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STEELERS VS RAVENS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2008 AT HEINZ FIELD - KICKOFF 8:30 P.M**
POST-GAME NOTES
Team Notes:
• Pittsburgh improved to 16-10 all-time (including postseason) against the Ravens, including a 10-4 mark at home.
• The Steelers captured their NFL-record 14th straight Monday Night Football game at home and improved to 36-22 all-time on Monday Night. The 36 wins on Monday Night Football are second (tied with Oakland) in the AFC.
• Pittsburgh owns a 212-81-1 record at home since 1970, the best in the NFL. The Steelers are 27-7 at home over the past five seasons, including a perfect 2-0 record in 2008.
• The Steelers improved to 2-0 against teams in the AFC North this year. Pittsburgh has won nine of its last 11 games against divisional opponents.
• The Steelers are 19-14-2 all-time in overtime contests, including 1-2 versus the Baltimore Ravens. It was the Steelers' first overtime victory at Heinz Field since a 20-17 victory over the New York Jets in the 2004 AFC Divisional Playoffs.
• Pittsburgh jumped out to a 3-0 on their first drive of the game as K Jeff Reedbooted a 45-yard field goal at the 6:44 mark of the first quarter. On the drive, QB Ben Roethlisbergerwas 3-for-4 for 33 yards and RB Rashard Mendenhallrushed five times for 23 yards (4.6 avg.), including a 12-yarder.
• After Roethlisberger threw just his second interception of the season on Pittsburgh's next drive, Baltimore drove 33 yards and K Matt Stover knotted the score at 3-3 with 18 seconds left in the first quarter on a 33-yard field goal.
• Stover booted a 20-yard field goal in the second quarter to make it 6-3.
• QB Joe Flacco then hit TE Daniel Wilcox for a four-yard touchdown with 17 seconds left in the first half to make it 13-3.
• Roethlisberger pulled the Steelers' to within three points, 13-10, with just over minutes left in the third quarter as he hit WR Santonio Holmesfor a 38-yard touchdown. It marked Holmes' first touchdown of the season.
• On the Ravens' first play of the ensuing series, LB LaMarr Woodleyreturned a Flacco fumble seven yards for a touchdown to give Pittsburgh a 17-13 advantage. It marked Woodley's first career touchdown and it was the Steelers' first fumble return for a touchdown since LB James Harrisonreturned a fumble 18 yards against Buffalo on Jan. 2, 2005. Harrison forced the fumble on the Woodley touchdown, his second sack of the game and his second forced fumble of the year.
• Reed added a 19-yard field goal with 9:19 left in the fourth quarter to stretch the lead to 20-13.
• However, Baltimore responded on the ensuing drive and FB Le'Ron McClain ran in from two yards out to knot the score at 20-20 with 4:02 remaining in regulation.
• Neither team was able to score on the final two drives of regulation, forcing overtime.
• The Ravens were stopped three-and-out on the first drive of overtime, which set up the Steelers on their own 43-yard line.
• Roethlisberger connected with backup RB Mewelde Moorefor a 24-yard pass completion on a third-and-eight on the Steelers' overtime drive that put Pittsburgh in position to kick a potential game-winning field goal. The Steelers moved it to the Baltimore 28-yard line before Reed booted a game-winning 46-yard field goal. It marked Reed's seventh career (including postseason) game-winning field goal and the longest of his career for a game-winner. It was also his first game-winning field goal since he kicked a 24-yard field goal with 17 seconds left to beat Miami on Nov. 26, 2007.
• Pittsburgh finished with 237 yards of total offense (69 rushing, 168 passing) while the Ravens finished with 243 yards of offense (103 rushing, 140 passing). The Steelers had just 46 yards of offense in the first half but limited Baltimore to only 97 yards of offense in the second half and overtime.
• The Steelers had just 11 first downs while Baltimore finished with 16.
• Pittsburgh was flagged five times for 29 yards and the Ravens were penalized eight times for 72 yards.
