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Week 4 Game Recap: Baltimore Ravens 20, Pittsburgh Steelers 23
What you need to know
| Baltimore Ravens |
The Baltimore Ravens appeared to have the game under their control into the third quarter but let up two quick scores which allowed Pittsburgh to get back into the game. To their credit, they did not fold after Pittsburgh regained the lead and battled back to the tie the game and force overtime.
QB Joe Flacco lost one fumble for a Steelers' score but generally managed the game well. He heaved a few deep balls but had trouble finding his receivers downfield. He targeted WR Derrick Mason frequently and the two hooked up for a 35 yard play to the five yard line that setup the game tying run from RB Le'Ron McClain. Flacco's touchdown pass to TE Daniel Wilcox was the first touchdown pass of his career.
RB Willis McGahee left the game on two separate occasions with injury and ultimately finished the game on the sidelines. His eye was still blood red from the eye injury he suffered in week three and at one point he was in the locker room having his chest x-rayed. LeRon McClain took most of the carries in McGahee's absence as RB Ray Rice was only used sparingly.
Outside of Mason, no Ravens receivers did anything of note. TE Todd Heap had no catches but did play and blocked.
The Ravens defense looked inspired for most of the game and stopped the Steelers on a goal to go situation late in the game, limiting them to a field goal, which allowed the Ravens to come back and score the game tying touchdown. They were forced to defend a short field in overtime and after the 24 yard reception by RB Mewelde Moore, there was not much they could do to stop the game winning field goal by Steelers K Jeff Reed.
| Pittsburgh Steelers |
The Pittsburgh Steelers looked awful for the most of the game and were booed by their home crowd. But they were able to pick up the win after coming alive in the second half.
The Steelers had six straight possessions without a first down at one point in the game but managed two quick scores in the third quarter that put them ahead.
QB Ben Roethlisberger is still dealing with separate hand, knee, and shoulder injuries and did not seem to be his normal self. The team was missing RB Willie Parker and generally had trouble moving the ball down the field. Roethlisberger's interception was a ball that he tried to pump fake and pull back in but it got out of his hand.
The Steelers also lost two running backs as RB Rashard Mendenhall and RB Carey Davis left the game in the second half with injuries. RB Mewelde Moore was the only remaining, active running back for Pittsburgh. He took advantage of the situation by setting up the game winning field goal in overtime with a 24 yard catch and run through the stout Baltimore defense.
WR Santonio Holmes avoided two Ravens defenders and scampered into the end zone for the Steelers' only offensive touchdown after catching a Roethlisberger pass over the middle. WR Hines Ward was relatively quiet outside of a 49 yard reception in which Ravens CB Chris McAllister stumbled, leaving Ward open.
LB James Harrison ran a fumble recovery into the end zone just seconds after Holmes' touchdown. The Steelers were unable to haul in any interceptions but batted a few balls away to prevent catches and they were able to keep frequent pressure on young QB Joe Flacco.
The Ravens received the ball first in overtime but the Pittsburgh defense forced them to punt.
What you ought to know
| QB Joe Flacco, Pass: 16 - 31 - 192 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 2 - -1 - 0 |
QB Joe Flacco suffered the first loss of his young NFL career but was able to keep his team in the game in a high pressure situation on the road. Flacco exhibited superb arm strength but had trouble with accuracy hitting his receivers with the deep ball.
He fumbled twice. The first fumble was recovered by LB James Harrison who ran the ball into the end zone for a go ahead score. The second fumble was recovered by a teammate. The Ravens ran a conservative offense, as usual, but Flacco was able to hit WR Derrick Mason on a number of plays which helped a historically stagnant offense move the ball down the field.
| RB LeRon McClain, Rush: 16 - 63 - 1, Rec: 3 - 26 - 0 (5 targets) |
RB LeRon McClain was the most reliable running back for the Ravens in the loss. RB Willis McGahee was knocked out of the game twice which allowed McClain to see increased playing time. McClain scored the game tying touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
| RB Willis McGahee, Rush: 13 - 42 - 0, Rec: 3 - 19 - 0 (3 targets) |
RB Willis McGahee left the game twice due to injury. After his second departure, he was in the locker room receiving x-rays on his chest and returned for only one more carry. He was on the sideline for the rest of the game. His left eye is still completely red because of the eye injury he sustained in week three.
| RB Ray Rice, Rush: 1 - 0 - 0 |
RB Ray Rice only saw limited action despite the two injuries to RB Willis McGahee.
| WR Derrick Mason, Rec: 8 - 137 - 0 (15 targets) |
WR Derrick Mason had a big game for the Ravens. He brought the ball to the five yard line on a third down reception for 35 yards which setup the game-tying score from RB LeRon McClain. He was easily QB Joe Flacco's favorite target throughout the game. One reception was originally ruled incomplete but a booth challenge overturned the play as Mason clearly dragged both feet in bounds.
