Steelers win defensive struggle vs Ravens 20-12

1st QTR: On their first possession of the game Steeler RB Mewelde Moore coughed the ball up on the Ravens 45. Baltimore capitalized when Matt Stover hit a 54 yard FG at 9:00. A tight defensive struggle ensued. With :21 left in the quarter Steve "Air" McNair hit Clarence Moore with a quick toss. Moore struggled for extra yards and LaMarr Woodley punched the ball out and recovered it for Pittsburgh. "Big" Ben Roethlisberger immediately went up top and hit Santonio Holmes for 37 yards to get down to Baltimore's 11.

2nd QTR: The Raven defense held firm and 26 yard Jeff Reed FG tied it at 3. Jamal Lewis returned the kickoff 2 yard and the Ravens started on their own 15. Pittsburgh sent the blitz and sacked McNair who lost the handle on the ball. James Farrior fell on it for the Steelers who now had gr8 field position. Again it was all about the "D" as Ray Lewis sacked Big Ben to make it 3rd and 20. Pittsburgh would not convert and would have to settle for a 40 yarder by Jeff Reed. Reed's kick never had a chance as Bart Scott blocked it and recovered the ball on his own 42. McNair hit Derrick Mason and Ovie Mughelli for medium passes, but the drive stalled on the Steeler 41. Mat Stover hit one from 41 yards out to make it 6-3 Baltimore. The Steelers started on their own 23 and after a 13 yard run by Gary Russell they had the ball on their 38. Ben hit Hines Ward in stride for 21 yards, but the crafty receive dropped the ball. A pile up ensued and thankfully for Pittsburgh Ward came out of it with possession. 4 plays later Ben would hit Hines Ward in the end zone for a 14 yard TD pass to make it 10-6 PIT. B.J. Sams almost broke a return for a TD, but had to settle for a 43 yard return to the Steeler 46. McNair spread the ball around and moved the offense, but ran out of time and downs on the Steeler 4 and had to settle for a Stover 29 yarder to make it 10-9 at the half.

3rd QTR: The start of the second half would not be kind to the offense. Roethlisberger was intercepted by Ray Lewis who returned it to the Steeler 29. Three plays later McNair would return the favor by putting the ball in Bryan McFadden's hands instead of Mark Clayton's. Two plays later Gary Russell would cough the ball up on his own 23 and Tim Johnson would recover it for Baltimore. Both defenses really stepped it up. It became literally impossible for the offense to hold on to the ball. Baltimore looked poised to score a TD after McNair hit Todd Heap for 12 yards on the Steeler 11, but on the following play he was blind sided by Lawrence Timmons and the ball once again came out. Thankfully Keydrick Vincent recovered. Three plays later the normally surehanded Jamal Lewis put the ball on the turf. Mike Flynn recovered that one for the Ravens who must have been ecstatic to settle for Matt Stover's 20 yard to grab the lead 12-10. Gary Russell returned the KO 26 yards to his own 31. Ben hit Ward for 25 yards against the blitz and the ball was now on the Raven 44. Terrell Suggs sacked Ben and stripped him of the ball. Luckily for the Steelers Justin Hartwig was aware of his surroundings and recovered the ball. Ben again went to the air and the Steelers OL picked up the blitz. Holmes caught one for 25 yards and Heath Miller caught one for 23 yards and a score. The Steelers were up 16-12, which is how it would stand as the quarter ended.

4th QTR: Pittsburgh started the final quarter with the ball on their own 18. After two incomplete passes, Ben hit slot receiver Nate Washington for 29 yards to move the chains. On the next play he hit Ward for 25 more and just like that they were knocking on the door to score again. The crowd was hoping for another TD to break open the game, but they had to settle for a 43 yarder from Jeff Reed. Sams returned the KO to his 2. McNair hit Musa Smith with a screen pass that went for 27 yards just across midfield. Facing a 4th and 2 from the Steeler 40 Coach MacDonald decided to gamble and go for it. McNair hit Ovie Mughelli for 4 yards and another set of down. With 6:30 left to go in the game and down by 8 McNair attempted to force one into a double teamed Mark Clayton. Tyrone Carter stepped in front of Clayton and intercepted the ball on his own 16. Ben and company went 3 and out and the Ravens again had good field position (PIT 39), but time was now becoming a factor. On the Steeler 22 with 2:48 to go and facing a 3rd and 6 McNair again tried to force one into the double covered Clayton. This time William Gay was the beneficiary of the errant toss. Mewelde Moore was able to run for a first down on 3rd and 4. Baltimore had no more time outs and the Steelers ran out the clock and notched the victory.