

Baltimore @ Pittsburgh
Heinz Field
Pittsburgh, PA
October 31st, 2005
All trick, no treat: Ravens stuffed at the goalline after Steelers storm back
Pittsburgh, PA- Hell of a Halloween, eh? And so many questions the day after for the Baltimore Ravens.
-What if Kyle Boller wasn't intercepted inside his own 20, setting up a FG for Pittsburgh?
-What if B.J. Sams doesn't muff a punt deep in his territory, setting up Pittsburgh's first points?
-What if the defense clamped down and didn't allow a TD with 24 seconds left?
-What if Mark Clayton didn't have to dive for a catch inside Pittsburgh's one?
-What if it hadn't have rained all night, would Derrick Mason have caught the final pass?
-What if the Ravens had run the ball at the one yard line instead of three straight passes?
-What if the Ravens had simply kicked the FG and forced OT?
Too many questions, and no answers.
Coach Brian Billick faced heavy scrutiny afterwards, on all counts. The Ravens had 3 plays from Pittsburgh's one yard line with 7 seconds left, but didn't give it to Jamal Lewis. Instead, they ran three straight plays, the final one a slant pattern to Derrick Mason, but the ball slipped through his hands, and Heinz Field erupted, as the Steelers stunned the hated Ravens 17-14.
Boller finished 18-28 for 246 yards with 2 TDs and an interception. Jamal Lewis had a rough 86 yards on 29 carries. Mark Clayton had his best game, catching 9 passes for 124 yards and 2 TDs.
Ben Roethlisberger was awful until the final drive for the Steelers. He was 7-23 passing for 116 yards and a TD, with no interceptions. Duce Staley had 58 yards rushing and a TD. Hines Ward had ZERO receptions, but Cedric Wilson caught 4 passes for 74 yards and the winning TD.
Ray Lewis again led the Ravens with 10 tackles, and spiked his helmet onto the ground after the final play. Lewis had pleaded with Billick to kick the field goal, saying the defense would clamp down on the Steelers in overtime. Adalius Thomas and Tommy Polley each had five tackles for Baltimore.
Larry Foote had 8 tackles and a sack for Pittsburgh, followed by 7 from SS Troy Polamalu. Clark Haggans had 5 tackles and a sack. Joey Porter and James Farrior each had 4 tackles as well.
The Ravens look to pick up the pieces next week vs. the team right on their heels in the division, the Bengals.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2nd Quarter
1. BAL, Boller, 2 yard pass to Clayton (Stover kick), 10:58
2. BAL, Boller, 19 yard pass to Clayton (Stover kick), 3:34
4th Quarter
3. PIT, Staley, 1 yard run (Reed kick), 10:54
4. PIT, Reed, 48 yard FG, 4:33
5. PIT, Roethlisberger, 21 yard pass to Wilson (Reed kick), 0:24
Player of the Game

Clark Haggans: 5 tackles, INT

K. Boller: 18-28, 246 yards, 2 TD, INT
J. Lewis: 29 carries, 86 yards
M. Clayton: 9 receptions, 124 yards, 2 TD
R. Lewis: 10 tackles
A. Thomas: 5 tackles
T. Polley: 5 tackles

B. Roethlisberger: 7-23, 116 yards, TD
Duce Staley: 25 carries, 58 yards, TD
C. Wilson: 4 receptions, 74 yards, TD
L. Foote: 8 tackles, sack
T. Polamalu: 7 tackles
C. Haggans: 5 tackles, INT
Record: 5-2
Next Game: Cincinnati
Comment