The offense slowed down the fast pace to cope with the noise, but it was just as anemic Sunday.
The defense and special teams, however, did just enough for Baltimore to escape with the victory and control of the AFC North.
After the Ravens (8-2) fell behind early on a 31-yard touchdown run by quarterback Byron Leftwich, who was playing for the injured Ben Roethlisberger, they’d take a 10-7 lead on a 63-yard punt return for a touchdown by Jacoby Jones and never look back.
Justin Tucker had field goals of 26 and 39 yards. Both were set up by turnovers created on a fumble recovery by Ed Reed and an interception by Corey Graham.
Coming off 341 yards passing in last week’s 55-20 win vs. the Oakland Raiders, Joe Flacco returned to form on the road. He went 20-for-32 for 164 yards and no touchdowns. Thirteen of his completions went to running back Ray Rice and slot receiver Anquan Boldin
Flacco has thrown for 232, 187, 147 and 153 in other games away from home this season.
A defense that has had trouble getting to the quarterback all season had three sacks of Leftwich. On a crucial third down near midfield and the Steelers (6-4) trailing 13-10, Haloti Ngata got his first sack since Week 6 by dropping Leftwich for a 10-yard loss.
Graham jarred Heath Miller to cause an incompletion near midfield with 30 seconds left on Pittsburgh’s final drive. On the next play, safety Bernard Pollard flattened Jerricho Cotchery to prevent another completion down field.
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