The Baltimore Ravens snapped a four-game losing slump with a 21-14 win over their arch-rival Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 6 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) is tackled by Baltimore Ravens free safety Lardarius Webb (21) and strong safety Eric Weddle while rushing the ball in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
The Ravens (4-4 overall record, 2-0 AFC North) hadn’t won a game since Sept. 25, when they beat their AFC North rival the Cleveland Browns, giving the team a 3-0 start to the season at the time. Four straight losses dropped them from first place in the their division to a below .500 record, so Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh (4-4, 1-1 AFC North) was considered a must-win scenario if Baltimore wanted to salvage its chances of saving its season.
The Ravens recognized the desperation of that moment and responded with one of its best defensive games this season, holding the Steelers’ high powered offense to just 277 total yards. Steelers star running back Le’Veon Bell was bottled up by Baltimore’s defense, rushing for only 32 rushing yards on 14 carries.
Steelers all-pro receiver Antonio Brown was also contained by the Ravens’ defense; he had seven catches for 85 yards and a touchdown but most of his catches — including his score — didn’t come until Pittsburgh was down, 21-0, in the fourth quarter. Brown didn’t record a single catch in the first quarter, marking the first time that happened to him in more than two years.
Baltimore Ravens running back Terrance West (28) rushes against Pittsburgh Steelers defenders in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
While Baltimore’s defense was exceptional, the offensive unit was less impressive. The Ravens continued to struggle in finding a running game as starting running back Terrance West had only 21 yards on 15 carries; reserve back Kendall Dixon added only 13 more rushing yards on nine carries as the team combined for just 50 yards rushing.
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was shaky, completing 18 of 30 pass attempts for 241 yards. He tossed a poor interception in the red zone early in the first quarter, but responded with a touchdown pass to speedy receiver Mike Wallace, who ran it 95 yards to the end zone. The 95-yard touchdown catch by the former Steeler receiver set a new Ravens franchise record as the longest play in Ravens history.
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Mike Wallace, left, breaks free from Pittsburgh Steelers free safety Mike Mitchell for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Four key starters returned from injury after missing the last two games for Baltimore, including all-pro linebacker Terrell Suggs, receiver Steve Smith Sr., all-pro right guard Marshall Yanda and left tackle Ronnie Stanley, and they each made an impact on the game. Smith had four catches for 47 yards, Suggs put pressure on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and Yanda and Stanley did a decent job keeping defenders off Flacco.
Next: The Ravens will host the winless Cleveland Browns (0-9 overall, 0-2 AFC North) for a Thursday Night Football special on Nov. 10 back at M&T Bank Stadium.
