A look back at a key game in the Steelers-Ravens series
Steelers 31, Baltimore Ravens 27
December 25, 2016
Heinz Field
Happy holidays: There was no place like home for the holidays when the Steelers and Ravens met on Christmas Day in 2016.
The Steelers were down 27-24, with just 1:18 to play, after the Ravens scored a go-ahead touchdown. Ben Roethlisberger, starting at his own 25-yard line, completed eight of eight passes, and spiked the ball twice, as he drove the offense down the field with incredible precision, completing passes to five different receivers.
But the play of the game, and possibly of the season, was a four-yard pass to Antonio Brown where he wouldn't be denied getting into the end zone for the 31-27 win. Brown, who looked like he was stopped short, extended his arm and got the ball over the goal line.
The Big 5-0: Fittingly enough, it was the 50th touchdown the two combined for, the most ever by a quarterback-receiver combination in Steelers' history.
"No one stopped believing," said Roethlisberger. "It's pretty special the way we won it. Especially after feeling the way I felt at a certain point in that game and feeling like you let guys down and you blew it. So to come back and win it is pretty special."
Icing on the cake: With the win over the Ravens, the Steelers won the AFC North.
"Man, it's great to be AFC North Champs," said Coach Mike Tomlin. "We tip our cap to the Ravens, they're a tough, tough opponent, not only today, but always. I like the mentality that the guys showed. We knew it was going to be a tough football game. It was just great to see the no-blink mentality, the competitive spirit. We helped one another. We were turning the ball over, the defense kept us in it there at the early portions of the second half. And then, we gave a drive up late and the offense responded. And that's just good team ball.
"All of the men are to be congratulated. It's significant. We punched our ticket. And that's an awesome thing."
Speak up: A look at what the players said after the game.
"That was a great throw by Ben, trusting me to come in there and not stop. I was just running to the ball, going in there and take the contact, and then being aware to get the ball over the goal line." – Antonio Brown
