In week 18 on Sunday Night Football, the AFC North will be decided. The Baltimore Ravens will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers with the division crown and a trip to the playoffs on the line.
The loser of the contest will not make the playoffs.
John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin are the two longest tenured head coaches in the NFL.
Tomlin became the Steelers’ head coach in 2007, and Harbaugh became the head coach of the Ravens one year later.
They have both won a Super Bowl, but it has been quite some time since. Recently, Tomlin has not won a postseason game since 2016. Despite having Lamar Jackson and Super Bowl aspirations, Harbaugh has made it to one AFC Championship game since 2013.
There is no denying that both Harbaugh and Tomlin are good head coaches, but the lack of playoff success has put both on the hot seat.
Even this season, fans at Acrisure Stadium chanted to fire Tomlin during the Steelers’ 26-7 loss against the Buffalo Bills in week 13.
If the Steelers once again fall flat and lose in Week 18, the fans may once again chant for Tomlin’s firing.
John Harbaugh is not much safer. Fans in Baltimore are also growing tired of falling short. They have been a Super Bowl favorite before the season for the last few years because they have one of the best QBs in the league in Lamar Jackson.
The losing coach on Sunday Night Football will be on the hot seat.
Could John Harbaugh Be On The Hot Seat With A Loss On Sunday Night Football?
John Harbaugh has been the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens since 2008. He has won a Super Bowl, but that was in 2013.
Expectations for the Ravens have been high in recent years because of Lamar Jackson. However, Baltimore has made it to the AFC Championship game just once with Jackson and has not made it to a Super Bowl with Jackson.
The relationship between Jackson and Harbaugh has come under fire recently. Reports surfaced that they do not have a good relationship, which prompted Harbaugh to address this report and say they have an A-plus relationship.
Reports also have recently come out stating that Jackson has been falling asleep during team meetings, and he stays up all night playing video games.
Baltimore can put all this to rest with a win on Sunday night and make a playoff run.
However, with a loss, it may be time for the Ravens to consider moving on from John Harbaugh.
A team can only continually do the same thing and expect different results for only so long. The tandem of Harbaugh and Jackson has not lived up to expectations.
When you have a good head coach and a superstar QB, the expectations are to win a Super Bowl.
Baltimore also has a good roster, with many saying it was the best roster entering this season.
This all amounts to people believing Harbaugh has underachieved, which he has.
The Ravens are favored to beat the Steelers. Pittsburgh will be without WR DK Metcalf, TE Darnell Washington, and possibly pass rusher T.J. Watt.
A loss against a depleted Steelers team will put Harbaugh on the hot seat. However, a win will quiet the noise for Harbaugh, at least for another week.
With a loss, Baltimore may not come right out and fire Harbaugh, but a discussion could be had, where both parties decide to mutually part ways.
Could Mike Tomlin Be On The Hot Seat With A Loss On Sunday Night Football?
Mike Tomlin has not won a playoff game since January 15, 2017. He has been the constant for the Steelers throughout this drought.
This has caused Steelers fans to grow tired of Tomlin.
Even this season, fans at Acrisure Stadium chanted to fire Tomlin during the Steelers’ 26-7 loss against the Buffalo Bills in week 13.
For all the praise Tomlin receives from the media, his playoff performances do not back the media’s praise for him.
Yes, as the media loves to point out, Tomlin would likely be snatched up by another team quickly if he becomes available. However, this does not mean the Steelers should keep him. Sometimes a coach runs his course with a team, and it is time for the organization and coach to decide to just move on.
Similar to Harbaugh, with a loss, Pittsburgh may not come right out and fire Tomlin, but a discussion could be had, where both parties decide to mutually part ways.
Tomlin has sounded frustrated at times this season.
The Steelers are not favored at home to defeat the Ravens. Lamar Jackson is expected to play for Baltimore.
It may be time for the Steelers and Mike Tomlin to part ways if the Steelers lose on Sunday Night Football.
A win will quiet the noise for just a week, however, as Steelers fans want a playoff win.
Simply defeating Baltimore on Sunday Night may not be enough to keep Tomlin. He will need a playoff win, or his seat will be hot as Steeler fans grow tired of the playoff drought.
Baltimore Ravens Favored To Win Division
Oddsmakers have the Baltimore Ravens as 3.5-point favorites to defeat the Steelers.
Baltimore should win this game. Lamar Jackson is expected to play after practicing in full on Wednesday. He missed their week 17 contest.
T.J. Watt is uncertain to play, although Mike Tomlin stated he is optimistic Watt will play. Pittsburgh will be without its top WR in DK Metcalf, and its top TE, Darnell Washington, for this contest.
All signs point to Baltimore winning this game.
However, Lamar Jackson has not had a lot of success against the Steelers. Since 2019, in games against Pittsburgh, Jackson is 2-5 against the Steelers. He has thrown an interception in seven straight games against the Steelers.
Since 2019, Jackson is 1-3 playing in Pittsburgh. The only win for Jackson in Pittsburgh since 2019 was against Mason Rudolph.
Despite all signs pointing to a Ravens victory, it will not be easy for Jackson and Baltimore. History is not on his side, and games between the Ravens and Steelers are always close.
This contest will be another good one between these two teams.
The loser of this game will see a lot of heat for their head coach.
It may be time to see a new head coach in Baltimore or Pittsburgh, or possibly both teams, depending on what also happens in the playoffs for the winning team.
