by Bo Marchionte
Pittsburgh – The Steelers win third straight game against Baltimore after the Ravens failed to convert a two-point conversion, on their final drive of the game, losing 20-19.
Lamar Jackson sat blanketed on the end of the bench covered in a sideline cape near the heater of the 45-yardline of Heinz Field. Ben Roethlisberger just scored the go-ahead touchdown pass to give the Steelers the lead 20-13 with less than two minutes to play in the games final quarter.
Immediately after Chris Boswell extra point sailed through the uprights, Jackson rose from the bench, tossing off the sideline cape and began clapping his hands together to get fired up and focused on the game winning drive that could seal the Ravens victory.
Jackson guided the Ravens down the field and hit receiver Sammy Watkins for a six-yard touchdown with just 16 seconds left on the game clock. The next play will be talked about especially for those who cheer for the Ravens.
“Trying to win the game right there,” said John Harbaugh after the loss. “We were pretty much out of corners at that point in time. It was an opportunity to try to win the game right there.”
Jackson was held in check for most of the game, with Pittsburgh sacking him an astonishing seven times.
“Rush and coverage work together,” said Mike Tomlin postgame. “It’s always scary you’re playing him because you have to play zone.
“If you play man, when he breaks out, it’s too many chunks of real estate. But when he extends, zones get challenged. The seams in zone get challenged. That’s what I mean when I say it’s pick you poison. It’s just challenging. It always is. It’s challenging for everybody that plays against 8 (Lamar Jackson).”
Jackson finished with 253 yards passing with 75 of it coming in the fourth quarter along with his lone touchdown pass of the game.
It was a typical AFC North brawl; we’ve come accustomed to seeing when these two heavy weights go at it. The win especially important for Pittsburgh who haven’t’ savored the sweet taste of victory since November 8th, in their win against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football.
“I’m appreciative of the Ravens,” said Tomlin.
“It takes two to tango. They bring out the best in us. Those games are like that. I don’t think anybody that’s looked at them over the last 15 years or so are surprised by what transpired in terms of how the game was played. We are appreciative of those efforts and the things that produced victory.”
The victory keeps Pittsburgh in the mix for a possible Wildcard birth in the AFC playoff race. With Cincinnati losing and Cleveland on their bye, Pittsburgh remains out of last place in the AFC North, a place currently held by the Browns.
“Huge win,” said Ben Roethlisberger.
“Any time you play that team, that rivalry, that’s a battle, and that’s what that game is. That was kind of the perfect Ravens-Steelers game, if you will.”
Pittsburgh harassed and tormented Jackson the entire game. Roethlisberger had the opposite experience getting sacked just once against an aggressive front by Baltimore. Finishing with two touchdown passes for 236 yards on 21 of 31 passing attempts. His zero interceptions helped push his passer rating into the hundreds (111.8), for his second highest QB rating on the season.
His performance earned him the game ball, producing his 16th overall victory in this heavy weight rivalry.
“Kind of caught me off guard,” said Roethlisberger. “I don’t think I deserve it. I think a lot of guys deserve it, and we deserve it as a group, but its’s always humbling when you play this team at him and Coach recognizes you like that, so it’s kind of cool.”
The game ball comes on the heels of news this week that Roethlisberger may call it quits after this season.
“I haven’t told everybody that,” said Roethlisberger. “Honestly, we just got done with this game, I’m exhausted, and we play in a couple of hours, it feels like.”
Roethlisberger sidestep the retirement talk for now, but it is a story that will pick up momentum as the games diminished on the schedule and the realization that an 18-year career could be coming to and end for the two-time Super Bowl champion.
“My focus is on Minnesota.
“I’ll address any of that stuff after the season. I’ve always been a one game at a time and a one season at a time person, and I’m going to stay that way,” said Roethlisberger.
Tomlin sings praises of unsung heroes
John Leglue stepped in for injured B.J. Finney who exited the game with a back injury and did not return.
“I can’t say enough,” said Tomlin.
“How about guys like Leglue? How about (Montravius) Adams” Adams just got here and played a bunch of snaps for us. (Ahkello) Weatherspoon started in place of Joe Haden. I just can’t say enough about the contributions we got from new Steelers or Steelers that are getting an opportunity to get their train out of the station in terms of their careers. Leglue, awesome.”
Cameron Heyward shared the same sentiments on some of the new faces that helped play key roles in the muchly needed win over the Ravens.
Diontae Johnson rises to the occasion
Johnson dropped a deep pass in the end zone early in the second quarter. With Pittsburgh searching for any kind of rhythm offensively the drop would stir up talked about the problems Johnson has tried to correct.
“I knew what I had to do,” said Johnson postgame. “Obviously was that I had to respond, and I did that. He expects me to make that catch and I got to make it at the end of the day. I was able turn around and capitalize on that and get in the box twice for him.”
Johnson led the Steelers with eight receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns. It marks the second time in his career he finished with multiple touchdown receptions. He was exceptional after the catch, displaying the shifty open field ability that led the Steelers to drafting him in the third-round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure
On March 20, 2020, Chris Wormley was traded to Pittsburgh along with a 2021 seventh-round pick, for the Steelers 2021 fifth-round draft pick. Wormley was a third-round selection by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2017 NFL Draft. Against his former team he has a sensational performance.
“I told Worm(ley) when he got here, I said, “Man, when a team trades you within the division, they’re telling you what they think of you,” so I hope he always plays like that when he sees them,” said a joking Tomlin.
How big was his game against Baltimore?
Wormley has six career sacks since entering the league in 2017, 2.5 of those sacks came against the Ravens today.
“I think no matter what the week is and who we’re playing I want to be able to perform well,” said Wormley after the win.
Photo Credit Frank Hyatt