Until last year, Steelers had Ravens' number when visiting M&T Bank Stadium

Gloom and doom surrounds the Pittsburgh Steelers’ visit to Baltimore this weekend.

Given the team’s recent play — and last year’s trips to the Charm City — those low expectations are hardly surprising even if this game will determine first pace in the AFC North.

The Steelers, after all, aren’t exactly heading into the matchup with the Ravens from a position of strength. They have lost five of the past seven, including two in a row in which they’ve blown halftime leads. And the Ravens won five in a row before losing at home to Cincinnati on Thanksgiving, which also means they’ve had 10 days to recover from that defeat.

“We both sit at 6-6, and both of those positions come with some scars, certainly,” coach Mike Tomlin said, “but they need to come with some lessons learned as well. I think the team that displays the ability to apply those lessons is going to be the team that’s going to be in position to control this game and thus be in control of the north.”

Delve a little deeper into the history book, and there are four lessons the Steelers can take into this game that can provide a reason for optimism. That number represents the run of consecutive wins the Steelers took from trips to M&T Bank Stadium.

From Ben Roethlisberger (twice) to Kenny Pickett to Mason Rudolph, the Steelers found ways to defeat the Ravens in Baltimore. In fact, they had won eight of nine in the series until last year when the Ravens ran their way to two decisive victories on their home surface against the Steelers.

Russell Wilson couldn’t beat the Ravens in Baltimore despite getting two cracks at it, and the Steelers will try again with another former Super Bowl-winning quarterback. Aaron Rodgers is trying to provide a calming influence heading into the game.

“I don’t feel like this team has a freak out or a panic that I need to send a message out into the zeitgeist that everybody needs to just relax a bit,” Rodgers said. “We’re playing inconsistent football, that’s for sure. We have to play better, but I have confidence in the leadership of the team. I have confidence in my guys, and that’s why we are going to put a better performance on the field this weekend.”

A look at some of the ways the Steelers have won in Baltimore in the past half decade:

• Steelers 28-24, Nov. 1, 2020

Robert Spillane opened the scoring with a 33-yard interception return for a touchdown, yet the Steelers trailed 17-7 at halftime. James Connor, Eric Ebron and Chase Claypool scored touchdowns in the second half, with Claypool’s 8-yard touchdown catch giving the Steelers the lead for good with 7:29 left.

Forcing turnovers played a role in the win. The Steelers intercepted Lamar Jackson twice and recovered two of his fumbles. This helped offset the Ravens rushing for 265 yards.

• Steelers 16-13, OT, Jan. 9, 2022

Tyler Huntley started for the Ravens — as he would for each of the next two matchups in Baltimore — and the Steelers got three takeaways: two interceptions and a fumble. Chris Boswell kicked a 36-yard field goal in overtime to give Roethlisberger a win in his final regular-season game.

The Ravens rushed for 249 yards but were done in by those turnovers and Huntley’s inexperience.

• Steelers 16-13, Jan. 1, 2023

With Pickett at quarterback, the Steelers won their third consecutive game en route to finishing with a four-game winning streak and 9-8 record.

Pickett threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Najee Harris with 56 seconds left to provide the winning points. The Steelers turned the tables on the Ravens by rushing for 198 yards, including 111 from Harris. The Ravens were held to 120.

• Steelers 17-10, Jan. 6, 2024

Playing in a game that was flexed to Saturday, the Steelers won their third in a row with Rudolph providing a late-season spark. After getting some help the next day, the Steelers were headed back to the playoffs.

The Steelers scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to pull out the win, with Rudolph throwing a 71-yard touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson. The Steelers again dominated the running game by rushing for 155 yards and holding the Ravens to 106.

That win was the third in a row in Baltimore for tight end Pat Freiermuth, who thinks the Steelers can shed the 2024 ghosts by adhering to a sound offensive philosophy.

“Don’t turn the ball over,” he said. “Play efficient offense. It’s staying on the field, not going three-and-out, and getting to the second level in the run game.”

The Steelers weren’t efficient in 2024 when they visited M&T Bank Stadium. In Week 16, Wilson lost a fumble that led to a Ravens touchdown. And he threw an interception that was returned 37 yards for a touchdown as the Ravens scored the final 17 points in a 34-17 victory.

In the wild-card playoff matchup, the Steelers rushed for just 29 yards and possessed the ball for 20-plus minutes as the Ravens scored the first 21 points on their way to a 28-14 victory. Three weeks after the Ravens rushed for 220 yards, they piled up 299. They had Jackson at quarterback for both games, and Derrick Henry at running back.

Those obstacles await the Steelers on Sunday.

“We have to rise up to the challenge and see what we can do better,” defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. “We had a little success in the first game last year, didn’t have success in the second and third games. Each game is different. We’ll just prepare and work our tail off to try to be successful this week.”