The Pittsburgh Steelers have a one-game lead on the Baltimore Ravens in the race for the AFC North title. The difference is Pittsburgh’s 18-16 victory over Baltimore on Nov. 17.

That was the Steelers’ eighth victory in the past nine meetings with the Ravens, and if Pittsburgh can make it nine of 10 when the teams square off on Saturday afternoon, it will clinch the AFC North title and the accompanying home game in the first round of the playoffs.

“I didn’t know that it was eight out of the last nine until the last game, but it bothers me,” Baltimore cornerback Marlon Humphrey said on Tuesday about the recent one-sidedness of the game considered the NFL’s best rivalry. “When I found out, it was surprising. But I know the guys in the locker room, we want to win this rivalry. Eight out of the last nine — it’s not a good number at all, so the focus has to be at a premium this week, and it’s going to take a lot to get that back on our side, but you want to be able to beat your rival. …

“The defensive meeting today was a little fiery. The team meeting was a little fiery. But it’s just going to build this week, and it’ll get talked about. I think some people got a taste of it. There were a couple of skirmishes in the last game. But this is big. This means a lot to a lot of people. It means a lot to me being here for a long time. And if you don’t understand, the message will be very clear as the week goes on.”

While the Steelers have dominated the result against the Ravens, Pittsburgh hasn’t dominated Baltimore on the field. The largest margin of victory in the past nine games between the AFC North rivals has been seven points.

“I think (Steelers coach Mike) Tomlin wants to just keep the game close, keep the game close and then win it at the end,” Humphrey said. “And, honestly, that strategy works pretty well when they play us. I respect what he does as a coach.

“There’s a lot of teams out there that you can say, ‘They weren’t really tough. They didn’t really bring it.’ But that’s one thing that I love about the rivalry: There’s not a lot of fare dodging. They’re going do what they’re going to do. They’ll run the ball, take their shots — it’s not really going to be a secret — and they feel that they can do that and be successful, and we’ve got to feel that we can stop it and do the opposite.”

Pittsburgh already has clinched a playoff spot. Baltimore would secure a postseason spot with a victory on Saturday and, by pulling into a tie with the Steelers, remain in the running to win the AFC North’s home playoff game over the final two weeks of the season.

Saturday’s game will be the middle contest in an 11-day stretch during which Baltimore plays three times. The Ravens defeated the New York Giants 35-14 on Sunday and play the Houston Texans on Wednesday as part of the NFL’s Christmas doubleheader.

Pittsburgh is in the same boat. The Steelers lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 27-13 on Sunday and play the Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday.

“I think the key to being successful in that is sleep, recovery and leaning on the coaches, leaning on the people that are in house to help you,” Humphrey said. “With the nutrition, Sarah (Snyder, the director of sports nutrition), with the weight room, with Scott (Elliott, the strength-and-conditioning coordinator), the coaches. Doing as many things as you can here before you get home because it’s turning around really quick. And the biggest thing is that you just have to be on the same page.

“I think there’s another team or two that have some tight stretches, so we’re not the only team. But that’s the biggest thing is just put in the work, put in the work, put in the work, do it quick and try to stay ahead. Bodies will be feeling it, but I think it will be the same on both sides, but whoever can do the little things the best will come out the most successful.”

Humphrey is a former Hoover High School football and track star who played at Alabama before joining Baltimore in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

The Alabama Game of the Week is the Philadelphia Eagles-Washington Commanders contest on Sunday. Fourteen players from Alabama high schools and colleges are on the teams’ active rosters.

The Week 16 schedule (with all times Central and point spreads from BetMGM):

Thursday

• Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers (-2.5), 7:15 p.m. (Prime Video)

Saturday

• Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs (-3.5), noon (NBC)
• Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens (-6.5), 3:30 p.m. (FOX)

Sunday

• New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons (-8.5), noon (WZDX, WCOV, WDFX)
• Arizona Cardinals (-4.5) at Carolina Panthers, noon
• Detroit Lions (-6.5) at Chicago Bears, noon
• Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals (-7.5), noon
• Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts (-3.5), noon (WHNT)
• Los Angeles Rams (-3.5) at New York Jets, noon (WIAT, WTVY, WKRG, WAKA)
• Philadelphia Eagles (-3.5) at Washington Commanders, noon (WBRC, WALA)
• Minnesota Vikings (-3) at Seattle Seahawks, 3:05 p.m.
• New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills (-14), 3:25 p.m.
• Jacksonville Jaguars at Las Vegas Raiders (-1), 3:25 p.m.
• San Francisco 49ers at Miami Dolphins (-1), 3:25 p.m. (WIAT, WTVY, WHNT, WKRG, WAKA)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-4) at Dallas Cowboys, 7:20 p.m. (NBC)

Monday

• New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers (-14.5), 7:15 p.m. (ABC, ESPN)

CHECK OUT MAPS OF SUNDAY’S BROADCAST TV COVERAGE

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.