Shaun Suisham kicked a 42-yard field goal right between the uprights in the open end of Heinz Field as time expired Sunday, securing a 19-16 victory over the Baltimore Ravens (3-4). The Steelers (2-4) drove 39 yards on seven plays inside two minutes remaining after Baltimore capped off an eight minute drive with a Dallas Clark touchdown that tied the game at 16-16.
Ben Roethlisberger led the game-winning drive only after a controversial out-of-bounds call negated a 100-plus yard kickoff return by Emmanuel Sanders, who had stepped on the line at the Steelers 35-yard-line before continuing to march right up the sideline into the end zone for an apparent lead and satisfying response to the Ravens tying score. A raucous home crowd was left disappointed by the realization that he was ruled out and that the play was not reviewable, but they soon were celebrating again when the Steelers got into field goal range, ran down the clock, and locked up the second win of the season. It was the team’s first win at home after starting the year 0-2 in Pittsburgh.
Heath Miller put the first points on the board with a three-yard TD reception on a shovel pass from Roethlisberger in the first quarter. Baltimore responded with a field goal drive late in the quarter to cut the lead to 7-3. Suisham and Ravens kicker Justin Tucker traded field goals for a 10-6 Steelers lead at halftime, Suisham added one in the third quarter, and Tucker another early in the fourth quarter to bring the score to 13-9. After yet another three points from Suisham with 10:03 remaining, the Ravens began a drive that spanned 73 yards on 16 plays and took just over eight minutes, resulting in Joe Flacco finding Dallas Clark open in the back of the end zone for a one-yard score. Tucker’s extra point tied the game at 16-16, the Sanders kickoff return was called back, and the Steelers drove to the game-winning kick to end it and bring their record to 2-4. It is the second straight win for Pittsburgh after an 0-4 start.
There was just one turnover in the game, a fumble by Heath Miller late in the second quarter that allowed Baltimore a short field and a Tucker field goal right before halftime. Instead of mistakes via turnovers, several penalties played a large role in the outcome. Ravens LB Elvis Dumervil had two 15-yard personal fouls on the same drive that helped Pittsburgh move the chains and put a field goal through when they otherwise likely would have had to punt. Another Ravens miscue came early in the fourth quarter, after the field goal that made the score 13-9, when Coach Jim Harbaugh elected to try an onside kick. Two Ravens penalties on the failed attempt and a Steelers recovery gave them excellent field position and led to a short-field scoring drive and the field goal that gave Pittsburgh a 16-9 lead.
Roethlisberger was 17-23 for just 160 yards and one TD, but he threw no interceptions and was sacked only three times. There is still certainly room for improvement in protecting the quarterback, but a mangled Steelers offensive line can take pride in their run blocking for the first time this season. Rookie RB Le’Veon Bell often had room to roam, finishing with 93 yards on 19 carries. The team averaged 4.9 yards per carry overall, all by far the best rushing statistics for the team so far in 2013. Antonio Brown led all receivers with six catches (50 yards) and Ravens WR Torrey Smith led all receivers with 61 yards (three receptions). Steelers LB Lawrence Timmons had a whopping 17 tackles (12 solo), eight more than any other defender. Pittsburgh had kick returns from Sanders and Felix Jones for 44 and 42 yards, respectively, aiding the battle for field position. Suisham was 4/4 on field goals and his counterpart Tucker was 3/3.
Pittsburgh now heads to the west coast to play at Oakland (2-4) while Baltimore takes a two-game losing streak into their bye week. Cincinnati (5-2) defeated Detroit to extend their lead in the AFC North and Cleveland (3-4) lost a second straight week, at Green Bay.
