First Call: Despite 'MNF' win, Steelers still underdogs in Detroit; updated Steelers-Ravens AFC North scenarios

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ victory on “Monday Night Football” has done little to swing the odds in their favor to win next week at Detroit. However, they are favored to win the AFC North.

The Baltimore Ravens got a confirmation they didn’t want on the injury front, and we examine the many storylines associated with Tuesday’s Penguins-Oilers game.

All that in “First Call” for Tuesday.

Underdogs in Detroit

Despite a convincing 28-15 home win on “Monday Night Football,” the Steelers are heading to Detroit as almost a touchdown underdog.

Caesars Sportsbook has the Steelers as a 6½-point underdog (minus-110) as they visit Michigan on Sunday to play the Lions. The over/under in the game is listed at 49.5. A moneyline bet on the Steelers to win outright comes back at plus-275.

Both teams are 8-6. Both teams started 4-1. The Steelers have won two in a row. The Lions have alternated losses and wins for nine straight weeks. They are coming off a road defeat at the Rams in Los Angeles, 41-34.

Since 2000, the Steelers are 5-0-1 against Detroit. The last time the Steelers lost to the Lions was the Jerome Bettis Thanksgiving Day coin flip fiasco.

When Referee Phil Luckett said that Jerome Bettis called Heads ????

Bettis insisted that he called tails…

The Lions won the coin toss and beat the Steelers in Overtime 19-16. pic.twitter.com/viRrsKeqNT

— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) December 10, 2025

Detroit is 5-2 at home and has a plus-83 point differential overall. Only Seattle (plus-163) and the L.A. Rams (plus-159) have better point differentials in the NFC. No one has more points in the NFL than the Lions at 428.

Bad news for Baltimore

The Baltimore Ravens were one of many playoff contenders to lose an important player to a knee injury on Sunday.

Teddye Buchanan suffered a torn ACL in Sunday’s win in Cincinnati. Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh confirmed that Monday. He says Trenton Simpson will take over at linebacker.

Harbaugh expressed much confidence in Trenton Simpson taking over Buchanan's role in the defense. #Ravens https://t.co/7kr6sIpHaV

— Luke Jones (@BaltimoreLuke) December 15, 2025

Buchanan, a rookie out of Cal, is second on the Ravens in tackles. He had four tackles, one for a loss, against Pittsburgh on Dec. 7.

Meanwhile, in Green Bay, an MRI on Monday confirmed Micah Parsons suffered a torn ACL. The Penn State product ends his season with 12.5 sacks in his first year as a Packer.

“I may be sidelined, but I am not defeated,” Parsons said on X.

And, via ESPN.com, tests in Kansas City revealed that, while also suffering an ACL tear, Patrick Mahomes didn’t damage any other ligaments to his knee during Sunday’s loss to the Chargers.

More sports

• Feats of Strength: Dominant 3rd quarter, newcomer contributions push Steelers past Dolphins
• 5 things we learned from Steelers win vs. Dolphins: Week 18 vs. Ravens might be all that matters now
• Ben Roethlisberger content to be part of Steelers' Hall of Honor, has no desire for comeback

Adjusted eye-level

Exactly how big were these last two wins for the Steelers against the Ravens and Dolphins? Well, consider this post from ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley.

With the Steelers' win on Monday, that means every scenario to win AFC North for Ravens includes winning in Pittsburgh in finale.

Even if the Ravens win their next 2 games and the Steelers lose their 2 two games, Baltimore would still need to beat Pittsburgh in Week 18 to clinch

— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) December 16, 2025

Not only that, as Hensley also pointed out, the Ravens’ final three regular-season opponents are all division leaders and are a combined 28-13-1 (.678).

Meanwhile, the Steelers (8-6) visit Detroit (8-6) and Cleveland (3-11) before hosting the 7-7 Ravens.

Theoretically, the Ravens still control their fate. If they win all three games, they clinch the division at 10-7 based on record versus common opponents. That’s even if the Steelers beat Detroit and Cleveland between now and then.

Then again, the Steelers control their fate as well, because as Hensley pointed out, no scenario exists where Baltimore can win the North without beating Pittsburgh. So if the Steelers win out, nothing else matters. They’ll be 11-6. Baltimore, at best, would be 9-8.

According to BetRivers.com, the Steelers are minus-130 favorites to win the division. The Ravens are plus-105 underdogs.

Aside from everything else

There are plenty of headlines leading into the Edmonton Oilers visit to PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday night.

There’s the Tristan Jarry for Stewart Skinner trade that was just consummated between the clubs last week. Sidney Crosby is just two points (1,721) away from tying Mario Lemieux for the all-time franchise points lead. Edmonton star Leon Draisaitl is sitting on 999 points. And whenever Crosby shares the ice with five-time scoring champ Connor McDavid, that’s a sidebar all to itself.

But as far as how the Oilers themselves are playing, they currently are in a Western Conference wild card spot with 36 points at 15-12-6.

The team has won four of its last six, posting 29 goals over that stretch. Edmonton’s 3.33 goals per game are third best in the NHL. Their power play at 30.6% is also third-best in the league.

Goal prevention, though, hasn’t been great. Their 3.39 goals against average is 26th in the NHL. The team’s save percentage of .879 is tied for 29th. And with 112 goals allowed, only St. Louis (121) has yielded more.

Thus, the trade for Jarry, as the franchise hopes he can help those numbers.

Emphasis on “hopes.”

Here’s some good news for the Pens, who have been blowing late leads like crazy of late: Edmonton only has two wins this season when trailing after two periods.