Monday Night Football: Steelers edge Ravens

Edge is the best way to put it. The Final Score was 20-19, closer than it ever should have been, but a W is a W is a W in the NFL. The Steelers got OUTGAINED by the WORST offense in the league coming in, some 316 to 262 yards. There were mistakes on both sides, from muffed snaps on a punt at midfield (Steelers) that led to Baltimore's go-ahead FG with 4 minutes left (19-17), to an earlier miss (wide right) by Baltimore's K Matt Stover, which caromed off the right upright and out.

The way the game started, it looked to be trouble for the Ravens. The Steelers took teh opening kickoff back to their 22, and proceeded to rack up a 15-play, 78-yard Touchdown drive that took 8:57 of time off the clock. Baltimore, not shaken, spent 4+ minutes driving down to get their own touchdown, largely on the strength of the pass, and a questionable defensive holding call on an incomplete third down pass, where the receiver did a spin-move, avoiding the defender completely who was flagged for the "holding". It was also questionable as to whether Ravens receiver Chester Taylor was out of bounds prior to the end zone -- he was given the TD, and steelers did not challenge. The ball was out at the 2 yard line, but Taylor was apparently given credit for being in the air, with the ball crossing the plane of the goal line out of bounds.

The Steelers then drove a ways before stalling on the Baltimore 37, and lined-up with Roethlisberger still in as to go for it on 4th down. Ben pooched it where it was downed inside the 1. On Baltimore's next play, RB Jamal Lewis was almost tacked in the end-zone for a safety, but escaped, only to be stripped of the ball, and the Steelers recovered on the Bal 12 yard line. The Steelers could not take advantage of this opportuntiy, and after a pair of no-gain plays, Ben was sacked for a 13 yard loss on 3rd down. No worries, though, as Jeff Reed made good from 41 yards out to make it a 10-7 game.

After Baltimore's next possession, the Steelers fumbled a punt return in the 2nd quarter, setting up a Baltimore field goal that tied the game. The Steelers also survived Roethlisberger's 2nd interception thrown on the season without giving up any points. The 2nd quarter wound down, with Baltimore making one last stab to get into field goal range. Inexplicably, with no timeouts left for the Ravens, and the clock winding down, the Steelers called a timeout with 0:08 left in the half. Coach Cowher said is was to make sure the correct personnel were on the field, but the clock may have expired prior to the Ravens getting the play off. It turned out ok, as Ike Taylor picked off Baltimore QB Anthony Wright in the endzone to end the first half tied at 10-10.

Chris Hope intercepted Wright on the first Ravens' possession of the 2nd half, and, despite a successful Baltimore challenge that negated a 22 yard return, the Steelers drove down for another Heath Miller touchdown catch, his 2nd of the night, for a 17-10 Steeler lead. Like the first half though, the Ravens did not give up, and came right back down the field, but were forced to try a field goal, but the 3rd quarter expired with the score still 17-10. First play of the 4th quarter was a Baltimore field goal to make it 17-13.

The Steelers drove, but could not get close enough for another field goal try, while Baltimore racked up another field goal, this time making it 17-16. Enter the aforementioned Steelers drive, to their own 45, where a botched 4th down snap, on what was to be a punt, turned into a Morey rush, pitched back to Gardocki (the Punter) who attempted a forward pass to Morey, who briefly had possession, but was far from the first down marker. This would lead directly to a Baltimore field goal, giving the Ravens their first lead of the day at 19-17.

Three and a half minutes to go, and the Steelers give the ball to Ben Roethlisberger, and he proceeds to hit good passes to Quincy Morgan and good runs by Jerome Bettis to drive down to the Ravens 19, forcing the Ravens to burn their timeouts, setting up Jeff Reed's game winning field goal with 1:45 to go.