2021 Steelers Season Recall: Pittsburgh makes postseason bid with win in Baltimore
Steel City Underground presents our 2021 Steelers Recall: a look back at Pittsburgh Steelers games and storylines from last season.
The final game of the Pittsburgh Steelers 2022 was set for a road trip against AFC North division rival Baltimore.
The Ravens narrowly lost the Steelers first encounter when their head coach, John Harbaugh, decided to go for two – and the win – a famously controversial decision that saw soon-to-be Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt harass QB Lamar Jackson into a bad throw which lost Baltimore the game. (Incidentally, Watt would tie the NFL single-season sack record in this game by getting to Jackson’s backup.)
Following the Steelers handling of the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football, in what would be Ben Roethlisberger’s farewell game in Pittsburgh, there was a fever pitch to this contest as well. Aside from the closely fought battles over the years, and an anticipated rematch, the Ravens had fallen from the first seed in the AFC as player after player, including Jackson, ended up on injured reserve.
The Steelers, on the other hand, could make the playoffs with a win – and some help – which would extend Big Ben’s career at least one more game.
Could Baltimore end his Hall of Fame career in their house? That was to be seen, as the Ravens organization, and fans to some extent, recognized their rival in their own way. Terrell Suggs, a constant defensive nemesis of Roethlisberger’s, was the host’s guest of honor. M&T Bank Stadium even played a tribute video on their scoreboards for Big Ben, albeit one that featured times they triumphed over him!
The rest of the stage was set for another classic, as the cool January air had the usual Clash of the Titans feel to it.
But first: let’s thank the Jacksonville Jaguars for their major upset of the Indianapolis Colts, which made this victory over the Baltimore Ravens even sweeter. You see, the Colts have lost an absurd number of consecutive games down in Florida.
No one thought the 2-14 Jaguars, who lost eight in a row prior, could defeat the Colts – but they did! This opened the door for the Steelers, who had to know what was happening on the sidelines.
Through two halves, the game was a deadlock between the league’s best kickers trading chip shots. Chris Boswell converted from 28 yards in the first quarter, while Justin Tucker finally had an opportunity to match him with a 24-yarder as time expired before halftime with the teams knotted at three all.
The Steelers offense was still putrid through the first two quarters, finishing with a punt, field goal, and interception in the first three drives, then four consecutive punts and a kneel-down to finish the half.
Baltimore was held equally in check, and despite running more plays, they turned the ball over in each of their first three possessions, before punting three more times and gaining the lone points from the aforementioned field goal.
The Ravens would open the third quarter with a Latavius Murray 46-yard touchdown run to put the Ravens ahead 10-3.
The Steelers would answer later with a 40-yard Chirs Boswell field goal, as both teams struggled to advance the ball offensively.
Ravens QB Tyler Huntley would be picked off by Steelers CB Cameron Sutton during the opening play of the fourth quarter. Huntley had a target in the end zone, but Sutton read the late pass to grab an interception in the end zone for a touchback, killing a drive that had begun at the Ravens’ 25-yard line.
The Steelers would fail to answer on offense, but the defense kept them in the game forcing a three-and-out and getting the ball right back to Roethlisberger.
Big Ben would operate a ten-play drive that finished with a six-yard Chase Claypool touchdown catch, good enough for a 13-10 lead after Boswell’s PAT.
Baltimore received the ball back with 2:48 to go, mustering just enough yards for Tucker to hit a 46-yard, game-tying field goal with a little over one minute remaining.
Both teams would fail to advance the ball on offense, opting to punt and play the field position game – leaving them tied at 13-all as regulation ended and the game went into overtime.
Baltimore would win the coin toss and receive, but the Steelers defense tightened up on the Ravens run game, forcing Huntley to try to gain chunks of yards passing. His last two passes would fall incomplete, as Sam Koch punted the ball back to Pittsburgh’s Ray-Ray McCloud for a fair catch.
Could Big Ben engineer another game-winning drive?
The short answer is yes, as the Steelers chewed 4:28 off of the clock with a sudden death possession in hand. The Steelers would go for broke on a 4th-and-8, as Roethlisberger found McCloud for a fresh set of down at the Ravens 31.
Following 15 plays and 65 yards later, Chris Boswell was in position to kick the go-ahead 36-yard field goal, which would advance the Steelers to the playoffs for a second consecutive season.
Final score, Steelers 16, Ravens 13… and at least one more game for the soon-to-retire Roethlisberger.
