Ben Roethlisberger can only watch as his team struggles (Getty).
FINAL SCORE
Baltimore Ravens 7-0-7-6-3 — 23
Pittsburgh Steelers 3-10-7-0-0 — 20
Justin Tucker booted two huge field goals late to give Baltimore the edge over Pittsburgh (Getty).
A predictable AFC North affair.
It took almost ten minutes of overtime, but Justin Tucker booted a 52-yard field goal to give the Ravens the win, 23-20. Each team had two possessions in overtime, and the Steelers did not attempt a field goal in the extra period.
The Ravens struggled to move the ball on offense, even more so after injuries to Steve Smith and Michael Campanaro. When it mattered, the team turned to Justin Forsett to move the ball for Baltimore. Forsett carried 27 times for 150 yards, including five carries on the game’s final drive.
Michael Vick wasn’t the reason the Steelers lost, and that’s all you can ask from a backup QB. The Steelers were predictably driven by Le’Veon Bell, who finished with 150 total yards. The real detriment to the Steelers was kick Josh Scobee, who shockingly missed two field goals late in the fourth quarter that kept Baltimore within striking distance.
Baltimore (1-3) will host the Browns next Sunday, while the Steelers (2-2) will travel to San Diego for Monday Night Football.
Justins Forsett and Tucker Won the Game For Baltimore
Heading into tonight’s game, Justin Forsett had totaled just 124 yards on the season. He’s over 150 total yards in this game, and carried the ball five times on the Ravens final possession. It wasn’t flashy, but the Ravens edged themselves into field goal range for Justin Tucker.
Justin Tucker is legit, have to pay this guy
As bad as Scobee was tonight, Tucker was good. He buried a 52 yard field goal to give the Ravens their first win of the season.
Antonio Brown With Two Huge Plays
.@AntonioBrown84 with the HUGE return! #HereWeGo
Silky pass from @MikeVick to @AntonioBrown84. 1st down, BAL42. #HereWeGo
The Ravens were unable to gain a first down on their possession, and were forced to punt. Antonio Brown took the punt on the sideline, and danced his way to 29 yards on the biggest play of the game. On the next play, Vick threw a perfect pass on the sidelines to Brown for another 17, putting the Steelers within striking distance.
Steelers should just have @AntonioBrown84 kick it. He does everything else well.
Instead of a long kick from Scobee, the Steelers opted instead to go for the first down inside Ravens territory. Vick shorted a pass to Brown, giving the ball back to Baltimore.
Vick just missed the throw. Gr8 play call.
Vick’s 4th Down Run Stuffed by Ravens
We saw this drive why they haven’t let Vick throw the ball all game.
They bent, and they never broke.
The Ravens defense came up with another big stop late, stopping Michael Vick on fourth and two on the first possession of overtime. The Steelers tried an old fashioned QB sweep to the sideline, but Vick was mobbed before he could get back to the line of scrimmage.
The Ravens have the ball and need to get into Justin Tucker range for the win.
Steelers Win Toss, Take Ball to Start OT
The Steelers have won the coin toss and will start overtime with possession. They haven’t moved the ball much in the second half, and have lost all faith in kicker Josh Scobee.
Flacco’s Best Play Sets Up Tying FG Attempt
Driving on the road with no timeouts remaining, Joe Flacco reminded everyone why we argue about his elite status. He held his ground in the pocket and delivered a dime to Kamar Aiken on the sideline, putting the Ravens in field goal range and stopping the clock.
Justin Tucker buried his chance, and the game is tied with three seconds remaining.
Scobee Misses Second FG
Scobee misses again!
Steelers kicker Josh Scobee misses his 2nd FG in the last 1:30 to keep the Ravens in the game.
With time running out, it was up to Flacco to lead the Ravens down the field for the lead. Without his best receiver on the field, Flacco struggled to find open targets and complete passes consistently. Instead of punting, the Ravens went for it on 4th and 10 at their own 39. Flacco was sacked by James Harrison, and it seemed the Steelers would lock the game up.
The Steelers couldn’t move the ball much, but forced the Ravens to burn all their timeouts. Scobee needed to make a 41 yard field goal to push the lead to six, but once again hooked the ball to the right.
The Ravens have one last chance to put Justin Tucker in range.
Ravens Stuffed on 4th & Short
With the Steelers offense struggling, the Ravens went for their second fourth down conversion of the game. Flacco tried the sneak at the Steelers 43, but was stuffed by the Steelers front.
The Steelers put together a few plays to burn some clock, and were positioned to go up six with 2:24 remaining. But a Josh Scobee 49 yard attempt curved wide left, keeping the lead at 3.
This has been a nightmare season for Scobee so far. Yikes…
Big Ravens Drive Only Yields 3
The Ravens started the fourth quarter with the ball, driving with a chance to regain the lead. Short runs by Forsett kept the stick moving, but an injury to Steve Smith has had an impact on the Ravens offense. On a crucial second down play, Joe Flacco fumbled a shotgun snap, abruptly breaking the offense’s rhtym. Baltimore settled for a 40 yard field goal, having used 12 plays and 6:58 to gain just 38 yards.
Steelers Stuff Ravens Fake FG Attempt
After a bad punt gave the Ravens great field position, they faced a fourth and short from the 20 yard line. Down two scores, the Ravens attempted a fake field goal. Kick holder Sam Koch shoveled a pass to backup tight end Nick Boyle, but Steelers LB Sean Spence read the play and made the drive-ending tackle.
