The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Baltimore Ravens in a crucial Week 18 matchup to secure a playoff berth. However, the result could have been different had officials not missed a key penalty, something Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson recently reacted to furiously.
How Did Lamar Jackson React to a Missed Call During Ravens vs. Steelers?
The Week 18 matchup carried massive stakes, with the winner set to claim the AFC North title and a postseason spot as the No. 4 seed. Baltimore suffered a 26–24 loss to Pittsburgh, officially wrapping up its season.
The nail-biting defeat has been hard for Ravens fans to digest, especially after rewatching the game. A late Steelers touchdown put them ahead by two points, sealing the victory. A field goal could have made the difference for Baltimore, but that opportunity was taken away earlier due to a missed call by the officials.
Earlier in the game, Ravens kicker Tyler Loop attempted a 44-yard field goal but missed. Upon review, it appeared that a Steelers defender pushed down on the center and an offensive guard while attempting to block the kick, an action that should have been flagged as leverage, resulting in a 15-yard penalty and a retry from 29 yards. The penalty, however, was not called.
Had the officials made the call, the Ravens might be preparing for the postseason right now. Both fans and quarterback Jackson were frustrated with the missed call, and Jackson later took to social media to express his anger by writing “Smfh,” an acronym for “shaking my f**king head” on X.
Jackson’s Future With the Ravens
Jackson has performed solidly as the Ravens’ quarterback this season, ranking No. 17 on PFSN’s QB Impact Metric. Still, there has been speculation surrounding his future with the franchise, particularly following reports claiming he had fallen asleep during important team meetings.
— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) January 5, 2026
Ahead of Sunday’s game against the Steelers, Jackson addressed those reports in a humorous manner, suggesting that head coach John Harbaugh would never allow such behavior.
“Do you think (Ravens head coach John) Harbaugh would let me f–king sleep at his meetings? That’s crazy,” Jackson said. “I’m right in the front…Man, I don’t know man, it is what it is. Like I said, getting older.”
When asked whether he wants to stay with the team, Jackson responded clearly: “Absolutely, man. Absolutely.” By dismissing the controversial rumors and reports, Jackson made it clear that he remains committed to the Ravens, both in meetings and on the field.
