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Ravens dominate Steelers once again
2006-12-24
Beating the Pittsburgh Steelers decisively once in a season wasn't good enough for the Baltimore Ravens. They did it again and effectively ended the Steelers' reign as Super Bowl champions. Steve McNair, masterfully running an offense that was productive and efficient, threw three touchdown passes and Baltimore moved ahead in the race for a first-round AFC playoffs bye by shutting down the Steelers for the second time in a month during a commanding 31-7 victory Sunday. The Ravens (12-3) matched a franchise record for victories in a season set by their Super Bowl championship team in 2000 and swept the season series from the despised Steelers (7-8) for the first time since the former Cleveland Browns moved to Baltimore in 1996. They also won in Heinz Field for the first time since their initial game there in 2001. Baltimore also got some unexpected help from the Houston Texans, who upset the Indianapolis Colts (11-4) 24-21 to move the Ravens ahead of the Colts for the No. 2 seeding in the AFC playoffs. Previously, the Colts held the tiebreaker over Baltimore, which still has a chance to surpass San Diego and be seeded No. 1. If this was Bill Cowher's last home game as Steelers coach, and there is a possibility it was with his plans for next season undecided, his players didn't throw much of a going-away party. With Ben Roethlisberger (156 yards passing, 2 interceptions) and Willie Parker (29 yards on 13 carries) again having rough afternoons against one of the NFL's top defenses, the Steelers (7-8) apparently will become first Super Bowl champions since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002 to miss the playoffs the following season. They tried to rally by winning five of six following a 2-6 start, but now can finish no better than 8-8 even if they beat Cincinnati next week. They also would lose tiebreakers to nearly every other AFC team still in contention. Parker, a Pro Bowl running back, had averaged 144 yards rushing in the previous four home games only to be held below 30 yards for the second time by Baltimore. He was limited to 22 yards on 10 carries in Baltimore's 27-0 rout on Nov. 26. The Ravens' defense wasn't quite as good as it was in that game, when it sacked Roethlisberger nine times and forced three turnovers, but it didn't have to be the way McNair (21-of-31, 256 yards, two interceptions) took advantage of repeatedly good field position. After Baltimore got the ball at the Steelers 43 late in the first quarter following a short punt by Chris Gardocki, McNair found Mark Clayton behind Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu on a 35-yard scoring play. The touchdown came one play after McNair kept the drive going by barely gaining enough ground on a fourth-and-1 sneak. Another short punt by Gardocki on Pittsburgh's next possession led to McNair's 1-yard scoring pass to tight end Dan Wilcox on a fourth-and-goal play in which the Steelers stacked the middle expecting a run. A costly 6-yard personal foul penalty on Steelers linebacker Joey Porter aided the drive by moving the ball to the Steelers 6. The Steelers' offense did nothing -- a familiar scenario against the Ravens this season -- by gaining only 34 yards in the first half until a McNair-thrown interception on a tipped pass led to Roethlisberger's 1-yard TD pass to Heath Miller seven seconds before halftime. Pittsburgh's only touchdown against Baltimore this season cut the Ravens' halftime lead to 14-7 in a game they were dominating. The Ravens regained control on their opening drive of the second half, with McNair finding Demetrius Williams open behind Polamalu down the Ravens sideline on a 25-yard touchdown pass play 4 1/2 minutes into the third quarter. That made it 21-7, and the Steelers were so desperate to score after that they went for it on a fourth-and-2 at their 37 midway through the quarter. They didn't get the first down -- a perfect summation of their failed season on a single play. Polamalu, an All-Pro safety last season, returned after missing the Steelers' previous three games with a knee injury, only to be beaten twice in coverage for touchdowns.
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