Steelers roar from behind for 31-24 win over Ravens
-
Steelers safety Ryan Clark breaks up a third down pass to Ravens tight end Todd Heap in the first quarter of tonight's game at Heinz Field.
Share with others:
The Steelers overcame a bumbling, fumbling first half by scoring three times off three third-quarter turnovers to roar from behind to a pulsating 31-24 playoff victory at raucous Heinz Field tonight.
With the game tied and the Steelers facing a third-and-19 at their 38 with just over two minutes left, Ben Roethlisberger uncorked a deep pass that rookie Antonio Brown caught and then held control by holding it against his helmet before his momentum took him out of bounds at the Baltimore four with 1:58 to go.
It took four plays plus a Ravens penalty but on third down Rashard Mendenhall ran up the middle for a touchdown to put the Steelers on top by seven with 1:33 left.
The Steelers will play the winner of Sunday's New York Jets-New England Patriots playoff game for the AFC championship Jan. 23. If the Jets win, the game will be in Heinz Field. If the Patriots win, it will be in New England.
The Steelers overcame a 21-7 halftime deficit that Baltimore ran out to after scoring two touchdowns off two Steelers fumbles.
However, as poorly as the Steelers looked in the first half, the Ravens looked that bad in the third quarter when three turnovers led to three Steelers scores as they took a 24-21 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Trailing 21-7 at halftime, the Steelers scored a touchdown quickly in the third quarter after Baltimore's first turnover of the game -- a fumble by Ray Rice caused by safety Ryan Clark at the Baltimore 23.
It took two plays for the Steelers to score when Ben Roethlisberger found Heath Miller wide open in the back of the end zone for a touchdown to cut the lead to 21-14.
Clark, having the game of his life, then intercepted Joe Flacco on the next Baltimore series and returned it 17 yards to the 25. three plays later, Roethlisberger rifled a pass to Hines Ward for an 8-yard touchdown and a tie game.
Baltimore wasn't done with its giving mood as Flacco fumbled the second snap from scrimmage on the next series and Brett Keisel recovered for the Steelers at the Ravens' 23.
That set up Shaun Suisham's 35-yard field goal to put the Steelers ahead 24-21 with 12:15 left in the game.
First Published January 15, 2011 5:30 pm
