I’m so glad I’m not old. Not like 30s or 40s old. Like at least 60 years old. I think I’d already have a few heart attacks under my belt this season with all the close games the Steelers are in. My voice is already sore after the games. Why can’t they just blow teams out of the water? Don’t they care for their fans? Come on Steelers, I thought you were better than that.
Anyway, I knew this game wasn’t going to be any different, especially when you write the recap after the game is over. But these two teams are similiar in so many ways: both have unbelievable defenses, both have mediocre offenses, both have linebackers that can kill people (though only one has actually attempted, I’m looking your way Mr. Lewis), and both of them you don’t want to face in the playoffs.
Oh, we don’t forget.
Enough messin’ around, on to the game!
FIRST QUARTER
The game starts off slow like you’d expect with these two teams. The Stees and Ravens trade punts like we used to trade Pokemon cards. Or still do. Except that the Ravens have a lot better punter than Berger. And the Steelers have to start inside their own 10 for their first two possessions.
Dear Danny, we miss you. Sincerely, Steelers fans.
Since Berger sucks, he can only get the ball to midfield. About 3 minutes left in the quarter, Joke Flacco tries to hit Marcus Smith but Ike Taylor, yes Ike Taylor CAN make a good play once in awhile, gets a hand on it which pops it right up in the air for my boy Ryan Clark. The Stees threaten like their going to do something but don’t even get it into the redzone.
Just some stats for this quarter:
Starting field position for the Steelers – Own 7, 4, 33
Starting field position for the Ravens – Own 39, 43, Steeler 46
Drives for the Steelers – 22 yards, 14, 18
Drives for the Ravens – 1 yard, 14, 0
We’re so so lucky this defense is so good. Even with that field position the Ravens still couldn’t do anything.
SECOND QUARTER
In the second quarter the Birds start the ball already in Pittsburgh territory on the 43. One long pass to Todd Heap gets them into the redzone. But that’s the best they could do, and Old Man Stover comes in to put one through. 0-3 Ravens
The Steelers offense finally gets in gear and strings together a few plays to move the ball. On a big 3rd and 1, Gary Russel looks like he’s stopped but somehow the refs see a better view than I did and give the Steelers a first down. I’m not complaining. Some clutch grabs by Hines for 21, and Heath for 17 get the ball in the redzone. But they decide on a field goal instead of a touchdown. Whatev. Do your thing Jeff. 3-3 Tie
This seriously might be his senior picture.
That 14 play drive took up about 7 minutes of time so the Ravens get the ball with only 5 minutes left. They go no huddle and move the ball on the Steelers. A few nice runs runs by McClain and a few lucky passes by Flacco gets the ball inside the redzone for the Ravens. But again, they can’t convert and settle for a field goal. 3-6 Ravens
Steelers take it to the locker room.
HALFTIME!
I took a shower to wipe the filth of our offense off. Or maybe it was just cause I haven’t showered in 3 days. Both work.
THIRD QUARTER
The third quarter starts out like the beginning with a bunch of three and outs. About halfway through the quarter the Ravens’ punter gets off another ridiculous punt that pins the Steelers on their one. First play, Ben hits a slanting Santonio who gets stripped by Samari Rolle and coughes it up right to Ed Reed. This is where I really started noticed how much Nantz and Simms were just loving on the Ravens. They basically said how Ed Reed was the second coming of Jesus Christ and should be enshrined with a gold statue in every major city across the world. And maybe shoot one into space too. Instead of showing a reply of what happened, they show a clip of how great he is. All he did was pick up a fumble that bounced right to him. Samari should have been the one they slobbered over. Oh yeah, the Ravens only got a field goal out of it. 3-9 Ravens
Yeah, it’s a love triangle.
That is the only significant event of the quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER
Stees start the quarter with a chip on their shoulder. You knew they weren’t going to let this game go. Ben hits Hines for 30 yards. A few more short passes they get close but they can’t punch it in. ANOTHER field goal. 6-9 Ravens
The Ravens somehow play with the ball for 6 minutes while only moving it 34 yards. The punter gets off another sick punt. Here we go baby
1st and 10 on their own 8. The Steelers only have 3:36 to work with. Time for Ben to do his magic.
Literally! Cause he’s a Genie!
Ben starts off by hitting a Hines on a slant. 13 yards. First down. Ben then hits Nate the Great with a 16 yard bullet. This is significant because Nate missed some easy catches earlier in the game. He came up clutch in the end. Another strike to Nate for 9 pushes them to midfield and there is a warning about the game because there’s only 2 minutes left. Ben hits Nate again, this time for 24. Stees call timeout with about a minute and a half left. Another pass to Hines for 10. The Stees are inside the 10 with less than a minute left. Ben spikes it to stop the clock for some reason. The Post Gazette explains why. And second down Ben hits Matty Spaeth in the hands but he can’t come up with it. 3rd and 4 to go, 50 seconds left. What to do!? I’ll let the video explain…
It’s obvious Santonio got in. I think the only people that don’t think he got in are Ravens’ fans. But I’m pretty sure they don’t count as human beings so it’s a touchdown. Plus we have our replay system here at TBB. Check out this shot.
Touchdown. Duh.
13-9 Steelers
The Ravens try some shenanigans but Joke Flacco gets picked by Willie Gay.
Game.
Steelers – 13
Ravens – 9
NOTES
+ This game was huge. Winning the season out is easily within reason. A first round bye will be nice.
+ Our defense is unstoppable. Our whole D should just be the AFC Pro Bowl defense.
+ How clutch has Nate Washington been? I don’t think Limas is going playing time anytime soon with the way he’s been playing.
+Where was Willie Parker this game? He didn’t seem like he had an impact.
+ Ike is starting to grow on me. But he needs to stop his “you can’t see me” stuff after any good play he makes. Pretend like you’ve made plays before.
+ NOW will people stop complaining about Big Ben? His last drive was epic.
+Santonio had 2 fumbles this game. There was another he muffed on a punt that happened earlier. Hope this is a one game thing.
+ Would Tomlin had gone for the touchdown on 4th down if they didn’t reverse the call?
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