Huge Setback: After Quarreling With the Head Coach,.

Huge Setback: After Quarreling With the Head Coach, Pittsburgh Steelers Key Player Departed From the Team.

In the final regular-season game on Saturday, the Baltimore Ravens, who had secured the top seed in the AFC playoff bracket, decided to rest MVP front-runner Lamar Jackson.Coach John Harbaugh decided to start Tyler Huntley instead of Aaron Jackson when the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) to town with dwindling hopes of making the playoffs.

Last Sunday, the Ravens (13-3) defeated the Miami Dolphins 56-19 to win their sixth straight game and secure the AFC North and a first-round postseason bye. In an effort to win his second NFL Most Valuable Player title, Jackson completed five more touchdown passes than interceptions (three).

There’s always the age-old “rest vs. rust” argument to consider. The Ravens held out starters against Pittsburgh in the regular-season finale to clinch a first-round bye in 2019. However, following a lengthy break between games, they were completely outplayed by Tennessee in the divisional round.

“I remember the experience and the choices we made (in 2019), but the decisions we made, we made for certain reasons,” Harbaugh stated. “We believed that those were the appropriate choices. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what caused or contributed to the fact that we didn’t play our best football that day.

In Week 18, the Steelers are OK playing Baltimore’s reserves. Following their 30-23 victory over Seattle on Sunday, which kept them in the AFC wild-card race, they now have five ways to guarantee a postseason trip.

Pittsburgh needs to win in three of the scenarios while receiving support from other teams in the conference. A draw, a loss for Jacksonville, and an outcome other than a tie in the Houston-Indianapolis game would also allow Pittsburgh to advance. Pittsburgh would also make it if the Steelers lose, Jacksonville loses, Denver defeats Las Vegas, and Houston and Indianapolis do not tie.

Mason Rudolph, the Steelers’ third starting quarterback of the year, is still the team’s main hope. Two wins for Pittsburgh in two Rudolph starts. 68.6% of his passes have been completed, netting 564 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.