CHRISTOPHER PANSINO – OVATHLETICS.COM
The Steelers almost went 4-0 without Ben Roethlisberger. Almost.
The Steelers and Ravens is one of the most heated rivalries in all of the NFL. Since the original Cleveland Browns packed up and took the team to Baltimore, the Ravens have been a pain for the collative Steelers nation for more than a decade.
Today’s game was a defensive slugfest, which is very appropriate given these two teams history and philosophy on defense.
Joe Flacco late go-ahead touchdown to T.J. Houshmandzadeh with 32 seconds remaining gave the Ravens the 17-14 win.
And with the Ben’s suspension and the injury to Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon the Steelers were seconds from their first 4-0 start since 1979.
The Steelers took a 14-10 lead after Rashard Mendenhall’s 7-yard run half way thought the fourth.
And they nearly sealed the win after Flacco threw two incompletion with under three minutes left to play. But a holding call would give the Ravens new life, as Flacco would hookup with Anquan Boldin on two passes for 12 yards and 10 yards to Houshmandzadeh.
Flacco would hit Houshmandzadeh again off a pump fake for the game-winning touchdown.
The Steelers had other opportunities to win the ballgame, however they too were also besmirched by penalties. They tired to run out the clock after getting the ball back, but after two false start penalties were forced to punt the ball back to the Ravens.
Other opportunities included a 49-yard and 45-yard missed field goals by Jeff Reed after two turnovers by Baltimore put the Steelers in good field position.
The Steelers have a bye week next week, but return October 17 against the Cleveland Browns. That game will also mark the official return of Big Ben.
