Steelers @ Ravens

Who will WIN this matchup?

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7)

@ Baltimore Ravens (8-8)

Current odds:

Pittsburgh Steelers: (+160)

Baltimore Ravens: (-180)

• The line for this game is Ravens by 3 points.

• Ben Roethlisberger played what is expected to be his final home game last weekend and could be playing for the last time when the Pittsburgh Steelers visit the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Roethlisberger hasn’t formally announced his retirement but the atmosphere during last Monday night’s 26-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns foreshadowed finality. A last date with the Ravens is lining up as his possible career capper as Pittsburgh (8-7-1) needs to win the game and hope for help to crack the AFC postseason field.

• The Steelers are ninth in the pecking order for the expanded seven-team field in the AFC. They trail the Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders by a half-game. The Chargers and Raiders meet and the head-to-head benefits Pittsburgh as long there’s no tie. The hard part for the Steelers: The Colts play the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have lost eight straight games and own the league’s worst record at 2-14.

• The Ravens (8-8) are alive despite five consecutive losses. Baltimore needs to beat the Steelers and have the Colts and Chargers lose and the Miami Dolphins lose or tie against the New England Patriots.

• Sunday could be Campbell’s final game. The six-time Pro Bowl selection said he is weighing whether to return for a 15th NFL season or retire.

• Whether quarterback Lamar Jackson will be on the field remains unknown. Jackson has missed the past three games with an ankle injury and didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday.

• Among other Ravens who didn’t practice either day were cornerback Anthony Averett (ribs, chest) and outside linebacker Odafe Oweh (foot). Quarterback Tyler Huntley (illness) was a full participant both days and is in line to start if Jackson again sits out.

• Pittsburgh, which had placed cornerback Joe Haden on the COVID-19 list on Wednesday, activated the three-time Pro Bowl selection on Saturday along with center Kendrick Green. Green remains a question mark for Sunday after injuring his calf in Week 16 against Kansas City. The team had also activated six players from the list on Wednesday, including linebackers Joe Schobert and Devin Bush.

• Another Steelers linebacker, star T.J. Watt, will be in the spotlight as he has 21.5 sacks, one off the official record set by Michael Strahan in 2001. Watt’s task may have gotten easier as Ravens three-time Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard (knee), a key player in pass protection, was placed on injured reserve on Thursday.

• The Steelers also figure to dial up Najee Harris’ number a lot this Sunday after the rookie had a career-best 188 rushing yards in the triumph over Cleveland. Harris rushed for 71 yards on 21 carries in a 20-19 home win over the Ravens on Dec. 5. Since that outing he has topped 90 yards in three of four games.

• Roethlisberger threw two touchdowns during Pittsburgh’s 17-point fourth quarter last month. Baltimore scored a touchdown with 12 seconds left but Jackson’s two-point conversion pass for tight end Mark Andrews was incomplete. Otherwise, the postseason possibilities would look much differently this week and Sunday’s game would mean nothing for the Steelers.