Steelers use 2nd half comeback to beat Ravens 31-24..
Written by The Go-To-Man Mattie T. on January 16, 2011
Facing a two-touchdown deficit at halftime, Ben Roethlisberger decided to take matters into his own hands in order to save Pittsburgh’s season.
Roethlisberger threw a pair of 3rd quarter touchdowns to tie it, while Rashard Mendenhall’s late 2-yard score sealed the deal on a 31-24 Steelers comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday evening from Heinz Field.
Pittsburgh stuck first, as Rashard Mendenhall’s 1-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter put the Steelers up 7-0.
Baltimore then used a big pass interference penalty on Pittsburgh’s defense to get even, as Ray Rice’s 14-yard touchdown run (and SUPER-impressive stiffarm over Troy Polamalu) tied it up 7-7 with 1:20 left in the first quarter.
The Ravens then got a big defensive touchdown, as Terrell Suggs helped force a Ben Roethlisberger fumble from the Steelers’ own 10-yard line. Cory Redding alertly picked it up and ran 13 yards into the end zone for a score before anybody else knew what was going on.
Mike Tomlin challenged the play, but it stood as Baltimore ripped off their second touchdown in a 27-second span.
Baltimore got another touchdown off a defensive takeaway, as Mendenhall coughed up a fumble that was recovered by Ed Reed.
It turned into a 4-yard touchdown from Joe Flacco to Todd Heap, as the visiting Ravens took a 21-7 lead.
Pittsburgsh had a chance to cut into their deficit before halftime, but Shaun Suisham missed a 43-yard field goal with 21 seconds remaining.
The Ravens then committed a big turnover on their first possession during the 3rd quarter, as Ray Rice’s fumble set the Steelers up with a gracious scoring opportunity.
They did just that, as Roethlisberger connected with Heath Miller for a 9-yard touchdown which cut their deficit in half.
Roethlisberger added his 2nd touchdown of the quarter to Hines Ward, which tied it up at 21 with 1:21 left in the third.
The Steelers then went ahead on their first drive in the 4th quarter, as Shaun Suisham’s 35-yard field goal made it a 24-21 Pittsburgh lead with 12:15 remaining.
The Ravens got even thanks to a big 21-yard grab by Heap, which set up Billy Cundiff’s game-tying field goal from 24 yards out which tied it 24-24 with 3:54 left.
On 2nd & 19 from their own 38, Roethlisberger made the play of the game with a 58-yard bomb to Anthony Brown, who stepped out at the 4.
5 plays later, Mendenhall delivered the game-winner with his 2-yard touchdown run that put Pittsburgh up 31-24 with 1:33 left.
The Ravens got the ball to their own 44-yard line, but T.J. Houshmandzadeh’s dropped pass on 4th & 18 ended the game on their season, as Pittsburgh now advances to their 4th AFC Championship Game appearance over the last 7 years.
Hines Ward thinks that Baltimore’s latest playoff defeat will sting them for a long time:
“What better way to put the Ravens out of the tournament. They keep asking for us and we keep putting them out of the tournament. They’re going to be ticked about this for a long time.”
Pittsburgh will move on to either play at New England, or host the N.Y. Jets next Sunday at 5:30 PM CST.
