Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers: Week 4 Matchup Preview & Predictions

Game Overview

Week 4 brings one of the most compelling matchups on the schedule as the Baltimore Ravens travel to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Both franchises arrive with something to prove, and this contest has all the ingredients of a hard-fought, meaningful game.

Baltimore Ravens Outlook

Baltimore's offense begins and ends with Lamar Jackson's legs. When the Ravens can establish the run and control the line of scrimmage, their offense is nearly impossible to stop. The game airs on CBS, giving this matchup national exposure that reflects its competitive quality.

Head coach John Harbaugh has built a team around a RPO-heavy run-pass option attack built around Jackson's dual-threat ability on offense and a aggressive, press-coverage defense with elite safety play on defense. The team's primary strength is Jackson's rushing threat that forces defenses into impossible assignment conflicts, while the coaching staff will look to address their consistency in the red zone when the run game is bottled up in this week's contest.

John Harbaugh's defense is built on physicality. Baltimore takes away the opponent's primary option and dares them to beat them with their secondary or tertiary reads.

Pittsburgh Steelers Outlook

Tomlin's teams never have losing records. Their discipline and situational football is an organizational strength.

Mike Tomlin has the Pittsburgh Steelers operating a balanced, run-complemented passing attack that relies on Wilson's experience and mobility complemented by a multiple-front, pressure-generating defense with decades of scheme continuity. Their biggest advantage this week is Mike Tomlin's ability to keep teams competitive regardless of roster construction, which presents a meaningful challenge for the visiting Baltimore Ravens.

Pittsburgh's defense is the team's identity. Mike Tomlin's defensive continuity gives the Steelers a genuine competitive advantage.

Key Players to Watch

Lamar Jackson — QB, Baltimore Ravens

A two-time MVP whose rushing ability makes every Ravens drive a potential explosive play. Jackson's combination of arm talent and running ability forces defenses to account for him on every snap, opening the field for his receivers.

Zay Flowers — WR, Baltimore Ravens

Flowers' speed and explosiveness after the catch complement Jackson's style perfectly. He creates mismatches in space and has become one of the AFC's most dangerous slot receivers when healthy.

Russell Wilson — QB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Wilson's experience and football IQ give Pittsburgh a steady hand at quarterback. His ability to extend plays and make something out of broken situations remains valuable.

TJ Watt — OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Watt is the most disruptive pass rusher in the AFC North. His ability to generate pressure on every down forces offensive lines to account for him with extra blockers.

Head-to-Head History

The series between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers has produced several memorable moments in recent years. Home-field advantage has been a factor historically, giving the Pittsburgh Steelers a slight edge in games played at their stadium.

Both coaching staffs have familiarity with each other's personnel tendencies, which typically results in game plans that prioritize scheme discipline over trick plays. Expect this meeting to be decided by execution and which team makes fewer mistakes in the second half.

Keys to the Game

• Special teams execution: Field position is often overlooked but consistently proves decisive in evenly matched games. A muffed punt, a long return, or a blocked kick can change the entire strategic calculus for both coaching staffs.
• Lamar Jackson's rhythm in the first half: The Baltimore Ravens need their quarterback operating in rhythm early. If Lamar Jackson can establish confidence through the first two possessions, the offense will find its footing and put pressure on the Pittsburgh Steelers defense throughout.
• Halftime adjustments: Both John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin are respected in-game adjusters. Whoever makes the better halftime correction will likely see the benefit in the third quarter when games often swing decisively.

Prediction

Kickoff: Sunday, September 27, 2026 | Acrisure Stadium | CBS

This is a competitive matchup that could go either way, but home-field advantage tips the scales toward the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mike Tomlin's team has the personnel to exploit the Baltimore Ravens's consistency in the red zone when the run game is bottled up, and their Mike Tomlin's ability to keep teams competitive regardless of roster construction should prove decisive in the second half.

The Baltimore Ravens will compete and keep this game close — Lamar Jackson is too talented to be completely shut out — but the Pittsburgh Steelers should find a way to win. Look for the Pittsburgh Steelers to pull away in the fourth quarter behind Russell Wilson's poise and a timely defensive stop.

Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers win