Big plays by the defense, a few timely offensive darts from Russell Wilson, and the best kicker in football all combined to lead the Steelers to an 18-16 win over the Ravens yesterday, their fourth consecutive win over Baltimore and their eighth in the last nine times the two rivals have met.
After allowing Lamar Jackson to drive the football down the field for an easy touchdown with 1:06 left in the fourth quarter, the defense rose up and stopped Jackson on a two-point conversion attempt that would have tied the game, and the offense then got a crucial first down that allowed them to run out the clock for the win.
Chris Boswell kicked six field goals, three of them from 50 yards or more, for all of the Steelers’ points. Pittsburgh linebackers forced three turnovers…Nick Herbig ripped the ball away from Derrick Henry for a fumble that was recovered by DeShon Elliott, Patrick Queen stole the ball from Isaiah Likely on first down from the Ravens’ nine, and rookie Payton Wilson outwrestled Justice Hill for an interception on a long pass late in the fourth quarter.
The Steelers made more than their share of mistakes. Wilson threw a bad interception from inside the Ravens’ five-yard line in the fourth quarter, tackle Broderick Jones gave up a sack and was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and two holding penalties, and Justin Fields came up short on his quarterback slide on a rush that would have given the Steelers a first down on the final possession. Najee Harris got the first down on the next play to put the game away.
Coach Mike Tomlin enjoys the security of having Chris Boswell to make up for his offense’s shortcomings.
Tomlin says the Steelers’ defense was on its game.
The coach says the Steelers did what they had to do to win the game.
Tomlin says the Steelers have a quick turnaround to get ready to play the Browns this Thursday night.
Linebacker TJ Watt says the Steelers had to bounce back from some big plays engineered by Lamar Jackson.
Russell Wilson says his first Steelers/Ravens game was special.
Defensive lineman Keeanu Benton will be evaluated for an apparent knee injury that caused him to miss the last nine minutes of the game. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was kicked in the shin and left briefly but returned, making the key play on the Jackson two-point conversion attempt.
Checking the rest of the AFC North, Jameis Winston threw for 395 yards and two touchdowns but the Browns were blown out by New Orleans, 35-14. The Bengals erased a 24-6 deficit to tie their game with the Chargers, but lost 34-27 on a JK Dobbins 29-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left.
The Steelers lead the division at 8-2. The Ravens are 7-4, the Bengals 4-7, and the Browns are 2-8.
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