Pittsburgh Steelers defeated Baltimore Ravens to take AFC North title
Until today the Steelers and Ravens were tied with 8-2 record atop the AFC North division. After beating the Ravens 13-10 the Pittsburgh Steelers now lead the division. The two rivals squared off once before in the season and the Ravens came out victorious
in that match.
That time quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was not playing. He had been suspended for 4 games but now has returned to lead the Steelers to the division title. The quarterback came on the field with a leg injury that was still not completely behind him and
took a serious beating at the hands of the Ravens.
The battle between the two teams was fought on defence. Pittsburgh ranks as one of the best defensive sides in the league. The Ravens aren’t that bad either. Steelers have the second and the Ravens have the fourth best record in the team in terms of points
conceded in a game. Neither team’s offense could do much against the vicious secondary.
The game started with the Ravens on the offense. Before quarterback Joe Flacco could throw a single pass at a receiver, he was sacked in 3rd and 10 for 6 yards. The Steelers offense met with a similar end. Roethlisberger got a fresh set of downs
on the 46 yard line. In the first play the quarterback missed the tight end Heath Miller, completed a two yards push in the next play and then got sacked on 3rd and 8.
The defences continued to pressurize the offense until Flacco got away with a big play late in the first quarter. He pushed back into the Ravens’ end zone and waited for Anquan Boldin. The wide receiver ran deep and caught Flacco’s 61 yarder without much
trouble. Boldin was brought down on Pittsburgh 36 yard line. Flacco continued to move forward and ended the drive with another 14 yard pass to Boldin for the first touchdown of the game and the only one the Ravens would score.
Following the touchdown, Big Ben got sacked again and the Steelers lost another drive. The Steelers’ punt was returned for 35 yards and put the Ravens almost at the centre. However in the next 3 plays Flacco was able to connect only once and for only 7 yards.
4 minutes into the 2nd quarter Roethlisberger’s offense started to take shape as he opened up the offense with a 25 yards pass followed a play later by another 10 yards. Pittsburgh offense died out as quickly as it sprang up. On Baltimore’s 45
yard line Big Ben was aiming big and threw the ball towards wide receiver Antonio Brown. Josh Wilson caught the ball and was taken down inside the Ravens’ end zone.
Baltimore’s offense tried to make the big plays again with Flacco throwing his second 60+ yards pass of the game. The target this time was Donte’ Stallworth and the 67 yards pass put the Ravens on Pittsburgh’s 27 yard line. Big plays here and there don’t
mean anything unless the offense can be consistent. In the three plays after the 67 yards pass, Baltimore gained 2 yards but lost 13 between Ray Rice’s rush and a sack on Flacco. Neither team scored any points in the second quarter.
In the third, Pittsburgh and Baltimore scored field goals in back to back drives leaving the Steelers trailing by 7 points in the fourth quarter. The Steelers continued a long third quarter drive into the fourth quarter and down Baltimore’s lead by another
field goal. The Ravens moved from their 20 to Baltimore’s 1 in 15 plays but still was not able to score a touchdown. The Steelers still trailed by 3 points.
The game changed in virtually one play. 12 minutes into the 4th quarter the Ravens took possession for the third time in the quarter. Pittsburgh defence then made the most important play of the game. On the 2nd and 5, at the 43 yard
line Troy Polamalu broke through Baltimore’s offensive line and sacked the quarterback before Flacco even realized what was going on. Polamalu streaked in on Flacco’s left and pounced on Flacco while he had his arm raised and was just about to throw the ball.
Flacco fumbled the ball and LaMarr Woodley recovered it and carried it to Baltimore’s 9 yard line. Roethlisberger just had to drive 9 yards for touchdown. In the first play Roethlisberger almost got thrown to the ground. Terrell Suggs tried to bull down
the quarterback but Big Ben just wouldn’t go down. He threw the ball away and avoided a sack.
In the second play Hines Ward was the intended target but the pass didn’t connect. On the 3rd and goal, Big Ben finally found his mark. He threw a short right pass at Redman again and the running back slipped through Baltimore’s defence and scored
the touchdown. Pittsburgh finally got a lead over the Ravens.
Just under 3 minutes remained in the quarter. Flacco gave it his best but he could not get the Ravens past the 31 yard line. On the 31 yard line, 4th and 2 Flacco decided to push on instead of attempted the field goal to take the game into overtime.
The gamble did not pay off. Flacco could not complete the pass and Pittsburgh regained possession.
On the final play of the game Roethlisberger kneeled and the Steelers won the game 13 against 10.
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