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Week 17 Game Recap: Pittsburgh Steelers 21, Baltimore Ravens 27
What you need to know
| Pittsburgh Steelers |
Despite their post season seed position still undecided for the upcoming NFL playoffs, the Steelers opted to rest some of their key players including QB Ben Roethlisberger. QB Charlie Batch played relatively well in Roethlisberger's place. He was unable to get much going for most of the game but the Steelers finally picked up the pace late in the game and eventually fell just short.
Since RB Willie Parker broke his leg in the Steelers' last game, RB Najeh Davenport was the featured back in the first half of this game in order to prepare him for the upcoming playoff load. Against the vaunted Baltimore defense, Davenport was unable to do much.
Defensively, Pittsburgh was again missing DB Troy Polamalu but he is expected to return for the playoffs. Young QB Troy Smith was able to maintain drives against the Steelers defense.
For the first three and half quarters of the game, the Steelers did no show much heart. In the fourth quarter, Batch led his team on a 91 yard scoring drive and the Steelers followed that up with a surprise onsides kick recovery. Pittsburgh scored on that possession but Batch threw a late interception on the final drive of the game that sealed the deal for Baltimore.
In addition to Roethlisberger and Polamalu, WR Hines Ward and T Marvel Smith did not play.
| Baltimore Ravens |
QB Troy Smith made his second career start and was impressive, especially considering the quarterback problems in Baltimore recently. Smith was able to lead the offense on several successful scoring drives and helped the Ravens end their franchise record nine game losing streak.
RB Musa Smith ran hard in the game and backup RB Cory Ross was impressive in limited time including a beautiful 32 yard touchdown run. Both Musa Smith and Troy Smith made strong cases for their playing time heading into next season.
Defensively, the Ravens ate up the Steelers' recently depleted running attack and made a key interception late in the contest which halted Pittsburgh's comeback attempt. They were without LB Ray Lewis for the game.
What you ought to know
| QB Charlie Batch, Pass: 16 - 31 - 218 - 2 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 1 - -1 - 0 |
Charlie Batch started in place of the resting QB Ben Roethlisberger. Batch did not play poorly in the loss, but the lack of focus from the Steelers as a whole kept him from mounting anything significant until the fourth quarter. Batch looked strong leading the Steelers on two fourth quarter scoring drives but threw a pick with one minute remaining that sealed the loss. It was his second interception of the day to DB David Pittmann of the Ravens.
Batch made a nice toss to WR Cedric Wilson for the final score of the game. He side-armed the throw so that the ball would sail through the defenders and Wilson then made a nice grab to pull Pittsburgh within six points.
| QB Ben Roethlisberger |
Roethlisberger did not play in this game to rest for the Steelers' playoff game next weekend.
| RB Najeh Davenport, Rush: 12 - 27 - 1 (1 targets) |
Although some other Pittsburgh starters sat out the regular season finale, RB Najeh Davenport saw a significant amount of playing time in the first half in order to obtain some rhythm for the upcoming playoffs. Davenport has been the backup running back for much of the year but will be the featured back in the postseason for Pittsburgh because of RB Willie Parker's injury. Davenport was mediocre against the Ravens but the entire Steelers team looked unenthusiastic in the loss.
Davenport needed three tries from one yard out to rush for his only score of the day. His last action came on the first drive of the second half for Pittsburgh.
| RB Gary Russell, Rush: 6 - 20 - 0 |
Russell replaced RB Najeh Davenport as the featured back in the second half but he did not make much of an impact.
| RB Verron Haynes, Rec: 1 - 12 - 0 (1 targets) |
Haynes turned a short pass into a twelve yard gain on third and four for Pittsburgh late in the third quarter. Unfortunately, Pittsburgh ended up punting on that drive.
| RB Willie Parker |
Parker did not play due to a broken leg.
| WR Nate Washington, Rec: 5 - 68 - 0 (9 targets) |
Washington wiggled free from a defender for a first down on second and six which helped to setup the Steelers third and final score of the day.
