Ravens vs. Steelers 2015 results: 3 things we learned from Baltimore’s 30-17 wild card win
Baltimore’s banged-up defense came up big against one of the league’s best offenses.
Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
After getting torched for 376 yards and 43 points the last time they were in Pittsburgh, a prideful Baltimore defense was out to make a statement this time around. The Ravens dominated Ben Roethlisberger and the high-powered Steelers offense for much of the night, coming away with a 30-17 win to advance to the second round of the playoffs.
The Steelers offense finally started moving in a fourth quarter that saw them pile up much of their 387 offensive yards. But that stat doesn’t tell the true story of the Ravens’ superb defense, which held Pittsburgh to just 219 yards through the first three quarters.
Pittsburgh scored its lone touchdown of the game with 11 minutes remaining. The Ravens had just converted a critical fourth-and-inches and looked to be set up for a long, clock-draining drive, but Justin Forsett coughed up a fumble. On the very next play, Roethlisberger hit Antonio Brown for the big play everyone had been waiting for.
A video review ended up spotting the ball on the 1-yard line, but Roethlisberger found Martavis Bryant a play later to cut the score to 20-15.
But the Ravens defense didn't blink. On the very next Steelers possession, a Baltimore defensive front that badgered Roethlisberger all night got pressure and forced him into an errant pass that ended up between the knees of Terrell Suggs for a highlight-worthy interception.
Joe Flacco, who finished with 259 yards, two touchdowns and no picks, hit Crockett Gillmore on the next snap for a 21-yard kill shot.
1) The Ravens’ defensive front dominated.
With Le'Veon Bell sidelined with a hyperextended knee, Pittsburgh struggled to move the ball on the ground. Rookie Josh Harris and recently signed veteran Ben Tate combined for just 44 yards on 14 carries.
But the Steelers' struggles on the ground weren't just the byproduct of an injured Bell -- it also had a lot to do with Haloti Ngata, who returned from a four-game drug suspension to provide an immediate boost to the defensive interior. He and fellow defensive tackle Brandon Williams wreaked havoc up front all night, combining for eight tackles and two sacks.
The Ravens’ front hounded Roethlisberger, who came in having been sacked just three times in his previous five games. Baltimore hit that mark by halftime and finished with five sacks.
2) Baltimore’s secondary was vastly improved.
The last time the Ravens faced the Steelers, Big Ben tossed six touchdowns and 340 yards in a 43-23 route. This time around, he had just one score and two picks.
Sure, the secondary benefited from the defensive line’s constant pass rush, but they deserve plenty of credit for shutting down an offense that came in ranked second in the league with 302 passing yards per game. Brown, who racked up 234 yards in his first two games against Baltimore and led the league in receptions and yards, did break loose late for a pair of long receptions to finish with 117 yards, but the Ravens limited him to just four receptions for 39 yards in the first half.
3) Steve Smith was the offensive spark.
Torrey Smith caught the touchdown that gave the Ravens a commanding 20-9 lead late in the third quarter, but it was Steve who keyed that scoring drive by going up between two defenders to haul in a 40-yard reception. It was a vintage play in a vintage game for the 35-year-old Smith, who caught five passes for 101 yards and provided his trademark emotion down the stretch.
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