BALTIMORE -- The Steelers are accustomed to playing big games against the Ravens. But typically, they are big games for both teams.
Not so this time around.
The Ravens? They've already clinched not only the AFC North championship, but the top seed in the AFC playoffs with their 13-2 record.
The Steelers? At 8-7 and losers of their past two games, they're still alive for the postseason, but need a win or tie against the Ravens and a loss by the Titans (8-7) against the Texans (10-5) as the easiest path to the playoffs.
At least that's how the Steelers are approaching things.
“The only scenario that matters is if we win,” defensive end Cam Heyward said. “That's how I see it. I'm not looking for anybody else to do the job. I know we've got to look for help but the job's got to get done in here.”
The Steelers also can back into the postseason with a loss and a loss by the Titans and win by the Colts. But they don't want to get in that way. They want to win.
With everything clinched, the Ravens will make things a little easier. John Harbaugh announced Monday that quarterback Lamar Jackson, guard Marshal Yanda, safety Earl Thomas, running back Mark Ingram and defensive tackle Brandon Williams won’t play. And that could be just the tip of the iceberg for the Ravens.
Even if that's all the Ravens that will sit in this game, it's significant. Jackson is the easy frontrunner for NFL MVP, having accounted for 43 touchdowns, 36 passing and seven rushing. Ingram has 15 touchdowns, including 10 on the ground.
Together, they have had a hand in 53 of the Ravens' league-best 62 touchdowns this season.
Even the Steelers' popgun offense this season has scored more than the nine touchdowns the Ravens' remaining skill players have this season that don't involve Jackson or Ingram.
“The main thing is winning the next game," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "It’s always been that way for us: All hands on deck, all focus on the next game. This is the next game and it also is the Steelers. You never want to downplay that because we have so much respect for them. We know what kind of game it’s always going to be and always been. That’s what we’re looking forward to.”
That's the expectation for the Steelers, who have been struggling, especially offensively, having scored just eight offensive touchdowns in their past seven games. They've managed to go 4-3 in those games, but know that even a watered-down Ravens roster will be a tough matchup with rookie Devlin Hodges making his sixth start of the season.
Hodges won his first three starts but has lost the past two, getting pulled last week in a 16-10 defeat against the Jets in favor of Mason Rudolph after throwing two interceptions early. But Rudolph suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in the second half, so it's back to Hodges this week.
"It’s definitely a must-win," Hodges said. "We have to win the game and see what other things happen. We’re focused on us and focused on what we’ve got to do to win the game."
Even if the Steelers don't make the playoffs, something that is beyond their control, they'd still like to finish what has been an interesting season with a victory.
And the Steelers have won 11 consecutive regular season finales, including some situations where they have been resting starters to get ready for the playoffs.
"They're a good franchise, so it really doesn't matter," said Steelers guard David DeCastro. "We've been in that situation before and won. We'll get their best shot."
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