| WR Santonio Holmes, Rec: 4 - 98 - 1 (10 targets) |
Holmes was injured on a play in the end zone in the fourth quarter but returned on the next drive to catch a 28 yard pass from QB Charlie Batch. Holmes also scored on a beautiful catch and run for 58 yards to kick-start the Steelers inspired but failed comeback.
| WR Cedrick Wilson, Rec: 1 - 7 - 1 (2 targets) |
Wilson made a beautiful diving grab in the end zone to pull the Steelers within one touchdown late in the fourth quarter. He managed to catch the ball on both ends and keep it from bouncing off the ground as he landed in the end zone for the score.
| WR Hines Ward |
Ward did not play in this matchup.
| TE Heath Miller, Rec: 3 - 20 - 0 (3 targets) |
Regular target of Roethlisberger, Miller was quiet in this game, only catching one pass in the second half.
| PK Jeff Reed 0 - 0 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 3 points |
Reed connected on all three point after attempts.
| PIT Rush Defense |
Pittsburgh was unable to stop Musa Smith or Cory Ross throughout the game. Both offense and defense for Pittsburgh played without much energy for most of the game and the Baltimore offense took advantage by running the ball effectively and putting up points early.
| PIT Pass Defense |
DB Troy Polamalu did not play but will be ready for the first week of the playoffs for Pittsburgh. He was replaced by DB Tyrone Carter. The Steelers were able to get their hands on a few of QB Troy Smith's passes but could not bring any in for an interception.
| QB Troy Smith, Pass: 16 - 27 - 171 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 5 - 23 - 0 |
Smith made the second start of his young career. He looked strong and capable while making plays with both his arm and his feet. He rushed for first downs on both a third and ten and a third and 11 situation. Smith also saw a handful of his passes deflected but luckily they were not picked off.
Smith was clobbered by LB James Harrison after a handoff but shook it off and did not miss a play in the game. Harrison was flagged for unnecessary roughness.
| RB Musa Smith, Rush: 22 - 83 - 1, Rec: 3 - 8 - 0 (3 targets) |
Smith ran hard and determined against Pittsburgh. He put in extra effort when necessary for extra yards and was hard to bring down. He combined with RB Cory Ross to create a formidable tandem for the struggling Ravens' offense.
| RB Cory Ross, Rush: 12 - 72 - 1 |
Undrafted RB Cory Ross looked impressive in limited action in the victory. He made a big impact on the game as he reeled off a touchdown run of 32 yards in which he was mostly untouched and then recovered a fumble on a kickoff return shortly after that score.
| WR Derrick Mason, Rec: 6 - 72 - 0 (11 targets) |
Mason was a key target for Troy Smith. Mason made a beautiful catch late in the game on third and eight in which he managed to get both feet on the ground before stumbling out of bounds. The ball appeared to be picked off by DB Ike Taylor but Mason hauled it in for a key first down which helped to eat up some valuable clock time.
| WR Devard Darling, Rec: 3 - 49 - 1 (7 targets) |
Darling caught a touchdown pass from QB Troy Smith in the second half. The touchdown proved to be the deciding score.
| WR Mark Clayton, Rec: 2 - 26 - 0 (3 targets) |
Clayton was mostly quiet in the victory but he did make a great leaping grab on the first drive of the game for Baltimore on a pass which was deflected.
| TE Lee Vickers (1 targets) |
Vickers did not catch a pass in the victory. With Todd Heap and Quinn Sypniewski out with injuries he was the starting tight end.
| TE Todd Heap |
Heap did not play.
| PK Matt Stover 2 - 2 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 9 points |
Longtime kicker Matt Stover hit both field goal attempts.
| BAL Rush Defense |
Pittsburgh was unable to get anything going on the ground even with the absence of LB Ray Lewis for Baltimore. Once Baltimore jumped out to the quick lead and Najeh Davenport left the game, the Steelers mostly focused on the pass leaving the Baltimore run defense untested.
| BAL Pass Defense |
The Ravens were without LB Ray Lewis. DB David Pittmann hauled in two picks, one of which clinched the victory with only one minute remaining in the game. On his first interception he fumbled the ball during the return but luckily Baltimore recovered to maintain possession.
