PITTSBURGH STEELERS 13 BALTIMORE RAVENS 9
December 14, 2008
When the two top defenses in the NFL faced each other in Baltimore Sunday it promised to be a low scoring affair. The final outcome, a 13-9 Steelers win, fully lived up to that promise.
Prognosticators warned that special teams and turnovers would play a large role in the final result. And that they did. What few could have predicted however, or hoped for, was shoddy officiating. But in a game of inches Walt Coleman’s elderly officiating crew may have been the difference in this contest, factoring heavily in two of the Steelers’ scoring drives. More on that when we get to the grades.
Another record crowd at M&T Bank stadium was in full voice and on their feet throughout this highly anticipated game, urging the Ravens on to a 9-3 lead late into the contest. But this game seemed to turn into a replay of the Week Five loss to the Titans, where a scant lead and the home field advantage was not enough to sustain a win in the final minutes. The Ravens defense saw the Steelers, like the Titans before them, complete mid-range passes to drive up the field for the dispiriting, game-winning drive.
The win gives the Steelers the division crown, and a chance to lay claim to the AFC’s best team when they travel to Tennessee next week. And it leaves the 9-5 Ravens locked in a Wild Card dual to the finish, with just two games remaining, against Dallas and Jacksonville.
If you are a glass-half full observer of the NFL, you’d say that the Ravens nearly played what might be the AFC’s best team to a draw, twice this season. But when you fall short both times, the empty half of the glass can’t be overlooked. The grades reflect the performance of a young Ravens team that still just might be a touchdown-drive short of the NFL’s elite status.
Quarterback: D
Joe Flacco, for the first time in weeks, had the starry-eyed look of a rookie. Undoubtedly this was a great experience for Joe, preparing him for what Ravens fans hope will be years of hard-fought duals with their hated division rivals. In this game, however, he was not up for the task. He seemed to press unnecessarily at times, throwing the ball away in the end zone for instance, without pressure, when Derrick Mason was breaking free for an easy score. Or short-hopping a screen pass to Mason in the middle of a drive. The first of his two interceptions came when Joe threw late and tried to force a pass to Marcus Smith. At other times, however, Flacco did a good job of impersonating Ben Roethlisberger, being patient in the pocket and making completions with pass rushers draped around his legs, or flushing out of the pocket and hitting his receivers in stride. Joe’s final numbers were 11-28 for just 115 yards, and more importantly, no touchdowns despite multiple red zone trips. It was a testament to his youth and a strong Steelers defense.
Running Backs: C+
With Ray Rice nursing a bruised shin, and Willis McGahee struggling, Le’Ron McClain started the game in backfield with Lorenzo Neal blocking for him. Cam Cameron never abandoned the running game. It paid small dividends throughout the game, and was just enough to put the Ravens into field goal territory. McClain lugged the pigskin 23 times for 87 yards, which was respectable against a tough Steelers defense. Willis McGahee chipped in with six carries and 18 yards. Although both backs ran hard, they never broke a long gainer. Le’Ron had one ten-yard run. And both backs dropped critical pass attempts, two for McGahee. Willis also struggled in pass protection in limited opportunities. McGahee managed two catches to match Neal on the night.
Wide Receivers: C
Derrick Mason showed his veteran savvy by shielding defenders to his back on multiple occasions. He continues to run beautiful patterns to get himself into open space for his quarterback. But he also mistimed a critical throw to the end zone, jumping early and coming down without the football. Mark Clayton resembled the possession receiver he has become, hauling in a couple of important third-down catches and coming back to the ball to help out Flacco. Marcus Smith showed how raw he is when attempting to position himself for receptions.
Tight Ends: C+
Todd Heap started out strong, but did not factor as much as many had expected coming into this game. He most often lined up on the weak side of unbalanced formations and stayed back to block and was effective as such. He ran a very nice route up middle to get open in seam for his single reception.
Tackles: B
Adam Terry figured heavily in this game, teaming with Jared Gaither on the left side to protect Joe Flacco’s blind side. It was an effective strategy against Ravens-killer James Harrison. Both Gaither and Willie Anderson were great at blocking downfield, in addition to controlling the edges. Willie Anderson was flagged for two false starts, which should not happen at home.
Interior Line: B
The middle of the line of scrimmage was a bogged-down mess most of the night. Neither side got much of an upper hand. Both guards, Chris Chester and Ben Grubbs, were most effective pulling to their opposite sides. Ben Grubbs made a highlight block on James Farrior, knocking him completely off his feet to allow McClain to plow forward seven yards. Chester matched that feat with his own block on Farrior for McClain’s longest gain of the night. Chester was beaten once up the middle for a sack by Aaron Smith. And he was flagged for one false start. Jason Brown was solid for most of the night.
Cornerbacks: C+
Fabian Washington continues to be a very good cover corner, but also continued to display shaky tackling on plays in front of him. Corey Ivy is the opposite, displaying the ability to close and tackle, but he gives too much cushion at times. He and Samari Rolle were schooled by Hines Ward in the fourth quarter to allow the Steelers to drive the length of the field. Fabian Washington left the game in the fourth quarter, with pads and helmet off, and Frank Walker finished the game for him. Walker covered well in limited action.
