PITTSBURGH — It sounded like a cannon shot, then silence, then absolute bedlam.
With the AFC North crown hanging in the balance, Baltimore Ravens rookie kicker Tyler Loop lined up for the biggest swing of his life—a 44-yard attempt to silence Acrisure Stadium and send Baltimore to the postseason. The snap was clean. The hold was good. But the ball never had a chance.
It sailed wide right, twisting harmlessly into the net as the Steelers sideline erupted. Final score: Steelers 26, Ravens 24.
Pittsburgh is dancing into the playoffs. Baltimore is going home.
You couldn’t script a crueler ending for Baltimore. After Steelers kicker Chris Boswell missed an extra point with 55 seconds remaining—leaving the door cracked open for a Ravens comeback—Lamar Jackson went to work. The two-time MVP engineered a masterclass drill, including a miraculous 4th-and-7 strike to Isaiah Likely that put the Ravens on the Pittsburgh 26-yard line.
Everything was set. Loop, who had been perfect from under 50 yards all season, just needed to do what he’s done since training camp. instead, he joined the infamy of Ravens-Steelers lore.
“I just mishit the ball. The second it made contact with my foot, I felt it lower. We talk about hitting on the fourth lace of the shoe. It felt a little lower down the foot and hit it thin.” — Tyler Loop, Ravens Kicker
The miss wasted a heroic effort from Jackson, who threw for 238 yards and three touchdowns, including two deep bombs to Zay Flowers in the fourth quarter. It also wasted a gritty 126-yard rushing performance from Derrick Henry.
Before the special teams chaos, two future Hall of Famers traded haymakers. Aaron Rodgers, at 42 years old, looked surgical. He dissected the Ravens’ secondary for 294 yards, finding Calvin Austin III for a 26-yard touchdown with under a minute to play that proved to be the game-winner.
“I just mishit the ball.” #Ravens K Tyler Loop answers questions from reporters after his kick sailed wide right. pic.twitter.com/das7pLKBYg
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 5, 2026
The fourth quarter alone featured four lead changes. Jackson found Flowers for a 50-yard score. Rodgers answered. Jackson hit Flowers again for 64 yards. Rodgers answered again. It was heavyweight boxing in shoulder pads.
The Ravens locker room was a morgue. Jackson, usually measured in defeat, didn’t hide his frustration with the season’s abrupt end.
“Devastating. Furious. I’m all types of emotions right now. We did all that to come up short.” — Lamar Jackson, Ravens Quarterback
Head Coach John Harbaugh, who was seen with his arm around Loop walking off the field, tried to keep the perspective on the rookie’s future.
“It sucks, and we have your back, but we have to go. You’re going to have more kicks.” — John Harbaugh, Ravens Head Coach
The result flips the AFC bracket on its head.
For Loop, the offseason begins today, and it’s going to be a long one. For the Steelers, the “Stairway to Seven” is officially back under construction.
