Lamar Jackson faces Aaron Rodgers for the first time this week as both star QBs deal with injuries

Ravens coach John Harbaugh and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin are meeting for the 38th time. Only George Halas and Curly Lambeau (49) faced each other more often. This is the latest in the season Harbaugh and Tomlin have met with neither team above .500. ... The Steelers have won eight of the past 11 meetings, but the Ravens took the final two games last season, both of them comfortable victories at home, the second one in the opening round of the playoffs. ... The games between the longtime AFC North powers have traditionally been tight, with 19 of the past 38 meetings decided by three points or fewer. ... Rodgers and Jackson have never faced each other. Rodgers beat Baltimore in 2021 when he was with Green Bay, but Jackson was injured that day. Those two currently rank 1-2 in the NFL in career passer rating, with Rodgers at 102.4 and Jackson at 102.2.

The winner takes command of the AFC North with four games to go, though Pittsburgh and Baltimore seem to be heading on different tracks as December opens. The Steelers have dropped five of seven since a 4-1 start, while Baltimore is 5-1 since opening the season 1-5. ... Pittsburgh is 16-6 following losses of 15 points or more under Tomlin, including a 1-0 mark this season. ... The Steelers' defense is smarting after allowing Buffalo to pile up 249 yards rushing last week, the most they've given up at home in more than 50 years. Now they must take on a Ravens team that rolled up 510 yards on the ground during their two late-season wins over Pittsburgh last season. ... Pittsburgh is one of the few teams that has enjoyed a measure of success against Jackson. The Steelers are 5-4 all time against the Ravens when Jackson starts. ... Watt has just seven sacks this season with five games to go, putting him on pace for his lowest sack total during a year not shortened by injury since he was a rookie in 2017. ... The Steelers allowed Buffalo to hold the ball for nearly 42 minutes last week and now face a Baltimore team that poss