Strange fake FG call there by #Ravens. Trailing 6 points with plenty of time left. Great tackle by Spence. Looked like it was going to work.
Baltimore Responded With Quick TD Drive
Having controlled the line of scrimmage for most of the game, the Ravens kept it simple after turning it over to start the third. Jumpstarted by a 33 yard run by Forsett, the Ravens went 80 yards in just 3:14. Flacco finished the drive with his best ball of the night, a lofted pass to WR Kamar Aiken, who has played a big role in this game.
Kamar Aiken can ball. Great hands.
Another Flacco Mistake Costs Baltimore Early in 3rd
Despite the quick run by Pittsburgh, the Ravens came out with possession in the second half with another chance to take control.
Once again, Joe Flacco gave it away. Once again, Ross Cockrell made the play.
Flacco was stripped while scrambling, and the ball bounced off his leg and flirted with the sideline. Before it was ruled out of bounds, Cockrell pounced on the ball for the Steelers.
The Steelers wasted no time capitalizing, and Vick completed his first touchdown of the season for the Steelers. Darrius Heyward-Bey caught two passes on the drive, including the TD in the far corner of the endzone.
Not exactly a laser, but good enough for six. The Steelers are pushing ahead, and lead 20-7.
HALFTIME: Throw Back Thursday in Pittsburgh
One bad decision from Joe Flacco led to the Ravens trailing at the break (Getty).
This is actually high scoring for a Ravens-Steelers game.
It’s barely October, but it feels like old-school playoff football tonight in Pittsburgh. Defense and running the ball reign supreme, as Steelers lead the Ravens, 13-7 at halftime.
The future of this game will depend upon Michael Vick, and whether he can keep the Steelers offense on the field. Vick was mediocre in the first half until the final two minutes, when he engineered two quick drives for 10 points before the break. Vick is 11/15 for 75 yards, and has scrambled four times for 21 yards in the first half.
There was a point in this game when it looked like the Ravens were in control. They’ve held the ball for almost 17 minutes, and are 4 for 8 on third down. But the Ravens last three drives were a bad Flacco INT and two punts. That swing has the Ravens behind at the break for the third time in this young season.
Vick Drove Pittsburgh Down For 6 Before Halftime
Le’Veon Bell reverses field. Wow.
But Mike Vick with a BEAST MODE lead block into the end zone?
Double wow. #TNF
Mike Vick blocks too! Who knew? Threw a great block on that 11-yard TD run by Le’Veon Bell
@MikeVick is running back the hands of time tonight #SteelersRavens
Right as it looked like the Ravens were in complete control, they once again find themselves trailing at halftime. In a final two minutes that was Vintage Vick, the 35 year-old used his arm as well as his legs to jumpstart the Steelers offense. He twice took them down the field in minimal time, scoring 10 points in the final 1:37 of the half.
Flacco Completed Six Striaght Before Bad INT
Midway through the second quarter, the Ravens looked like they were taking control of the game. They were 5/5 on third down, and were marching towards their second score. That is, until Flacco was baited into throwing a bad interception.
Save Flacco fumbling snaps, this has the makings of turning ugly real fast for the Steelers.
Or save Flacco throwing picks. Man, that was a bad mistake with the Ravens on a roll.
Flacco misread the coverage and attempted a short pass to Steve Smith, but was intercepted by rookie Ross Cockrell. The former Duke corner took Flacco’s pass all the way to Baltimore’s 36 yard line, but the Steelers were unable to capitalize.
Both Quarterbacks Started Slow
It was expected for Vick to step into the game with a little rust, and he showed it. Vick took a huge hit on his first snap, as the Steelers went three and out. Unfortunately for the Ravens, Joe Flacco was also sketchy on the first drive, and took a sack that led to a quick punt.
Like true AFC North football, both teams turned to their running backs to march the ball down the field. Pittsburgh ran the ball five times on an eight play drive that led to a field goal.
Scobee good from 45 yards. 3-0 Steelers. Ravens have yet to score first this season.
On the Ravens next drive, Forsett had five carries of his own. Add on short passes to Steve Smith and tough running from Taliaferro, and the Ravens were within striking distance. To culminate a drive that took over seven minutes, Michael Campanaro stretched a run to the outside and dove headfirst into the endzone for the score.
Preview: Vick, Steelers Hope to Keep Ravens Winless
The Ravens have to stop Le’Veon Bell to avoid starting 0-4 (Getty).
Michael Vick steps into the NFL spotlight once again as the Steelers host the Ravens on Thursday Night Football. The story tonight will undoubtedly be Vick, but the focus should be on the Ravens. A playoff team last year that was up two touchdowns before eventually falling to New England in the Divisional round, Baltimore has struggled early in their first three games.
These matchups are usually close affairs. Before last season, these teams had five straight contests decided by one score (3-2 Ravens). Last year in the regular season, the home team won each game in blowouts. The Ravens won in Baltimore 26-6, while the Steelers won at Heinz Field 43-23.
The key battle tonight will be the the Steelers offense against the Raven’s rush defense, which has been average this season. Teams have averaged 84 yards per game against them through three weeks, and tonight they face one of the league’s best backs in Le’Veon Bell. If the Ravens can put the clamps on Bell, it will force the Steelers to put more responsibility in the hands of Michael Vick. If they struggle, expect to see sweeps and screens all night long.