The first of two meetings in three weeks against the Baltimore Ravens did not go the way the Steelers wanted it to tonight. Ben Roethlisberger, who was inactive, was replaced by veteran Byron Leftwich, who did not get the job done.
The running game, which featured six different players getting a carry, did not work much throughout the night. The opening drive featured an exception to that though, as on the third play from scrimmage, Byron Leftwich scrambled for a 31-yard touchdown run. It was less than a minute into the game and Steeler Nation was electric.
The Steelers defense played great throughout the whole game and only allowed six points, which came on two Justin Tucker field goals. Keenan Lewis played one of the best games of his career, collecting eight tackles to go along with a couple of pass deflections. Ike Taylor played an even better game, holding Torrey Smith to one catch. James Harrison and Lamar Woodley each registered sacks and Ryan Clark forced a fumble.
The only other touchdown in the game came on a punt return touchdown from Jacoby Jones. Drew Butler got a nice punt away, but good blocking led to Jacoby Jones busting off a return for 63 yards, giving him his third return touchdown of the season.
The Steelers started to put together a good looking drive early in the third quarter and got into Baltimore territory. After a 37-yard pass to Emmanuel Sanders, Leftwich went back to him three plays later and was intercepted by Cory Graham, which ended their chance of taking the lead.
The Steelers got another nice drive together their next possession but were forced to kick a field goal. Todd Haley went with a fade pattern to Mike Wallace on third and two from the four yard line but that pass was incomplete. They were forced to kick a field goal and that was all the points the Steelers would get.
Leftwich fought injuries to his shoulder throughout the whole game and it really effected his play. There were multiple passes that could have been made but were under thrown by Leftwich due to his injury.
He and the offense had a chance to tie the game up, or even take the lead with a little over a minute left in the game. The drive was a failure and the team dropped to fourth game of the season, and a 6-4 record was given to the team.
A huge game in the AFC North standings was one the Steelers wanted to win. With the loss, they are now two games behind the Ravens and play them in fourteen days in Baltimore. In between there though the Steelers will face off with the Cleveland Browns, next Sunday at 1 PM.
Photo Credit: ESPN
