Former Steeler Says Pittsburgh Is a Better Team Than the Ravens
The regular season has been over for seven weeks, but there is no offseason for the Ravens-Steelers rivalry.
During a debate about whether the Ravens are still an elite team on FOX Sports 1's "First Things First," analyst Willie Colon said that not only are the Ravens not an elite team, but they're also not even the best team in the AFC North.
Colon, a former guard who played with Pittsburgh from 2006-2012, said that distinction would belong to the Steelers.
"They went to the playoffs," Colon said. "Of course [the Steelers] are not an elite team [either], but they are better than the Ravens. … The Baltimore Ravens went 8-9 and missed the playoffs."
The Steelers prevailed in both meetings with the Ravens last season to win the division with a 9-8 record. That's indisputable. Whether the Steelers are truly the better team is subjective.
"No, they are not [better than the Ravens]!" analyst and former NFL wide receiver Greg Jennings said. "So, a down year eliminates you from being an elite team? I don't think they had an elite year."
A strong case can be made that the Ravens have the superior roster and are better positioned for success this coming season and beyond.
The oddsmakers project the Ravens to be better than the Steelers next season, and it's not close.
FanDuel Sportsbook has Baltimore as the overwhelming favorite to win the AFC North at -120. Pittsburgh (+650) has the third-best odds behind the Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals (+220). The Ravens have the third-best odds (+1200) to win the Super Bowl, while the Steelers (+10000) are 24th.
As for the 2025 season, the Ravens were a missed 44-yard field goal away from defeating the Steelers in the regular-season finale and capturing an unprecedented third consecutive AFC North championship.
In the teams' Week 14 matchup, which the Steelers won by a 27-22 score, three crucial calls went against the Ravens, including an overturned touchdown catch by Isaiah Likely with just under three minutes left that would have given Baltimore the lead. The Ravens rushed for 217 yards and outgained the Steelers by more than 100 yards in total offense in the game.
Pundit Says Jesse Minter Showed Boldness and Wisdom in Coordinator Hires
With the Ravens' new coaching staff set, The Baltimore Banner’s Childs Walker looked at what we've learned about how the coaches will try to create change and get the team back on track.
One of Walker's biggest takeaways was that Head Coach Jesse Minter made shrewd hires in choosing 29-year-old Declan Doyle for offensive coordinator and Anthony Weaver for defensive coordinator.
"We don't know what a Declan Doyle offense will be. No one does, though we can guess based on his work translating Ben Johnson's plans into action for the Chicago Bears," Walker wrote. "What we know is Minter trusted his own judgment enough to choose a relatively unproven coach with whom he was not previously connected. He's operating boldly, just what you want to see from a new leader stepping in for an 18-year institution."
Walker said Minter bringing back Weaver, a former Ravens player and coach, "shows real wisdom."
"As the Ravens aim for a return to defensive excellence, their schemes and teaching methods will flow from Minter," Walker wrote. "He'll have the final say on game day, an exciting prospect given what we saw from him in Los Angeles. But, with his new breadth of responsibility, he'll need an outstanding communicator to help implement his vision during training camp and weekly practices.
"When asked what he'd want from his coordinators, he said: 'I'm looking for leaders and connectors and relationship builders and schematic expertise, but, most importantly, guys that the players believe in. [Coaches] that are willing to dive deep and build really strong relationships with the players.' He might as well have said, 'I'm looking for Anthony Weaver.'"
Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr said he expects there to be a lot of positive buzz about the Ravens and their new coaching staff coming out of the NFL Combine, which kicks off this week.
"There is always one new coaching staff that rips through Indianapolis with a bold new strategy and exciting new ideas," Orr wrote. "My guess is that Baltimore will wind up being the it girl of the offseason."
Kyle Hamilton Is No. 9 in PFF's Top 101 Players, While Lamar Jackson Is Snubbed
All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton came in at No. 9 in Pro Football Focus' top 101 players of the 2025 season, while Lamar Jackson was surprisingly left off the list.
"For the second season in a row, Hamilton adjusted his position mid-year to rescue a struggling Ravens defense," PFF wrote. "This time, he moved closer to the line of scrimmage, playing almost as a linebacker at times. He finished the year with an 85.9 PFF overall grade, ranking second among safeties, and earned PFF grades above 75.0 in run defense, coverage and pass rushing."
While Jackson going from No. 1 in last year's rankings to unranked is eyebrow-raising, it's worth noting that the rankings are based solely on PFF's performance grades for that particular season, so past or future play isn't considered.
Also, all positions are regarded equally, so quarterbacks aren't given extra weight even though they play the most valuable position.
Three other Ravens made the rankings: center Tyler Linderbaum (No. 84), defensive tackle Travis Jones (No. 90), and running back Derrick Henry (No. 98).
Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett was No. 1.
Trade Proposal Has Ravens Acquiring Two-Time Pro Bowl Defensive Tackle
Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine identified one trade he'd like to see each team make. For the Ravens, Ballentine proposed they acquire two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Javon Hargrave from the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick.
With Nnamdi Madubuike's 2026 status unclear after missing nearly the entire 2025 season with a neck injury, bolstering the defensive interior is a priority.
"They could have an opportunity to go after a veteran at a relatively cheap draft price in Javon Hargrave," Ballentine wrote. "Hargrave had a bit of a down year last season. Even so, he registered 22 total pressures, per Sports Info Solutions. That would have been second to only Travis Jones among the Ravens interior options last season.
"Hargrave might only have a year or two left of production at 33 years old, but it would be worth the risk for the Ravens to build an elite pass rush."
Hargrave's best season was in 2022 with the Philadelphia Eagles when he had 11 sacks. He had 3.5 sacks in 2025, his lowest total in a season in which he played at least 16 games since 2017.
