The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens will face off for the third time this season in Saturday night’s wild-card game. The AFC North rivals will face off in a high-voltage clash.
Although they have gone up against each other 62 times, it’d be the first time these two sides meet in the playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium. As the game gets its place in the history books, the Ravens have special guests lined up for pre-game and half-time entertainment.
Let’s look at who will sing the national anthem before the historic matchup on Saturday.
Who Will Sing the National Anthem Before the Wild-Card Round Steelers vs. Ravens Game?
The Steelers are coming off a loss against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18 and four consecutive losses, while the Ravens clinched the AFC North with a win over the Cleveland Browns.
Broadway performer Samantha Pollino will take the field to sing the national anthem before the Steelers vs. Ravens matchup.
Pollino is a Baltimore native and a huge fan of the Ravens. She studied at the Baltimore School for the Arts. The Sweeney Todd and Hamilton performer will set the tone for Saturday night’s game. The 31-year-old is currently starring in The Great Gatsby, her fifth Broadway show.
Someone tell baby Sam that she’s singing the National Anthem at the @Ravens playoff game Saturday night. 🥹💜 pic.twitter.com/lkLiMXzNab
— Samantha Pollino (@peanutpollino) January 8, 2025
Before Pollino, 7x Pro Bowler Terrell Suggs will return to the gridiron as the Legend of the Game. Super Bowl XLVII champion Haloti Ngata will be the honorary captain.
The power-packed lineup also includes the rock band All Time Low, taking the stage at halftime. Violinist and dancer Lindsey Stirling will also perform during a quarter break.
.@untouchablejay4 and @Haloti_Ngata92 in the HOUSE and so much more 🔥
🎟: https://t.co/OOgAULsKsA pic.twitter.com/9R5HvgKBS8
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 9, 2025
With the game set to be a thriller, these artists will send the excitement and energy through the roof. Fans will be provided with LED wristbands and an awe-inspiring fireworks show. Stadium lights and music will enhance the experience for everyone in the stands.
Head coach John Harbaugh and even star running back Derrick Henry touched on the importance of the atmosphere in this one.
“The weather may drive the atmosphere, too,” Harbaugh said. “It’s going to be a great environment. I expect our fans to be how they are; they’ll be into it, they’ll be fired up, it’s going to be a night game, it’s going to be cold, it’s going to be dark, and our team is going to try to play lights out.”
“The fans are just as locked in as we are, and we’re definitely going to need that on Saturday,” Henry said. “Bring your coats, your blankets, your hot chocolate, coffee – whatever you need to be loud – and we’re going to need it loud in that stadium. We’re going to need that energy. We’re need the fans to [be] intense, for sure, on Saturday.”
Steelers vs. Ravens Preview
- Location: Baltimore, M&T Bank Stadium
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
Lamar Jackson has played five playoff games since the QB+ metric began its tracking in 2019 (his rookie season in 2018 predates the metric’s inception). In those playoff appearances, he has never posted a single-game grade higher than 80.1 (B-).
Jackson faces a tough challenge in the Steelers. In six career starts against Pittsburgh, he has never achieved a grade better than a C+. This includes his two matchups with the Steelers this season and his two lowest-graded performances of the year.
Jackson struggled significantly against the Steelers’ pass rush in their two matchups this season. He faced his highest and fifth-highest pressure rates of the year in those games, and his production under pressure plummeted, falling off a cliff compared to his typical dominance.
A key factor in Russell Wilson’s surprising early success as the Steelers’ starting quarterback was his deep ball proficiency. However, that strength has disappeared during the team’s four-game losing streak. Since Week 15, Wilson has failed to throw a touchdown on passes traveling 15+ air yards, a stark contrast to the seven deep-ball touchdowns he recorded in his first seven starts.
The Ravens were vulnerable to the deep ball early in the season, but they’ve significantly improved since moving Kyle Hamilton to safety full-time in Week 11. Since then, Baltimore ranks second in the NFL in completion percentage allowed on passes of 15+ yards (31.8%). For comparison, from Weeks 1-10, the Ravens ranked 29th in this category, allowing a 54.9% completion rate.