Games between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers have been physical and close confrontations for a decade. Today’s match-up between these two teams (the 8th such game in 3 years) was no different. These teams were rivals before the game started – and are rivals now the game is over – but the rivalry called the best in football could have reached yet another level. Everything is escalated when you show you can go to your opponents stadium and win crucial games.

Instead, the Ravens lost a playoff game in Pittsburgh for the 3rd time. The Steelers talked a lot before this game about wanting to kick the Ravens out of the ‘tournament’ and have Baltimore watching Pittsburgh in the next round. That is exactly what happened.  The Ravens will get to spend their entire off-season thinking of this loss, while watching the Steelers advance.

This might be the best rivalry in the National Football League, but the Ravens missed a golden opportunity to escalate it even further.

The Good:

1) Even with the yards that were called back, it was a nice return by Webb to start the game.

2) Though Mendenhall would score on the next attempt, Reed had a beautiful hit on the young RB the previous carry.

3) Early in this game Cameron had the right plan of using the pass to open up the running game. Ray Rice’s TD to even the game at 7 was sweet, especially how he ran over Polamalu near the goal. The hole for Rice opened up after McClain lit-up Farrior with a block.

4) The game could have gotten away from Baltimore early, if the Ravens had not answered Pittsburgh’s initial TD, with their own 5 minute 10 play 68 yard TD drive.

5) Suggs’ sack was obviously critical, but Cory Redding deserves all the credit in the world for continuing to play before a whistle was blown. Considering how the game started with Webb’s kickoff return, both teams should have had in their head of continuing to play until the whistle blew. The fact that Pittsburgh was out of challenges for the remainder of the game was an added bonus.

6) Koch’s is a master of angling punts, but he really boomed a 61 yarder today showing off his leg-strength.

7) The Ravens punched in the Steelers fumble recovery with a TD, instead of having to settle for a FG. On the telecast the audible chants of ‘Heap’ could be heard.

8) Suggs dominated the Steelers in Baltimore, and did the same today in Pittsburgh. His play over the 2nd half of the season was the highest level of his career. Suggs talked plenty this week, and backed up his comments with his actions on the field. Some of his teammates and the Coaches let him down.

9) On the Steelers first possession of the 2nd half, they faced 3rd and 12. I loved the call from Mattison to overload the side and bring some pressure. Great play from Nakamura getting Roethlisberger to the ground.

10) Great play in pass defense from Josh Wilson in the 3rd Quarter, followed-up by Ellerbe staying home and blowing up a Pittsburgh reverse. Wilson also had an outstanding tackle on Wallace in the open-field in the 4th, followed by a jarring hit on Sanders on the last Pittsburgh drive.

11) The Ravens Defense came up with a crucial 3 and out on the Steelers, getting the ball back for the Baltimore offense with 6 minutes left in the game. Webb did everything he could to get the ball into the end-zone, unfortunately that play was called back due to the holding penalty.

The Bad:

1) On the Steelers first possession they faced 3rd and long from deep within their own territory. The coverage from Carr provided too much cushion. The next play brought a blitz from the Ravens and the call of pass-interference against Josh Wilson (though replays cleared showed Wallace wrapped his arm on the Ravens CB.)  With Pittsburgh facing another 3rd down (with 1 to go) Lewis missed a tackle and the Steelers had a new set of downs from the Ravens 12 yard line. A few Mendenhall carries later, Pittsburgh was on the board first.

1a) Allowing a 10 play, 80 yard drive over 6 minutes is about as poor a defensive start as could be imagined.

2) On the Ravens 2nd offensive possession, Baltimore allowed a sack to Woodley. Similar to Polamalu’s  sack in Baltimore, the intention of Woodley was not in question. For the play to be called with Woodley unblocked without an audible adjustment or timeout is not something I can understand.

3) Turnovers are part of the game and Rice obviously did not intend to put the ball on the ground (or does have a history of doing so, the fumble was his 1st in 405 attempts). Still, the fumble and subsequent Steelers TD clearly changed the game. The Harrison sack on the same series did not help either.

4) An Ayanbadejo holding penalty on a Pittsburgh punt cost the Ravens 10 yards, and caused Baltimore to start from the 10.

5) The first play after the Ayanbadejo penalty was Flacco’s interception into double-coverage. Both the pass and the decision making there was poor.

6) I do not know who was to blame on the fumbled snap (Birk or Flacco), either way it was pathetic.

7) I believe the Ravens had allowed 23 points during the 3rd Quarter all year. To allow 14 today was probably a shock to the system. It was fairly amazing that the Ravens went into the 4th Quarter tied with Pittsburgh, with less than 100 yards of offense on the board for Baltimore.

8) As the game progressed, the Ravens had more and more problems holding up against the pass rush of Harrison. (3 sacks)

9) Think Marcus Smith was praying for the Ravens to punch the ball in for 6 after his holding penalty? Ouch.

10) On that last Pittsburgh drive Nakamura was asked to cover Ward on a slant? You don’t have one of your two starting cover corners playing man coverage against the future HOF? You ask the Safety to cover him?

11) Again on that last Pittsburgh drive, the Ravens forced the Steelers into a 3rd down situation. The Ravens elected to rush just 3 and dropped 8 into coverage. Somehow Webb (and the Safety) were beat over the top by Brown. You can not get beat over the top there, but I hate decision not to bring pressure. You had already sacked Roethlisberger 6 times at that point.

12) Terrence Cody tried to cap the 2nd half nightmare with his defensive holding, giving the Steelers a fresh set of downs at the goal-line.

13) The Ravens final offensive possession of the season started at the Steelers 48 yard line with 1:27 left on the clock. There was plenty of time to move down the field.  The play calling on that final series was abysmal.

The Ugly:

1) Boldin was brought to Baltimore to be a number 1 WR. He was missing all game, just like he was missing most of the 2nd half of this season. Flacco’s pass hit him square in the number and should have been a TD for the go-ahead score.

2) Houshmandzadeh had one of his better games as a member of the Ravens, but if this was his last game in a Baltimore uniform the lasting memory will be him dropping that 4th down pass.

3) The Ravens held the ball for just 25 minutes and managed only 126 yards of offense. Part of the loss today goes back to losing to Pittsburgh in Baltimore. The Ravens had the opportunity to capture the bye, rest up, and have the game at home. Instead they lost that game, had to play at Kansas City (while Pittsburgh was healing and planning) and were forced to come back on a short-week and play in Pittsburgh today.

The fact that the Ravens almost overcome all of that to advance, and still did not, just makes the loss sting that much more.

Chris Stoner
Chris Stoner

Owner

Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.

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