• Pittsburgh held the ball for 31:43 to the Ravens' 34:22.
• The Steelers had five sacks for 52 yards, including 2.5 by Harrison, 1.5 by Woodley and one by LB Lawrence Timmons(on the Ravens' lone drive in overtime). Baltimore had three sacks, but none in the second half and overtime.
• QB Dennis Dixon (3rd QB), WR Limas Sweed, RB Willie Parker, LB Donovan Woods, DT Casey Hampton, OT Trai Essexand DE Brett Keiselwere inactive.
Individual Notes:
QB Ben Roethlisberger
• Finished 14-of-24 for 191 yards with one touchdown and one interception (80.4 passer rating).
• Owns a 42-17 record (.712) all-time as a starter, including a 19-4 mark as a starter versus AFC North teams.
• Has a 24-6 record (.800) during the regular season at home.
• Hit WR Santonio Holmes for a 38-yard touchdown with just over four minutes remaining in the third quarter.
• Connected with RB Mewelde Moore on a 24-yard completion on third-and-eight in overtime, setting up the eventual game-winning field goal.
• Rushed two times for three yards.
RB Rashard Mendenhall
• Made his first career start in place of the injured RB Willie Parker.
• Finished with 30 yards rushing on nine attempts (3.3 avg.) before leaving in the third quarter with a shoulder injury.
• Caught one pass for six yards.
RB Mewelde Moore
• Finished with eight rushes for 13 yards (1.6 avg.).
• Caught three passes for 37 yards (12.3 avg.), including a crucial 24-yarder on third down in overtime that set up the game-winning field goal.
• Had two kickoff returns for 40 yards (20.0 avg.).
RB Carey Davis
• Rushed eight times for 15 yards (1.9 avg.) before leaving with a foot injury.
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*WR Hines Ward
• Caught two passes for 57 yards (28.5 avg.), including a season-long 47-yarder.
• Has now caught a pass in a team-record 150 straight games.
WR Santonio Holmes
• Hauled in a 19-yard pass from Roethlisberger on a third-down on the Steelers' first drive of the game.
• Finished with three catches for 61 yards (20.3 avg.), including a 38-yard touchdown pass from Roethlisberger in the third quarter. It marked his first touchdown of the season.
WR Nate Washington
• Had a 12-yard reception on a third-down on the Steelers' first drive of the game.
• Finished with two catches for 23 yards (11.5 avg.).
DT Chris Hoke
• Made his first start of the season (15th career) in place of the injured DT Casey Hampton.
DE Travis Kirschke
• Made his second start of the season (32nd career) in place of the injured DE Brett Keisel.
• Finished with seven tackles (three solo).
LB LaMarr Woodley
• Returned a fumble seven yards for a touchdown, his first career touchdown.
• Posted a 17-yard sack in the third quarter and a half-sack in the fourth quarter, giving him 3.5 sacks on the year.
• Finished with eight tackles (five solo), 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
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*LB James Farrior
• Finished with eight tackles (five solo), including one tackle for loss.
LB James Harrison
• Finished with a team-high 10 tackles (five solo), 2.5 sacks (for 30 yards) and one forced fumble.
• Posted a six-yard sack in the first quarter, his fourth of the year.
• Had his second sack of the game and forced a Baltimore fumble that was picked up by Woodley and returned seven yards for a touchdown.
• Added a half-sack (along with Woodley).
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*CB Bryant McFadden
• Made his third start of the season (13th career) in place of CB Deshea Townsend.
• Finished with five solo tackles.
S Troy Polamalu
• Finished with nine tackles (four solo) and one pass defensed.
P Mitch Berger
• Punted seven times for 281 yards (40.1 avg.).
• Downed two punts inside the 20-yard line.
K Jeff Reed
• Booted his seventh career game-winning field goal as he connected from 46 yards on the Steelers' first drive of overtime.
• Added a 19-yard field goal and a 49-yard field goal earlier in the game.
• Was a perfect 3-for-3 in FGs and 2-for-2 in PATs for 11 points.
