Chris Boswell was the deciding factor for the Pittsburgh Steelers, kicking six field goals in their 18-16 victory over the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday.
In a game where both defenses dominated, Boswell's consistency shone through, providing the Steelers with all their points in a critical divisional battle.
Baltimore's offense, led by Jackson and Derrick Henry, struggled to find consistency against Pittsburgh's formidable defense. Justin Tucker's 54-yard field goal in the third quarter briefly closed the gap to 12-10.
The Steelers' defense came up big throughout the game. T.J. Watt recorded a pivotal sack on Lamar Jackson, stalling Baltimore's final possession.
Earlier, linebacker Payton Wilson grabbed a crucial interception, halting a Ravens drive in Steelers territory and allowing Pittsburgh's offense to secure a Chris Boswell 50-yard field goal to make the score 18-10 with three minutes left.
The Ravens got the ball back with 3:29 left in the game and swiftly drove to the Steelers' 47-yard line just before the two-minute warning. Facing 3rd and 9 from the Steelers' 46-yard line following an ineligible man downfield penalty, the Ravens found themselves at the Steelers' 24-yard line on a pass from Jackson to receiver Justice Hill.
The Ravens scored two plays later on a 16-yard pass from Jackson to receiver Zay Flowers and lined up for the two-point conversion. The Ravens failed the attempt to keep the Steelers lead to 18-16 with 1:06 left in the game.
The Ravens opted to kick the ball deep to the Steelers, knowing they had all three timeouts left. Backup quarterback Justin Fields stepped on the field for the second play and scrambled for 9 yards, mistakenly sliding before the sticks, allowing the Ravens a glimmer of hope to make the 3rd and 1 stop as Russell Wilson came back on the field. However, Najee Harris picked up the first down and sealed the victory for the Steelers.
Related: Has Russ Done Enough To Push Steelers Off First-Round Quarterback?
The victory moves Pittsburgh to 8-2 and solidifies their spot atop the AFC North standings. With a critical win in hand, the Steelers are positioned as serious playoff contenders, relying on a balanced defensive effort and the unmatched reliability of Chris Boswell.
Related: 'Villains on Both Sides' as Steelers Host Ravens in Week 11 - How to Watch, Betting Odds