Pittsburgh Steelers Show Signs of Emulating Baltimore Ravens’ Blueprint as AFC North Rivalry Intensifies Heading Into 2025 Season
When you talk about bitter rivalries in the NFL, few match the intensity, physicality, and historical weight of the battles between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers. These AFC North foes have exchanged blows—both literal and metaphorical—for over two decades, each team forming its identity in opposition to the other. Now, as the 2025 NFL season nears, it seems the Steelers may be subtly shifting their philosophy in a way that mirrors the Ravens’ well-established blueprint. While it’s still early, this evolving approach could be one of the biggest storylines to watch in what remains the NFL’s most bruising division.
The Ravens, under general manager Eric DeCosta and head coach John Harbaugh, have long been admired for their player development, elite defense, and smashmouth football ethos. Add to that an innovative offensive strategy anchored by dual-threat quarterback Lamar Jackson, and Baltimore has forged a consistent playoff-caliber identity. In recent years, the Ravens’ success hasn’t just come from top-heavy talent, but from building a deep, versatile roster that embraces physicality, draft efficiency, and system fit over flash.
That formula has brought tangible success. The Ravens have made five playoff appearances in the past six seasons, clinched multiple AFC North titles, and built one of the most balanced rosters in football. The defense remains ferocious, the offensive line consistently paves the way for a high-powered run game, and Lamar Jackson continues to confound defensive coordinators with his dynamic playmaking. The result? A team built to thrive in December and January, when weather, toughness, and execution matter most.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers, despite their own proud tradition of defense and discipline, have spent the past few seasons trying to find an identity amid changes at quarterback, struggles on the offensive line, and inconsistency on both sides of the ball. Since Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement, Pittsburgh has been in search of stability under center, and while Kenny Pickett initially seemed like the heir apparent, his time in Pittsburgh came to an abrupt end.
But here’s where the story starts to mirror Baltimore’s.
The Steelers’ 2024 offseason sent ripples across the league when they brought in veteran quarterback Russell Wilson on a bargain deal and traded for former Bears starter Justin Fields. Suddenly, a team that once prized pocket passers and conventional dropback schemes was exploring mobile quarterbacks who could extend plays and add a run dimension. Sound familiar? That kind of versatility at quarterback has been a cornerstone of the Ravens’ offense since Lamar Jackson took the league by storm in 2019. The decision to double-dip at quarterback, especially with two mobile options, signals Pittsburgh’s willingness to move toward a more flexible, matchup-based offense.
While neither Wilson nor Fields is at Lamar’s level as a runner or dynamic weapon, both are athletic, escapable, and capable of running bootlegs, zone reads, and play-action-heavy schemes. Pittsburgh’s offense under new coordinator Arthur Smith appears poised to lean more into the kind of physical, clock-controlling, possession-heavy game plan that has served the Ravens so well in recent years. Add to that the presence of a strong backfield led by Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, and you have the makings of a run-first offense designed to wear teams down and control tempo.
Baltimore fans may recognize that strategy—it’s essentially the foundation of the Ravens’ identity since Jackson took over at quarterback. Harbaugh’s Ravens have always aimed to dominate time of possession, keep their defense fresh, and impose their will in the trenches. And now, Mike Tomlin’s Steelers may be adapting the same philosophy out of necessity—and respect.
It’s not just the offensive shift that hints at imitation. On defense, Pittsburgh continues to invest in versatile linebackers, hybrid safeties, and high-motor edge rushers. T.J. Watt remains the centerpiece, but the team has also bolstered its secondary with players who can match up in man and disguise coverage—a hallmark of the Ravens’ defensive scheme. Baltimore’s ability to blend aggressive blitz packages with tight coverage has frustrated quarterbacks for years, and the Steelers seem to be adjusting their playbook to reflect that kind of approach.
Draft strategy also offers clues. The Ravens have long been lauded for their ability to find impact players outside of the first round, building depth through a smart blend of need and best-player-available. In 2024, Pittsburgh had a similarly efficient draft, landing plug-and-play talent without overreaching. By focusing on physical, high-IQ players with scheme versatility, they’ve mirrored Baltimore’s tendency to draft with identity in mind rather than chasing hype.
Of course, imitation is not admission. The Steelers would never publicly acknowledge emulating the Ravens, and Tomlin—one of the league’s most respected coaches—has always prided himself on forging a unique path. But the signs are there. The quarterback experimentation, the backfield focus, the deepened commitment to trench play, and the defensive flexibility all resemble elements that have made Baltimore so consistently dangerous.
What makes this potential shift so fascinating is what it could mean for the rivalry itself. If both teams now lean into physical, run-first football with mobile quarterbacks and attacking defenses, the matchups may become even more brutal—and evenly matched. Gone are the days of stark stylistic contrasts. Instead, fans may witness mirror-image clashes, where execution, discipline, and coaching decide razor-thin outcomes.
And that’s good news for football.
Steelers-Ravens games have always had national appeal because of the personalities, the stakes, and the toughness. Ray Lewis versus Hines Ward. Troy Polamalu versus Joe Flacco. Harbaugh versus Tomlin. Now, a new generation may carry that torch—Roquan Smith versus Najee Harris, Kyle Hamilton versus George Pickens, Lamar Jackson versus a rejuvenated Russell Wilson or a reborn Justin Fields.
If Pittsburgh can find consistency at quarterback and continue to build its roster in this Ravens-esque image, they’ll be a legitimate contender once again. That raises the stakes for Baltimore, who will need to stay ahead of the curve and continue to evolve offensively to avoid becoming predictable. Already, the Ravens have shown signs of expanding their passing game with new weapons and formations, but the core of their identity remains intact: run the ball, dominate defense, play smart situational football.
Rivalries are at their best when both teams are contenders. And if the Steelers are truly taking a page out of Baltimore’s playbook, it could signal a resurgence that reignites the AFC North arms race. Cincinnati may still have Joe Burrow and Cleveland a terrifying defense, but Baltimore and Pittsburgh remain the emotional heartbeat of the division.
The 2025 season could mark a turning point. If Pittsburgh’s gambles at quarterback and shifts in philosophy begin to bear fruit, the Ravens may find themselves staring at a rival that no longer just respects them—but has molded itself in their image.
History teaches us that rivalries evolve. The Ravens once shaped their identity to counter Pittsburgh’s defensive dominance. Now, it may be the Steelers adapting to the Ravens’ multifaceted blueprint of the modern NFL. As the old saying goes, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery—and in the NFL, it’s also the sincerest signal of respect.
Baltimore and Pittsburgh will meet twice again this year, and if this philosophical shift continues to take root in the Steel City, those games may be more evenly matched—and more vicious—than ever. The AFC North is always a war zone, but in 2025, it could feel even more like a civil war between near-twins. Only time will tell if the Steelers’ imitation leads to revitalization, or if the Ravens will continue to dictate how football is played in the division they’ve helped define.
