had fans on their feet. Thrilling Thanksgiving Clash Ends in Defeat for the Baltimore Ravens breaks down the key moments of the rivalry clash, the missteps that cost the Ravens the win, and how the loss reshapes the AFC North race as the regular season enters its final stretch.

Thrilling Thanksgiving Clash Ends in Defeat for the Baltimore Ravens opens with the first half’s back-and-forth action, which set a frenetic pace for the game. The Steelers struck first, with quarterback Kenny Pickett connecting with wide receiver George Pickens for a 35-yard touchdown pass just 4:12 into the first quarter—capitalizing on a Ravens secondary that was missing starting cornerback Marlon Humphrey (out with a hamstring injury). The Ravens responded quickly, though, with Lamar Jackson leading a 7-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 10-yard rushing touchdown from the MVP candidate, tying the game 7-7. Jackson, who looked sharp early, completed 6 of his first 8 passes for 72 yards and added 38 rushing yards in the first quarter alone. The Steelers retook the lead in the second quarter with a 22-yard field goal from Chris Boswell, but the Ravens answered right back when Jackson found tight end Mark Andrews for a 15-yard touchdown pass with 1:30 left in the half, giving Baltimore a 14-10 lead. The first half ended with the Ravens in control, but the Steelers’ defense had already begun to adjust—limiting Jackson’s rushing lanes and pressuring him into two near-interceptions in the final minutes of the quarter.

Thrilling Thanksgiving Clash Ends in Defeat for the Baltimore Ravens shifts to the third quarter, where the Steelers seized momentum with a pair of critical plays that turned the tide. On the first play of the second half, Steelers running back Najee Harris broke free for a 45-yard run, slicing through the Ravens’ defensive line and setting up a 3-yard touchdown run from Pickett just two plays later—putting Pittsburgh back on top 17-14. The Ravens’ offense, which had been so efficient in the first half, sputtered in the third quarter, with Jackson being sacked twice and the offensive line struggling to protect him against the Steelers’ pass rush. The Ravens’ defense also struggled to contain Harris, who finished the quarter with 87 rushing yards and averaged 6.2 yards per carry. The only bright spot for Baltimore in the third quarter was a 41-yard field goal from Justin Tucker, which tied the game 17-17 with 2:15 left, but the momentum was clearly on the Steelers’ side. Replays of the quarter’s key plays highlight the Ravens’ defensive lapses—missed tackles on Harris and blown coverages that allowed the Steelers to extend drives—and the offense’s inability to convert third downs (they went 0 for 3 in the quarter).

Thrilling Thanksgiving Clash Ends in Defeat for the Baltimore Ravens delves into the fourth quarter’s dramatic back-and-forth, which saw the lead change twice and ended with the Steelers securing the win. The Ravens took a 21-17 lead with 9:45 left in the game when Jackson led a 9-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a 5-yard rushing touchdown from running back Gus Edwards—Jackson’s third touchdown of the game (two rushing, one passing). The crowd erupted, and the Ravens’ sideline looked confident, but the Steelers responded with a drive of their own: Pickett completed 4 of 5 passes for 62 yards, including a 20-yard strike to Pickens that set up a 1-yard touchdown run from Harris, giving Pittsburgh a 24-21 lead with 4:12 left. The Baltimore Ravens then had a chance to tie or win the game, with Jackson leading a final drive that reached the Steelers’ 35-yard line with 1:30 left. But on fourth-and-5, Jackson’s pass to Andrews was intercepted by Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who returned it 20 yards to seal the win. The replay of the interception shows Fitzpatrick reading Jackson’s eyes, jumping in front of Andrews, and making a diving catch—ending the Ravens’ comeback hopes and sending the Steelers’ sideline into celebration.

Thrilling Thanksgiving Clash Ends in Defeat for the Baltimore Ravens explores the key factors that cost the Ravens the game, from defensive lapses to offensive inconsistencies. Defensively, the Ravens struggled to stop the run all day, allowing Harris to finish with 142 rushing yards and two touchdowns—marking the first time this season a running back has topped 100 yards against them. The secondary, already thin without Humphrey, was exposed by Pickett and Pickens, who connected for 112 yards and a touchdown. Offensively, the Ravens’ third-down conversion rate was abysmal—they went 3 for 12 on the day—and Jackson was sacked four times, a season high. The offensive line, which had been a strength for the Ravens all year, struggled to handle the Steelers’ pass rush, particularly defensive end T.J. Watt, who recorded two sacks and three quarterback hits. For the Baltimore Ravens, the loss was a reminder of how quickly things can change in the NFL—even for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. “We didn’t execute when we needed to,” Jackson said after the game. “Defensively, we didn’t stop the run, and offensively, we left too many plays on the field. That’s on all of us.”

Thrilling Thanksgiving Clash Ends in Defeat for the Baltimore Ravens wraps up with the implications of the loss for the Ravens’ season and the AFC North race. The defeat drops the Ravens to 9-4 on the season, while the Steelers improve to 8-5—closing the gap in the division to just one game with three weeks left in the regular season. The Ravens still hold the tiebreaker over the Steelers (they won the first meeting 17-10 in Week 5), but the loss means they can no longer clinch the division with a win in their next game. The Ravens also missed a chance to secure a first-round bye in the playoffs, as the Kansas City Chiefs (10-3) now have a two-game lead in the AFC. For the Baltimore Ravens, the loss is a wake-up call—one that comes at the perfect time, as they face a tough stretch run that includes games against the San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins (both playoff contenders). “This loss hurts, but it’s not the end of the world,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “We have to learn from our mistakes, fix what’s broken, and come back stronger next week. That’s what good teams do.” For Ravens fans, the Thanksgiving defeat was a disappointing end to a holiday tradition, but it also served as a reminder that in the NFL, every game matters—and that the road to the Super Bowl is never easy.