Report card: Steelers vs. Ravens
-
Steelers defensive lineman Ziggy Hood had one of five sacks for the Steelers in Saturday's game against the Ravens at Heinz Field.
Share with others:
It wasn't pretty, especially after his fumble gave the Ravens a 14-7 lead, but Ben Roethlisberger made a number of big throws in the second half to capitalize on turnovers and pull out the victory. The biggest was a 58-yard pass to Antonio Brown to set up the winning touchdown, but don't forget about the sneaky sneak of fourth-and-1 to set up a go-ahead field goal by Shaun Suisham.
Rashard Mendenhall didn't post big numbers -- 46 yards on 20 carries -- but he scored two touchdowns, the latter on a tough cutback from the 2. His first TD from 1 yard out came after he carried six times for 17 yards on the opening 80-yard scoring drive. In between, it looked as though he might have committed the back-breaking play when his fumble led to the touchdown that made it 21-7.
Antonio Brown made the biggest catch of all -- a 58-yarder behind CB Lardarius Webb to the Ravens' 4 to set up the winning touchdown. Veteran Hines Ward was shut out in the first half, but he came back to make several big plays, the biggest an 8-yard catch for a touchdown on a slant that tied the score, 21-21. TE Heath Miller's 9-yard TD catch was a big momentum lift after a Ray Rice fumble.
DE Terrell Suggs was a difference-maker again, registering two of his three sacks in the first half and forcing the fumble on Roethlisberger that was returned for a touchdown. G Ramon Foster wasn't the only player standing around on the play that made it 14-7, but he stood over the ball and never thought to pick it up. Roethlisberger was sacked six times, but injuries forced more juggling on the line.
The Ravens had just 21 yards rushing on nine carries in the first half and finished with only 35 yards on 18 carries, but one play hurt the NFL's No. 1 rush defense -- a 14-yard touchdown run by Ray Rice that gave them a 7-7 lead. Big plays by DE Ziggy Hood and a fumble recovery by DE Brett Keisel were big factors in the second-half comeback. Hood had a sack on third down on the final series.
First Published January 16, 2011 12:10 am