Safeties: A-
Ed Reed has elevated his game to a whole new level the last couple of weeks. He is flying to the football and making hits that suggest his neck injury has improved. He closed on some very strong tackles and teamed with Ray Lewis on a stunt up the middle for a sack where he was simply moving faster than the rest of the players on the field. He also scooped up a fumble to lead to a Ravens field goal.
Linebackers: B
The linebacker group started slowly, allowing the Steelers to break up the middle for four and five yard gains. But they buckled down and began to control the short-middle of the field. The Steelers’ Willie Parker was held under fifty yards on the day, in fourteen attempts. Ray Lewis was more effective blitzing than in past weeks and closed very hard on Roethlisberger for a sack. But Ray also missed a couple of tackles to extend Steelers’ drives. Bart Scott had one of his better games on the year. He also avoided any chance of a personal foul by walking away after Hines Ward peeled back and attempted one of his typical cheap-shots: a lunging spear that Scott saw just in time to duck underneath. The linebackers were not called on by Rex Ryan to cover receivers in the flat as much as they have in past weeks, which has been a struggle for this defense.
Defensive Line: A
The front four pressured Roethlisberger all day. Terrell Suggs caused a fumble and was too much for tight end Matt Spaeth, as was Trevor Pryce, when he was coming off the end. Justin Bannan created some havoc in the backfield. Haloti Ngata’s athleticism was on display, dropping in coverage, fighting off double teams, or chasing down running backs from behind. Brandon McKinney showed his own athleticism to pick-off a Roetlhlisberger panicked throw that was ruled a fumble.
Special Teams: A+
The special teams unit for the Ravens had been a weak point all season but this Sunday the unit was spectacular. Yamon Figures seemed to have received the message from the coaches and ran the ball hard, north and south, on kick returns. He returned the opening kick 39 yards to give the Ravens great field position to start the game. In fact, the special teams unit gave the Ravens great field position repeatedly, which the defense took advantage of, although the offense failed to capitalize. Sam Koch seemed to be auditioning for the Pro Bowl in front of a nearly national audience. He repeatedly pinned the Steelers inside their own ten. Jim Leonard, not to be outdone on punt returns, scooped up one bad, 30-yd punt after it rolled on turf and returned 46 yards to set up a Ravens field goal. Matt Stover, nursing an injured ankle, was perfect in his three field goal attempts. Steven Hauschka kicked off and sent two kicks into the end zone for touchbacks. The kick coverage units were also strong, pinning the Steelers for little return gains. The only flaw for the night was an offsides by Frank Walker on a kick off at the end of the first half.
Coaching: B-
Cam Cameron used a very conservative offense to start the game, perhaps thinking that turnovers would dictate the outcome. Although he called fewer gimmick plays this week, there were still some nice changes of pace, including a nice looking fullback screen to take advantage of the Steelers aggressive rush. The use of the unbalanced line, while not new, was effective in providing Flacco with added protection against a blitzing Harrison. Rex Ryan diagnosed the weakness in the Steelers pass protection schemes and was very effective in sending blitzers up the middle instead of the edges this week. The decision to throw the ball late in the fourth quarter was a poor call, because it led to a sack and sent the Ravens out of field goal range.
Officiating: F
Walt Coleman’s crew embarrassed the NFL. I’ll say what John Harbaugh can’t. The officials did not call a fair game. Harris used terrible judgment when he refused to overturn a first down spot that replays showed was a yard short of the first down call on the field. It was not the only questionable spot of the ball that aided the Steelers during the night. And it wasn’t just a refusal to overturn close calls on the field that the crew had missed. Because the critical call of the game came at the end when the call on the field was that the Steelers receiver was a yard short of the end zone. This time Coleman inexplicable reversed the call to give the Steelers a go ahead touchdown, despite the fact that replays showed no part of the ball came close to the goal line. Fans deserved a more fairly called game and an opportunity to see if the Steelers would attempt to score on fourth and short, or would they kick the tying field goal?
The crew, which also seemed to argue amongst themselves at times, couldn’t pull a flag when Fabian Washington and Nate Washington shoved each other repeatedly with ball in the air. The Steelers on at least three occasions snapped the football after the play clock reached zero, but delay of game was never called. This includes the Steelers first scoring drive where the bad spot of the ball has also given them extra downs. On another occasion they prematurely whistled an end to Le’Ron McClain’s first-down run as he was still driving forward. The officials missed a blatant hold on Adam Terry that aided the Ravens late in the game. And they huddled inexplicably at one point and then waived off a flag with the explanation that Willie Anderson “was confused.” Phil Simms on the CBS broadcast smartly noted that perhaps it was not Anderson who was confused on the play.
Broadcast: A-
Phil Simms was excellent. When many announcers would disparage a game of field goals, Simms correctly pointed out what an excellent game we were witnessing. He was not afraid of questioning poor calls by officials, even after the replays “confirmed” the calls. The crew was able to feed replays that helped clarify the calls on the field without belaboring the replays or missing live action, although it would have been nice to get a report on why Fabian Washington was removed from the game. They also provided good background information, such as the fact that Le’Ron McClain was able to go back to the University of Alabama to get a degree, and that it might have affected what kind of shape McClain was in when he reported for camp.
The good news for the Ravens is that it is still too early to be thinking about the 2009 training camp. It’s December and the Ravens are still in the playoff hunt, with a trip to Dallas to face the dysfunctional Cowboys. With just two games remaining, the team is still in a position to win out and make the playoffs, despite a tough loss to the Steelers.
