STEELERS at RAVENS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 KICKOFF -- 4:15 P.M. POST-GAME NOTES
Team Notes:
• Pittsburgh captured its fifth straight victory overall this year and moved to 11-3. The victory clinched the AFC North Division title and guaranteed the Steelers a first-round bye in the playoffs. It marked the Steelers' 19th division title since the merger in 1970, the most in the AFC during that time.
• The Steelers improved to 16-10 all-time against the Ravens and 7-6 on the road in the series in the regular season. The win in Baltimore snapped a five-game losing streak on the road in the series, marking the first Pittsburgh victory since a 31-18 win during the 2002 season.
• The Steelers swept the season series against the Ravens for the first time since 2002.
• Pittsburgh improved to a conference-best 9-1 against AFC opponents this year.
• The Steelers are 5-0 against AFC North Division opponents this year and have won 12 of their last 14 games within the division.
• Pittsburgh improved to 6-1 on the road this year and won its fifth straight away from Heinz Field.
• The Steelers have allowed 13 points or less in each game during their five-game winning streak.
• Pittsburgh won by four points or less for the fourth time this season.
• The announced crowd of 71,502 is a new record for a Baltimore franchise record.
• With the victory, Head Coach Mike Tomlinset a Steelers record with 21 wins in his first two seasons as head coach. He is the first Steelers coach to win division titles in his first two years.
• After a scoreless first quarter, Baltimore grabbed a 3-0 lead with 12:30 remaining in the first half as K Matt Stover hit a 28-yard field goal. The drive was set up by a 46-yard punt return by Jim Leonhard.
• The Steelers tied the game at 3-3 on the ensuing possession as K Jeff Reedbooted a 31-yard field goal with 5:44 remaining in the first half. The 14-play drive was highlighted by a 21-yard pass from QB Ben Roethlisbergerto WR Hines Wardand a 17-yard pass to TE Heath Milleron a third down.
• The Ravens grabbed a 6-3 lead with less than a minute remaining in the second quarter as Stover booted a 26-yard field goal.
• WR Santonio Holmescaught a nine-yard pass deep in the Steelers' territory in the third quarter but fumbled it, which resulted in a 28-yard field goal by Stover to make it 9-3 with 6:02 left in the quarter.
• Reed trimmed the lead to 9-6 with 9:26 remaining in the game as he kicked a 30-yard field goal.
• The Steelers embarked on a game-winning touchdown drive from their own eight yard line with three and half minutes remaining. The drive ended with a four-yard touchdown pass from Roethlisberger to Holmes with less than a minute remaining in the game, marking Roethlisberger's 17th career regular-season fourth-quarter come-from-behind victory. During the 12-play, 92-yard drive, Roethlisberger was 7-for-11 for 89 yards and the touchdown. WR Nate Washingtoncaught three passes for 49 yards on the drive while Ward added two catches for 26 yards.
• Baltimore had one last chance to score a touchdown, but CB William Gaypicked off a QB Joe Flacco pass in the end zone with less than 20 seconds left in the game.
• For the 14th straight game this season, Pittsburgh did not allow its opponent to post 300 yards of total offense. The Steelers outgained the Ravens, 311-202. The 14 straight games ties the NFL record to start a season since the merger in 1970, tying the L.A. Rams (1973).
• The Steelers had 18 first downs while limiting the Ravens to just 12.
• Pittsburgh converted 8-of-17 third-down attempts (47%) and held Baltimore to just 29 percent (4 of 14).
• Each team was penalized six times (Pittsburgh 6-48; Baltimore 6-40).
• The Steelers posted two interceptions, including one each by S Ryan Clarkand Gay. Pittsburgh has seven interceptions in its last three games and at least one in each of the past six games, giving them 18 on the year.
• Pittsburgh has now outscored its past three opponents, 37-0, in the fourth quarter and captured its second straight win after trailing with less than three minutes remaining in the game.
• Pittsburgh finished with two sacks, one each by DE Aaron Smithand LB Lawrence Timmons.
• QB Dennis Dixon (3rd QB), CB Fernando Bryant, LB Bruce Davis, OT Tony Hills,DT Scott Paxson, OT Marvel Smith, DE Orpheus Royeand DE Brett Keisel were inactive.
Individual Notes:
QB Ben Roethlisberger
• Finished 22-for-40 for 246 yards passing with one touchdown and no interceptions (81.9 passer rating). He also rushed four times for 21 yards (5.3 avg.).
• Engineered his 17th career regular-season, fourth-quarter come-from-behind victory with a 12-play drive that ended with a four-yard touchdown pass to WR Santonio Holmes with 43 seconds left in the game. On the drive, Roethlisberger was 7-for-11 for 89 yards and the touchdown.
• Became the first quarterback in NFL history to win 50 games in his first five seasons. He improved to 50-19 (.725) as a starting quarterback in the regular season.
• Improved to 22-4 (.846), including the postseason, against AFC North opponents, having won 10 straight games as the starter against such foes. He is 12-1 against the AFC North on the road.
• During the Steelers' five-game winning streak, Roethlisberger is 104-for-177 (58.8 percent) for 1,180 yards with five touchdowns and one interception (85.9 passer rating).
RB Willie Parker
• Finished with a team-high 47 yards rushing on 14 carries (3.4 avg.) and was named a co-captain for the game against the Ravens.
• Caught two passes for nine yards (4.5 avg.).
RB Mewelde Moore
• Rushed seven times for 16 yards (2.3 avg.) and returned one kickoff for 21 yards.
RB Gary Russell
• Had one carry for one yard, resulting in a first down on a third-and-one attempt.
WR Hines Ward
• Finished with a game-high 107 yards receiving on eight receptions (13.4 avg.), including a long of 30 yards.
• The 107 yards marked his 19th career 100-yard receiving game and his third this season.
• Became the first receiver in team history to reach 10,000 career total yards from scrimmage as he now has 10,031 yards.
• Caught two passes for 26 yards on the team's game-winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.
• Has now caught a pass in a team-record 160 consecutive games.
WR Santonio Holmes
• Finished with three catches for 21 yards (7.0 avg.), including the game-winning four-yard touchdown with 43 seconds left in the game.
• Returned three punts for five yards (1.7 avg.).
WR Nate Washington
• Had an 18-yard reception late in the first quarter on a third-and-eight play.
• Tallied three catches for 49 yards on the game-winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.
• Finished with five catches for 76 yards (15.2 avg.), including a long of 24 yards.
OT Max Starks
• Made his ninth straight start in place of the injured OT Marvel Smith.
DE Travis Kirschke
• Made his third straight start in place of the injured DE Brett Keisel.
• Finished with seven tackles (four solo).
DE Aaron Smith
• Posted an 11-yard sack in the third quarter, giving him 5.5 on the year and 42 for his career. The 42 sacks rank eighth on the team's all-time sacks list.
• Finished with eight tackles (seven solo) and was credited with two QB hurries.
LB James Farrior
• Posted a game-high 12 tackles (eight solo) with one pass defense.
LB Lawrence Timmons
• Posted his fifth sacks of the season and a forced fumble on Ravens' QB Joe Flacco in the fourth quarter, knocking them out of potential field-goal range.
• Finished with four tackles (all solo).
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*S Ryan Clark
• Picked off his first pass of the season late in the first quarter.
• Finished with six tackles (two solo).
CB William Gay
• Posted his first career interception on the Ravens' last drive of the game, securing the Steelers' victory.
K Jeff Reed
• Finished a perfect 2-for-2 in FG attempts and 1-for-1 in PATs for seven points.
• Booted a 31-yard field goal with 5:44 remaining in the first half to tie the score at 3-3.
