Sunday Night Live Blog: Pittsburgh Steelers Vs Baltimore Ravens

After being swept by the Cincinnati Bengals the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens both are in a fight for second place in the AFC North and a spot in the playoffs tonight when they face each other at M&T Bank Stadium.

The Ravens are coming off of a heartbreaking 17-15 loss to the undefeated Indianapolis Colts and looking to take it out on the next opponent and it happens to be the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers seem to be a different without safety Troy Polamalu and the Ravens have to take advantage of that in this game. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, running back Ray Rice, wide receiver Derrick Mason and tight end Todd Heap need to get their mojo going tonight against a down Steelers defense.

Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs is doubtful for this game so that leaves Ravens safety Ed Reed and linebacker Ray Lewis to do all the dirty work tonight against a dangerous Steelers offense. Third string quarterback Dennis Dixon will be getting his first career start and will make a few mistakes and should work in the Ravens favor, but he has a strong supporting cast that will help him along the way, so the Ravens defense better stay on their toes.

The Ravens lost starting cornerback Fabian Washington for the year so that leaves rookie cornerback Lardarius Webb to start in place of him. Webb will have a tough task tonight facing two Super Bowl MVP wide receivers in Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes. The Ravens defense will also have to watch an up and coming star in second-year running back Rashard Mendenhall tonight.

(picture source)

Ravens Injuries:
Doubtful- LB Terrell Suggs,
Questionable- S Ed Reed, LB Ray Lewis

Start of the 1st Half

8:32 EST- Dennis Dixon’s first pass was knocked down by Ravens DE Dwan Edwards. 3 and out.

8:36 EST- Ravens WR Kelly Washington gets 15-yards on his first catch.

8:37 EST- Ravens WR Mark Clayton gets 15-yards for a first down.

8:38 EST- Mark Clayton gets another first down.

8:39 EST- Ray Rice gets the Ravens fourth first down in a row, now in the red zone.

8:40 EST- Willis McGahee scores a 2-yard TD

Ravens 7, Steelers 0

8:47 EST- Ravens stuffing the Steelers offense so far.

8:49 EST- Ravens force the Steelers to go 3 and out.

8:54 EST- Ravens forced into a 3 and out.

8:58 EST- First down Steelers after 3 straight Willie Parker runs.

9:00 EST- Steelers pick up another first down after a 8-yard catch by Santonio Holmes and a 3-yard run by Rashard Mendenhall.

9:03 EST- Hines Ward catches an 18-yarder from Dixon for a first down.

9:04 EST- Dennis Dixon throws a 33-yard TD to Santonio Holmes.

Ravens 7, Steelers 7

9:13 EST- Ravens forced to punt. Dixon gets another chance to impress.

9:17 EST- Mendenhall rushes for 15-yards and a first down.

9:19 EST- Dennis Dixon completes a pass to Santonio Holmes for 11-yards and a first down. Ravens defense being picked apart by a third string quarterback. Get it together Ravens.

9:23 EST- LaDarius Webb makes a great open field tackle on Santonio Holmes.

9:25 EST- Ravens defense putting a little more pressure on Dixon.

9:30 EST- Ravens force Steelers to punt.

9:33 EST- Ravens first down with a pass to Derrick Mason.

9:36 EST- Penalties are killing the Ravens on offense and defense.

9:37 EST- Mark Clayton catches a 54-yard pass from Flacco. First down.

9:41 EST- Derrick Mason catches a 10-yard TD.

Ravens 14, Steelers 7

9:44 EST- Ravens defense stuff Mewelde Moore on two plays in a row.

HALFTIME STATS

Passing CP/AT YDS TD INT
J. Flacco 9/12 134 1 0

Receiving REC YDS TD LG
M. Clayton 3 86 0 54
D. Mason 2 21 1 11
K. Washington 1 15 0 15
L. McClain 1 9 0 9
R. Rice 1 2 0 2
W. McGahee 1 1 0 1

Start of the 2nd Half

10:00 EST- Steelers kickoff to the Ravens to start the 2nd half.

10:03 EST- Mark Clayton fumbles the ball and the Steelers recover.

10:05 EST- Ravens defense force a 3 and out.

10:13 EST- Rashard Mendenhall catches a 20-yard pass for first down.

10:15 EST- Jeff Reed kicks a 44-yard field goal.

Ravens 14, Steelers 10

10:18 EST- LeRon McClain runs for 11 yards and a first down.

10:21 EST- Joe Flacco sacked by an untouched Lawrence Timmons.

10:23 EST- Ravens forced to punt.

10:26 EST- Hines Ward catches a 22-yard pass for a first down.

10:28 EST- Steelers forced to punt after an incompletion by Dixon.

10:37 EST- Ray Rice catches an 18-yard catch for a first down.

10:44 EST- Ravens forced to punt.

10:47 EST- Steelers forced to punt after a 3 and out.

10:50 EST- Lawrence Timmons forces Joe Flacco to fumble, Steelers recover.

10:59 EST- Dennis Dixon runs 24 yards for a TD.

Steelers 16, Ravens 14

11:04 EST- Flacco complete a 10 yard pass to Derrick Mason.

11:05 EST- Mark Clayton catches a 20-yarder for another first down.

11:09 EST- Ray Rice with a 44-yard catch and run to get the Ravens into the red zone.

11:16 EST- Billy Cundiff makes a 24-yard field goal.

Ravens 17, Steelers 17

11:25 EST- Ravens driving down the field to kick a game leading and possible game winning field goal.

11:27 EST- Billy Cundiff comes on to try a game winning field goal. No good!!!

OVERTIME Ravens 17, Steelers 17

11:31 EST- Steelers to start with the ball in overtime.

11:37 EST- Steelers forced to punt.

11:40 EST- Ravens forced to punt.

11:42 EST- Dennis Dixon throws an INT to Paul Kruger.

11:46 EST- Billy Cundiff comes on to kick the game winning field goal. It’s Good!!!

Ravens 20, Steelers 17

Passing CP/AT YDS TD INT

M. Clayton 7 129 0 54
R. Rice 5 67 0 44
D. Mason 7 62 1 17
K. Washington 1 15 0 15
L. McClain 1 9 0 9
T. Heap 1 6 0 6
W. McGahee 1 1 0 1