With the game on the line and time winding down in the fourth quarter, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense came-up big once again. Troy Polamalu came free on a blitz with the Steelers down by four, sacking Joe Flacco and popping the ball free. Lamar Woodley scooped the ball up, rumbling down to the Baltimore nine-yard line. Three plays later, Ben Roethlisberger found Isaac Redman in the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown.
Steelers Vs. Ravens: Pittsburgh Uses Defense To Drop Baltimore, 13-10
Baltimore had a shot after getting the ball back, driving to the edge of field goal range with under a minute left. Again the Pittsburgh defense made a stop, forcing an incompletion on fourth down to seal the game. Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh took a gamble, electing to go for it on fourth and two instead of kick a 46-yard field goal.
Roethlisberger, playing with a broken foot and suffering a gruesome broken nose during the game, threw for 253 yards, one touchdown and one interception. In a defensive struggle, the ground game never got going for the Steelers. Rashard Mendenhall rushed for only 45 yards on 19 carries. Mike Wallace led the Steelers’ receivers with 76 yards on five catches.
Pittsburgh tight end Heath Miller went down in the third quarter after a vicious, helmet-to-helmet hit. Miller left the game and didn’t return after the hit that went unpenalized. According to Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, the NFL admitted the play should have drawn a flag.
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco did all he could against the Steelers, throwing for 266 yards and a touchdown against the always-tough Pittsburgh defense. Anquan Boldin led all receivers with 118 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, it was slow going for the Ravens, as well, with Ray Rice only carrying the ball nine times for 32 yards.
The Ravens moved to 9-3 with the win while Baltimore fell to 8-4. Pittsburgh hosts the Cincinnati Bengals next Sunday. Baltimore travels to Houston to battle the Texans on Monday Night Football on Dec. 13.
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