Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens Game Recap

The old escape artist trick was on display at Heinz Field as the Steelers ....make that Stealers ....... somehow win against the bumbling Ravens.

Thanks to the Ravens giving spirit the Steelers win 23 to 20 to assure at least an 8 and 8 season. Whoopee! Yes 11 Baltimore penalties, some at mysteriously perfect timing, 3 turnovers, and some impeccably timed dropped passes and the Ravens did everything possible to give the victory to the Steelers.

Ironically the Steelers apparently didn't want it. Because they in return coughed up a couple fumbles and had an open door policy for Ray Rice and Todd Heap.

Hey you got the win, but man was this pathetic. You somehow forged a 20 to 10 halftime lead and you had absolutely no ability and the desire to hold the ball and keep the Ravens offense off the field.

• The Steelers got steamrolled for 175 rushing yards. Rice going for 141!

• Flacco and the passing game sucked and yet at certain times you let him off the hook and got toasted. You should have stacked the line and dared Flacco to throw. Although at the times you did you failed miserably.

• Ben looked like a reckless Favre. The 3rd down INT called back for Ravens CB Walker penalty was a joke. Even with the alleged holding interference, Mike Wallace got past the Ravens DB and Ben couldn't get the ball down-field far enough.

• He had 2 more picks that got called back for Baltimore penalties. One was a pick six!

• The 33 passes and 23 rushes was not a bad balance overall but Super Bowl teams have to be able to run the freakin' ball. This game was a classic example of that. Ben was having an okay day passing but the Ravens, like most teams do now, were daring the Steelers to run and they couldn't do either very well. Especially run. Oh and fumbles DO NOT HELP!

• AGAIN you conceded minutes to the opponent. The Ravens had the ball for 5 more minutes. Which is a problem in games like this. Thankfully the above mentioned Baltimore bonehead mistakes bailed you out.

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After the game Coach Mike Tomlin had this too say. “Still got a pulse in this thing and we’ll continue to control the things we can control, playing winning football, preparing, doing the best we can,” said Coach Mike Tomlin. “They did today and made enough plays to win, so we move on to next week and we’re hopeful that we’ll get the necessary help, but again, we make no excuses or have no explanations. We put ourselves into this position, but I like the way they’re dealing with it.”

I am not totally happy with his assessment. Yes credit the team for their continued efforts and for not packing it in. But Coach you overall execution was deplorable and inexcusable. You are the freaking Super Bowl Champs not Chumps! You did not win on gall and guts you won on Baltimore klutz.

Yes your team did make some plays but it would not have been enough. You know it, I know it, the whole universe knows it! But at the end of the day you still do have a pulse. But you better impress to your team that their execution is far underachieving their potential and the expectations of Champions. Screw the 2009 ring! That is over and gone.

On the other hand I believe you probably are more realistic than I. I still have this delusion that you could sneak into the playoffs and suddenly put it together. But I think you already know this club is not going to do that. Your on side kick attempt said it all. You don't think your defense can stop anyone for 60 minutes and your offense is a desperate one. You need miraculous plays to keep you in games. And that is not realistic. All things considered I should probably cherish the wins more than I do. I just expected more from you and your team.

Highlights:

• Stefen Logan sets new team return record for kick return yards in a season.

• LaMarr Woodley had 2 sacks on Sunday. 11.5 for the season. Tying his mark of 2008.

• Ziggy Hood had a couple nice plays including his first official sack.

• Rashard Mendenhall gets over 100 yards for the season. His second season but his first official season where he actually played. Also started the year as the #2 back.

Notes:For the first time in team history the Steelers have a 4,000-yard passer (Ben Roethlisberger), a 1,000-yard rusher (Rashard Mendenhall) and two 1,000-yard receivers (Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes). It is also the first time in team history the Steelers have a 4,000-yard passer (Roethlisberger). Mike Wallace goes over 600 yards receiving. Which is pretty good considering he started lower on the depth chart than he is now. Next up? A trip to Miami. Only not for the Super Bowl! Or can the planets realign?

By: Andy Natalie
ProFootball-fans.com Pittsburgh Steelers Correspondent