The Pittsburgh Steelers’ recent win on “Monday Night Football” hasn’t significantly improved their chances for next week’s game in Detroit, although they’re currently favored to win the AFC North.
The Baltimore Ravens received some unwelcome news regarding injuries, and we’ll delve into the major storylines leading up to Tuesday’s game between the Penguins and Oilers.
This is your “First Call” for Tuesday.
Underdogs in Detroit
Despite a solid 28-15 victory at home on “Monday Night Football,” the Steelers face a nearly seven-point deficit as they head to Detroit.
According to Caesars Sportsbook, the Steelers are listed as 6½-point underdogs (-110) for their Sunday matchup against the Lions in Michigan, with an over/under set at 49.5. A straight bet on the Steelers to win pays out at plus-275.
Both teams have a record of 8-6, starting with 4-1. The Steelers are on a two-game winning streak, while the Lions have alternated between wins and losses for nine consecutive weeks, coming off a 41-34 defeat to the Rams in Los Angeles.
The Steelers boast a 5-0-1 record against the Lions since 2000, with their last loss against Detroit during the infamous Jerome Bettis Thanksgiving Day coin flip incident.
When Referee Phil Luckett ruled that Jerome Bettis called Heads ????
Bettis maintained he called tails…
The Lions won the toss and defeated the Steelers in Overtime 19-16. pic.twitter.com/viRrsKeqNT
— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) December 10, 2025
Detroit has a solid home record of 5-2, along with a point differential of +83. Only Seattle (+163) and the L.A. Rams (+159) have better differentials in the NFC. The Lions lead the NFL with 428 total points.
Bad News for Baltimore
The Baltimore Ravens, among several playoff contenders, confirmed a serious knee injury on Sunday.
Rookie Teddye Buchanan tore his ACL during Sunday’s victory against Cincinnati, a situation Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh addressed on Monday. Linebacker Trenton Simpson will step in for Buchanan.
Harbaugh expressed significant confidence in Trenton Simpson filling Buchanan’s defensive role. #Ravens https://t.co/7kr6sIpHaV
— Luke Jones (@BaltimoreLuke) December 15, 2025
Buchanan, a Cal product, ranks second on the Ravens in tackles. He made four tackles, including one for a loss, against the Steelers on December 7. Meanwhile, in Green Bay, an MRI confirmed Micah Parsons suffered a torn ACL, ending his season with 12.5 sacks in his rookie year with the Packers.
“I may be sidelined, but I am not defeated,” Parsons stated on X.
Furthermore, according to ESPN, tests in Kansas City indicated that while Patrick Mahomes has also sustained an ACL tear, he did not damage any additional knee ligaments during Sunday’s loss to the Chargers.
Adjusting Expectations
How substantial were the Steelers’ recent victories over the Ravens and Dolphins? ESPN’s Jamison Hensley pointed out that every Ravens scenario to secure the AFC North now hinges on a win in Pittsburgh in their season finale.
If the Ravens win their next two games and the Steelers lose their two remaining, Baltimore must defeat Pittsburgh in Week 18 to secure the title.
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
As Hensley noted, the Ravens’ last three regular-season opponents are all division leaders, with a combined record of 28-13-1 (.678). In contrast, the Steelers (8-6) are scheduled to face Detroit (8-6) and Cleveland (3-11) before hosting the 7-7 Ravens.
While it appears the Ravens can still influence their fate, they must win all three games to clinch the division at 10-7 based on their record against common opponents, even if the Steelers defeat both Detroit and Cleveland beforehand.
Conversely, if the Steelers finish strong, no scenario allows Baltimore to claim the North without defeating Pittsburgh. If the Steelers win all their games, they’ll end up at 11-6, compared to Baltimore’s maximum of 9-8.
As per BetRivers.com, the Steelers are favored at -130 to win the division, while the Ravens are underdogs at +105.
Other Notable Headlines
As the Edmonton Oilers prepare to visit PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday night, several headlines surround the matchup.
Not only was there a recent trade involving Tristan Jarry and Stewart Skinner, but Sidney Crosby is just two points away (1,721) from tying Mario Lemieux for the franchise’s all-time points record. Edmonton star Leon Draisaitl is also on the brink of 1,000 career points, and whenever Crosby faces off against five-time scoring champion Connor McDavid, it’s a noteworthy event.
Despite their mixed results, the Oilers currently hold a Western Conference wild card position with 36 points, posting a record of 15-12-6, and have scored 29 goals over their last six games. Their average of 3.33 goals per game ranks third in the NHL, while their power play at 30.6% is also among the league’s best.
However, their defensive efforts have been lackluster, with a goals-against average of 3.39 placing them 26th in the NHL, and their .879 save percentage ranks 29th. With 112 goals allowed, only St. Louis (121) has a higher total.
Thus, the acquisition of Jarry is seen as a crucial move to improve those numbers.
In a silver lining for the Penguins, who have struggled to maintain leads lately, it may comfort them that Edmonton has achieved only two victories this season when trailing after two periods.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can reach him at [email protected] or on X. All tweets may be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
