ExtremeRavens Posted Sunday at 09:48 PM Posted Sunday at 09:48 PM PITTSBURGH — The Ravens came into Sunday’s showdown with the rival Steelers with the NFL’s best offense. All Pittsburgh needed, though, was kicker Chris Boswell. Boswell connected on six field goals and Pittsburgh stopped a would-be game-tying 2-point conversion with 1:06 left to hold on for an 18-16 victory over rival Baltimore in a critical AFC North showdown. The victory improves the Steelers to 8-2 on the year and puts them in control of the division while Baltimore falls to 7-4. Just as impressive as Boswell’s kicking, which included kicks from 52, 57 and 50 yards, was the Steelers’ defense. Reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson was held to just 16 of 33 passing for 207 yards and one touchdown with an interception, just his third of the year. Meanwhile, the Ravens were plagued by silly penalties and costly turnovers that proved too much to overcome, even for the MVP front-runner. Baltimore was flagged 12 times for 80 yards and committed three turnovers, including one on the second play of the game and another midway through the fourth quarter. The latter was a dagger. With the Steelers clinging to a 15-10 lead, Jackson appeared to complete a long pass down the left sideline to running back Justice Hill. But linebacker Payton Wilson wrestled the ball away from him for an interception, killing the drive and giving the ball back to Pittsburgh at its own 36-yard line. The Steelers then methodically moved 32 yards in 10 plays, chewing up 4:39 in the process before Boswell made his final kick of the day. Still, the Ravens had a chance because they have Jackson. Ravens vs. Steelers, November 17, 2024 | PHOTOS Baltimore got the ball back with 3:29 remaining and Jackson drove the Ravens 69 yards in nine plays in 2:29, hitting Zay Flowers for a 16-yard touchdown. But a wild, scrambling pass on the 2-point conversion attempt fell incomplete. Rather than try an onside kick with all three timeouts remaining and just over a minute to play, the Ravens kicked off. The Steelers then converted a third-and-1 to seal it. Baltimore, which has now dropped four straight and eight of its past nine against Pittsburgh, will harp on its missed opportunities. Among them were a pair of first-half missed field goals from Justin Tucker, who misfired from 47 and 50 yards, with both kicks sailing wide left. Likewise, the Ravens’ offense never found its rhythm, though it wasn’t without its chances. Four times Baltimore had the ball in the first 15 minutes of the game. But the Ravens came away with zero points after a fumble by Derrick Henry (13 carries for 65 yards) on the game’s second play and the first of Tucker’s missed kicks. Those weren’t the only missed opportunities. On a third-and-10 from the Steelers’ 30-yard line, Jackson threw incomplete to a well-covered Johnson in the back left corner of the end zone. In doing so, he missed a wide-open Flowers streaking across the field. Tensions were high from the start between the two bitter rivals with first place in the division at stake in their most meaningful contest in years. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throws a pass while Steelers defensive tackle Dean Lowry closes in on Sunday in Pittsburgh. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) Steelers running back Najee Harris (18 carries for 63 yards) exchanged words after getting stuffed on a fourth-and-1, then linebacker Nick Herbig had words for Jackson after a first down. It kept going, too. Harris pointed for a first down in front of Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton after trying to hurdle him. A brief melee broke out after center Zach Frazier took a run at Humphrey after an 8-yard completion to Pickens. Then Humphrey and tackle Broderick Jones drew offsetting unsportsmanlike penalties. The Ravens’ offense only briefly came to life. Trailing 6-0 with about five minutes remaining in the half, Jackson hit Rashod Bateman for a 19-yard gain over the middle. Then Henry shot through a hole off left tackle for a 31-yard gain with only Minkah Fitzpatrick’s shoestring tackle saving a touchdown. It was only a matter of time. Jackson connected with tight end Isaiah Likely (4 catches for 65 yards) for an 18-yard gain down the left sideline and two carries later Henry plunged across the goal line for the touchdown. But even when the Ravens took a step forward, they took two back. On first-and-10 from their own 9-yard line with just 38 seconds remaining in the half, Jackson hit Likely on a short pass, but the tight end was stripped by former Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen, who also recovered the fumble, leading to an easy 32-yard field goal to push Pittsburgh back in front 9-7 at the half. Things also got tense immediately following the turnover with Mekari and Fitzpatrick getting flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. Jackson, who was tied with Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow for the NFL lead in touchdown passes (24) and tops in yards per attempt (9.3) coming into the week, was just 8 for 18 for 120 yards in the first half. It was also a wasted effort for what has been a much-maligned defense. Odafe Oweh had three sacks. Broderick Washington added another. Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson was held to just 205 passing yards for the game and without a touchdown, and Harris averaged just 3.5 yards per carry with a long of 13 yards. It still wasn’t enough. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Ravens kicker Justin Tucker reacts after missing his second field goal attempt Sunday against the Steelers in Pittsburgh. (Matt Freed/AP) View the full article Quote
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