The Baltimore Ravens have now replaced the Cleveland Browns’ role of being the Pittsburgh Steelers biggest rivals. I guess that is fair as it was Browns’ owner Art Modell who moved his Browns to Baltimore in 1996.
While the team in Cleveland has never won a division title since their 1999 resurrection, Baltimore has won six since their 1996 move. The Steelers have won twelve in that time. The two rivals always appear to be the teams contesting the division title although the Cincinnati Bengals have been in command the last two years.
In 2007 the Steelers surprisingly lost a close wildcard game against the Jaguars that brought their season to an abrupt end. It was the first time in the franchise history an opponent had won twice in Pittsburgh.
After the loss, Ben Roethlisberger admitted he was dazed and confused. “We are a worn-down team,” he conceded. “We’re physically drained, mentally drained. It’s tough. We have to look at it and figure out how not to get that way next year.”
The following season would present the opportunity for a revitalized Steelers to put that defeat to bed. They began the season with wins over Houston and Cleveland before losing 15-6 in Philadelphia.
The Ravens came into Pittsburgh with back-to-back wins separated by a very early bye week. For their rookie quarterback Joe Flacco, it would be his first road trip. Not one to savor facing Steelers Nation in Heinz Field with that special atmosphere that Monday Night Football brings to Pittsburgh.
The Steelers would be missing Willie Parker who injured his left knee against the Eagles. There were also concerns over Roethlisberger who was sacked eight times in the grueling loss in Philadelphia when he also played with a slight shoulder separation.
The Steelers had dominated the previous seven games played between the teams in Heinz Field, winning six.
The (2-1) Steelers vs the (2-0) Ravens 2008; September 9, 2008
Both defenses took control of the initial exchanges when the teams traded field goals with the game tied 3-3 at the end of the first quarter. Roethlisberger had completed two third down passes to set up Jeff Reed for a field goal from 49 yards.
The Ravens capitalized on Roethlisberger’s sole interception with their 33-yard field goal to tie the game.
Defenses continued to dominate as the game went into the second quarter with Roethlisberger struggling to find his receivers.
The Ravens scored ten points in the 3:48 minutes before halftime to take a 13-3 lead into the locker room. Flacco led his team 48 yards to the Steelers two-yard line before they were forced to kick a 20-yard field goal.
On the Steelers’ next series, two sacks on Roethlisberger saw them go three and out. Flacco took advantage of the good field position. From the Steelers’ 44, the Ravens took seven plays that ended with Flacco’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Wilcox. It was Flacco’s first touchdown in the NFL.
The teams exchanged two possessions at the start of the second half before a Ravens’ unnecessary roughness penalty led to Roethlisberger finding Santonio Holmes with a 38-yard touchdown pass.
On the first Baltimore play from scrimmage after the ensuing kickoff, a James Harrison sack forced Flacco to fumble. LaMarr Woodley recovered the fumble and returned it seven yards for the score. In fifteen seconds, the Steelers had turned the game around to take a 17-13 lead.
The Steelers edged further ahead in the final period. Avoiding a Ravens blitz, Roethlisberger found Hines Ward with a pass of 49 yards to move the chains. Ray Lewis was active in preventing the Steelers from adding a touchdown when he tackled Mewelde Moore on the one before Reed kicked a 19-yard field goal.
The Ravens’ rookie quarterback was now facing his first NFL loss. He rose to the occasion leading his team on a 76-yard scoring drive that finished with a touchdown run of 2 yards by Le’Ron McClain. That score saw the game go into overtime.
The Ravens won the coin toss, but the Steelers defense secured the game by keeping Baltimore to three and out. Roethlisberger and Moore then combined to move Pittsburgh into field goal range. Kicking from 46 yards, Reed succeeded with his seventh game winning field goal.
The Pittsburgh Steelers 23 vs the Baltimore Ravens 20
James Harrison finished with 2.5 sacks, three quarterback hurries and the forced fumble that ignited the Steelers win.
The teams would meet two more times. First in the regular season when the Steelers would again come out on top with a 13-9 win in Baltimore.
After the Steelers finished the season 12-4 and the Ravens 11-5, they both made the playoffs. The teams would meet for a third time in the Conference Championship when the Steelers were again the class act. Rolling over Baltimore 23-14, the Steelers would advance to the Super Bowl XLIII.
Pittsburgh would win their sixth Lombardi with a classic come from behind 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
