History is on the Steelers' side in playoff games against the Baltimore Ravens
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- When Pittsburgh and Baltimore square off in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs on Saturday, the Steelers will be heavy underdogs, but have history on their side.
The Steelers and Ravens tend to play one another extremely close and split home games during this year's regular season.
The two have faced one another in the postseason four times since they began competing in 1996. Pittsburgh has won three of the four playoff games between the two AFC North rival teams.
This weekend's game will be the first playoff game between the Steelers and Ravens that is hosted in Baltimore. The Ravens are heavy favorites to win the game, according to betting odds.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is among favorites to win this year's MVP award with 41 passing touchdowns and only four interceptions.
January 2002 AFC Divisional round
Steelers 27, Ravens 10
The Steelers and Ravens faced off in the Divisional round of the 2001 NFL season, Pittsburgh's first year they played at Acrisure Stadium, then known as Heinz Field.
With a 13-3 regular season record and a Wild Card round bye, head coach Bill Cowher, quarterback Kordell Stewart, and Steelers' offense jumped out to a 20-3 halftime lead, winning the game 27-10.
Pittsburgh's defense kept the Ravens' offense out of the endzone in the game with Baltimore's only touchdown in the contest coming via special teams on a long punt return.
January 2009 AFC Championship
Steelers 23, Ravens 14
The second time the two teams met in the postseason, a trip to the Super Bowl was on the line in the AFC Championship game.
Pittsburgh again hosted the game and just like in the 2002 Divisional round game, head coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers jumped out to a lead, taking a 13-0 advantage via field goals from Jeff Reed and a long play from eventual Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes.
Hanging onto a two-point lead with just over 4 minutes left into the contest, future Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu made one of the most memorable plays in franchise history when he intercepted Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.
Polamalu returned the interception 40 yards to the endzone, essentially putting the game on ice for the Steelers and punching his team's ticket to the Super Bowl.
A forced fumble from Ryan Clark and an interception from Tyrone Carter helped seal the game for the Steelers.
January 2011 AFC Divisional round
Steelers 31, Ravens 24
In 2011, the Steelers made it three straight playoff victories against the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round of the postseason.
The Steelers' and Ravens' offenses traded points early and often and the game was tied at 24-24 late in the fourth quarter.
A deep pass from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger linked up with then rookie wide receiver Antonio Brown, who made one of his more famous catches in black and gold.
Brown made the 58-yard reception, bobbling the catch and holding the ball against his helmet and taking the Steelers down to the 4-yard line.
A touchdown from running back Rashard Mendenhall in the red zone then sent the Steelers back to the AFC Championship.
January 2015 AFC Wild Card round
Ravens 30, Steelers 17
In 2015, the Ravens finally flipped the script against the Steelers and pulled out a postseason victory against Pittsburgh.
The two teams traded points before Baltimore eventually took a 20-9 lead, but Pittsburgh drew back within five points and the trailed just 20-15 early in the 4th quarter of the game.
Joe Flacco then led the Ravens on a scoring drive late in the game, with Baltimore winning the game 30-17. It was the first time the Ravens beat the Steelers in the postseason.
When do the Steelers and Ravens play this weekend?
The two teams will square off Saturday night in Baltimore for a chance to advance to the Divisional round.
Kickoff on Saturday is set for 8 p.m. at M&T Bank Stadium and you can watch the game streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
