Baltimore loses nail biter

Defense steals the show but Pittsburgh get the TD they need. Steelers 13 ravens 9

Was he in? Did the ball break the plane? Honestly I think it was a TD. But the part that makes it harder to swallow is the Ravens were going toe to toe with the Steelers defense all day but yielded a 92 yard drive. This does not make the Holmes catch trivial but frankly you can't hang your head on that play when you had plenty of chances to stop them from getting that close.

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On the positive side the Ravens did have some success running the ball against a team that does not allow many teams to run. Particularly LeRon McClain. He continues to show he can be a workhorse when McGahee is down or ineffective. His 22 carries for 87 yards is pretty solid against a Pittsburgh “D”.

The Ravens also have a talent for holding teams to low rushing yardage. They held the Steelers to a pedestrian 91 yards. Only one run went for as long as 10 yards.

Both of these things are important come playoff time. The problem Sunday was that the Ravens did not score. To make things dicey is the fact that their special teams did give them favorable field position. As did a couple Steelers fumbles.

This may be over simplifying things but, I believe this was a case of a young offense folding under an experienced and frenzied defense.

So the AFC North Division goes to the Steelers. We tip our hat and go back to the drawing board and concentrate on sealing a playoff birth. The worst case scenario is going one and done in the playoffs. But for a rookie head coach with a young offense lead by a rookie QB that will be needed experience headed into 2009. The defense is set up for a few more strong seasons and still young enough for Ravens fans to smell a possible run in 2009. And 2008?

Anything can happen if they take games like Sunday and improve on execution and on the mental aspect of the NFL. For example the Steelers have struggled all year offensively and yet they dig as deep they need to score enough to win. The Ravens for their part have had moments where they have done that at times but against lesser opponents. Which in the big picture you should beat the teams inferior to yours. This is all a part of a team growing together.

Next week will be a huge test going to Dallas and facing a hungry team. The Cowboys have to win to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Dallas defense has stepped it up in recent weeks and can match the Ravens intensity so it is going to take the Ravens offense rise to the challenge and score some points. And of course the defense will have to be their usual angry selves. The Cowboys offense will bring more of a threat than the Steelers offense.

By Andy Natalie
ProFootball-fans.com Baltimore Ravens Correspondent