by Bo Marchionte

Baltimore – The weather was ugly in Baltimore and so was the Steelers win over the Ravens, 16-13 in overtime.

“We been battling our asses off,” said Chris Boswell after the game. His 36-yard field goal sealed the deal and puts the Steelers in perfect position the playoffs.

The Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers need to tie later tonight for the Steelers to miss the postseason after the Indianapolis Colts failed to beat the Jaguars in Jacksonville.

“I’m just happy for Ben (Roethlisberger),” said Boswell. “If this is his last year, we are sending him to the playoffs.”

So many factors heightened the intensity of this game against these two AFC North powerhouses.

A win for either kept their playoff hopes alive. This was Roethlisberger final game in Baltimore. Division rivals. All the ingredients needed to make this another slug fest between these two teams.

The restless Baltimore fans understood their beloved Ravens had lost the last three games to Pittsburgh a unacceptable outcome in this storied rivalry. The fourth straight win today by the Steelers leaves them one shy of their longest winning streak against Baltimore set between 1997-99.

“People always ask me where my least favorite place to play,” said Ben Roethlisberger after the game. “It’s always Baltimore. Its for a couple of reasons. One is because of how good the team usually is and the defense. This place is always crazy loud. The fans are ruthless which I think is a complement to this place and how hard it is to play here. Its pretty special to get the win.”

Despite the look and feel of the game, Roethlisberger and company delivered when it was needed. With 2:54 left in the fourth quarter, Roethlisberger hit Chase Claypool on a six-yard touchdown pass give the Steelers the lead 13-10. The relentless Ravens would counter with a 46-yard Justin Tucker field goal to square things up.

The Ravens would fail to capitalize on the opening drive-in overtime.

Roethlisberger would direct the Steelers longest scoring drive of the game. The 65-yard drive ended with a Roethlisberger kneel down at the Baltimore 18-yard line to help set up Boswell’s game winning field goal.

Absent of the late heroics this Steelers did not look good for the duration of the game.

“Man, we got a lot of warts,” said Mike Tomlin. “But we are here.”

Latavius Murray was gashing the Steelers defense. Giving up 249 yards on the ground is not the identity this team wants to represent and sadly after 17-games it does not look like this unit is going to be able to solve the problem.

Offensively, Roethlisberger does not very good. He has carried a bottom dweller passer rating of 72.4 over the course of the last four games, but remarkably the Steelers have won three of their last four with an almost secured spot in the playoffs.

“It shows something about this team though,” said Roethlisberger.

“That you can continue to fight and never give up. You guys have asked me a million times those of you from Pittsburgh. Why? What’s the issue? I don’t know but it would be nice to figure it out now.”

One week to figure it out and most likely the solution will need to come against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead.

 

Photo Credit Frank Hyatt

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