Both teams are known for fielding tough, hard-hitting defensive squads, giving their games an extra element of physical intensity.

The Steelers boast six Super Bowl championships, while the Ravens have won two, with both teams achieving two titles since the inception of their rivalry.

[13] One of the rivalry's most memorable moments was Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs being quoted as saying that a "bounty" was put out on the head of Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward.

The rivalry reached a new height of intensity during the 2008 NFL season, when the Ravens and Steelers played three times, the final match being the AFC Championship game.

In the playoff game, a personal foul by special teams player Daren Stone cost the Ravens 25 yards.

This would mark the last time Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis would play against the Steelers, as he was injured during the teams' two meetings in 2012 and retired following his win in Super Bowl XLVII.

On Thanksgiving 2013, the Ravens defeated the Steelers 22–20, preventing a last-minute 2–point conversion and forcing a split between the rivals for the season.

Though the Steelers went on to win the AFC North with an 11–5 record, the 10–6 Ravens would earn their first playoff victory over their rival on January 3, 2015, with a 30–17 win at Heinz Field in the wild-card round, in the game Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs (who had public comments against Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethliesberger years before) caught a game sealing interception with his legs.

[17] In Week 9 of 2016, the 4–3 Steelers and 3–4 Ravens met at M&T Bank Stadium, each team having an opportunity to gain control of the AFC North.

Behind a defense that shut out the Steelers for the first three quarters, the Ravens won 21–14, taking the lead in the division and evening the teams' records at 4–4.

With nine seconds remaining, Steelers receiver Antonio Brown scored the game's final points by reaching over the goal line.

However, in the second half, the Ravens pulled away by kicking four field goals and shutting out the Steelers' offense, making the final score 26–14 in favor of Baltimore.

The Steelers employees had to take "AFC North Division Champions" shirts that were in boxes on the field off after the Ravens won.

[18] During the 2019 offseason, the Ravens traded Joe Flacco to the Denver Broncos and named Lamar Jackson as their starting quarterback moving forward.

Meanwhile, Ben Roethlisberger's 2019 season ended in Week 2 after suffering a season-ending elbow injury, leaving Mason Rudolph as the Steelers' starting quarterback.

The 2–2 Ravens met the 1–3 Steelers in Week 5 in Pittsburgh as both teams looked to assert their position in a three-team race for the AFC North, along with the 2–2 Cleveland Browns.

Leading 19-14 with under a minute remaining, Steelers RB Benny Snell was thought to have been short of the line to gain to set up 4th and inches.

[20] On December 5, the Steelers took the first matchup of the 2021 season with a 20–19 victory, in which Baltimore unsuccessfully attempted a 2-point conversion on a last-minute touchdown that would have given them the win.

[22] December 11, 2022 marked the 32nd matchup between head coaches John Harbaugh of the Ravens and Mike Tomlin of the Steelers, surpassing Curly Lambeau and Steve Owen for the second-most head-to-head matchups between head coaches in NFL history (the current record is held by Lambeau and George Halas with 49).

[25] On January 1, 2023, in Baltimore, Pickett would make his second start, throwing for 168 yards and 1 touchdown in a close 16–13 win.