In the first quarter, Mason nearly had a touchdown catch but the play was ruled incomplete. Replay revealed that Mason may have had both feet in bounds but there was no challenge from the Ravens' coaching staff.
| WR Mark Clayton, Rush: 1 - -1 - 0 (4 targets) |
WR Mark Clayton was very quiet in the loss but did take one end-around handoff for the Ravens.
| WR Demetrius Williams, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (3 targets) |
WR Demetrius Williams was not a big factor for the Ravens in week four. He was the target of a deep pass from QB Joe Flacco in the first quarter but the ball was slightly underthrown. Williams made a nice attempt at an acrobatic play but was unable to completely get around the defender.
| TE Daniel Wilcox, Rec: 1 - 4 - 1 (1 targets) |
TE Daniel Wilcox caught only one pass but it was QB Joe Flacco's first career touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone.
| TE Todd Heap (2 targets) |
TE Todd Heap did not bring in a catch in the loss but did block on the line for the Ravens.
| PK Matt Stover 2 - 2 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 8 points |
K Matt Stover was perfect on the day but had a close call on the game tying extra point in the fourth quarter when the kick bounced off of the upright but managed to fall through for the score.
| BAL Rush Defense |
The Baltimore run defense was stout in the loss. Two Steelers running backs left the game with injuries and none were able to get anything significant through the ground.
| BAL Pass Defense |
The Ravens pass defense played well against the Steelers -- limiting the damage through the air. They had two missed tackles on WR Santonio Holmes' touchdown reception and allowed RB Mewelde Moore to shiftily maneuver through the defense to setup the game winning field goal in overtime.
The Ravens put regular pressure on QB Ben Roethlisberger and managed three total sacks. However, Roethlisberger was able to make a couple of nice plays despite the pressure including hitting WR Hines Ward for a large gain when CB Chris McAllister stumbled, leaving Ward wide open down the sideline.
| QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pass: 14 - 24 - 191 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 2 - 3 - 0 |
QB Ben Roethlisberger led his team to victory Monday night despite battling knee, hand, and shoulder injuries. He appeared to be at least slightly bothered by the injuries. On the interception, he appeared to want to pump fake the pass but the ball came out of his hand. It was an obvious error as there were no receivers in the area and he threw the ball softly right into the hands of DT Haloti Ngata.
He was sacked three times and managed to avoid a few hits in order to make plays by scrambling out of the pocket. At one point the Steelers went six possessions without a first down and only managed to break out of the slump when Ravens LB Jarret Johnson was flagged for a 15 yard personal foul penalty. The penalty setup the touchdown catch by WR Santonio Holmes.
| RB Mewelde Moore, Rush: 8 - 13 - 0, Rec: 3 - 37 - 0 (4 targets) |
Late in the second half, RB Mewelde Moore was the only active running back left for the Steelers. Moore was also returning kicks throughout the game. He made a large gain on a reception in overtime to setup the game winning field goal.
| RB Rashard Mendenhall, Rush: 9 - 30 - 0, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (1 targets) |
RB Rashard Mendenhall left the game early in the second half with a shoulder injury. He did not return. After a much anticipated start, he finished with nine rushes for 30 yards with a long run of 12 yards. He looked pretty much like you would have expected - a rookie running back with nice potential against a dominating and physical rush defense.
| RB Carey Davis, Rush: 8 - 15 - 0, Rec: 1 - -1 - 0 (1 targets) |
RB Carey Davis saw time when Mendenhall was injured but he too left the game in the second half with an injury and did not return.
| RB Willie Parker |
RB Willie Parker did not play in this game due to injury.
| WR Nate Washington, Rush: 1 - 8 - 0, Rec: 2 - 23 - 0 (2 targets) |
WR Nate Washington was not very active in the victory. He took one handoff from QB Ben Roethlisberger.
| WR Santonio Holmes, Rec: 3 - 61 - 1 (7 targets) |
WR Santonio Holmes scored the only offensive touchdown for the Steelers. QB Ben Roethlisberger hit Holmes over the middle and then the speedy wide receiver dodged two Ravens defenders and burst into the end zone. He also returned punts.
| WR Hines Ward, Rec: 2 - 57 - 0 (3 targets) |
TE Hines Ward was relatively quiet in the win. He did have one big play when QB Ben Roethlisberger avoided a sack from LB Bart Scott and hit Ward who was wide-open because CB Chris McAllister had stumbled on the play for a 49 yard gain.
| TE Heath Miller, Rec: 2 - 8 - 0 (4 targets) |
TE Heath Miller was not much of a factor in the win for the Steelers.
| TE Sean McHugh |
TE Sean McHugh lined-up as fullback on numerous plays in this game.
| PK Jeff Reed 3 - 3 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 11 points |
K Jeff Reed connected on two extra points and three field goals including a game winning 45 yarder to win the game in overtime.
| PIT Rush Defense |
For the most part, the Steelers were able to slow down the Ravens rushing offense. RB Willis McGahee left the game twice with injuries but RB LeRon McClain was able to put up some yardage and a touchdown late in the game when the Steelers defense appeared to be tiring. The Steelers only dressed five defensive linemen.
| PIT Pass Defense |
The Steelers secondary was able to get their hands on a few passes for deflections but were unable to reel in any interceptions. They limited most of the deep ball potential from QB Joe Flacco's immense arm strength but did let up a 35 yard reception to WR Derrick Mason when the quarterback dodged defenders in the backfield for over twelve seconds before heaving the ball to Mason down the sideline.
