Sloppy Steelers hold off Ravens
In a game in which both teams were short-handed and appeared rusty, the Pittsburgh Steelers held on Wednesday afternoon to stay unbeaten with a 19-14 win over the visiting Baltimore Ravens.
The teams remained within a touchdown of each other until Ben Roethlisberger's touchdown pass to Juju Smith- Schuster early in the fourth quarter gave Pittsburgh (110) a 19-7 lead.
The loss dealt a blow to the playoff chances of Baltimore (6-5).
Originally scheduled for Thanksgiving, the game was postponed three times because of COVID-19 issues with both teams. Several players from both sides sat out while on the reserve/covid-19 list, most prominently Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Roethlisberger was 36 of 51 for 266 yards with an interception and the touchdown.
Robert Griffin III, starting for Jackson, was 7-for-12 for 33 yards and an interception by Joe Haden, who returned it for a touchdown. Gus Edwards had a touchdown run for the Ravens.
Griffin spent the fourth quarter with his left leg on ice. Trace McSorley stepped in, going 2-for-6 for 77 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown to Marquise Brown to make it close.
The early part of the game was sloppy, including four turnovers in the first quarter.
Pittsburgh's Vince Williams recovered a fumbled handoff for the first turnover.
The Steelers opted against a field-goal attempt on fourth-and-goal from the Ravens' one, but Roethlisberger's toss under pressure was picked off by Tyus Bowser.
On a third-down play, Pittsburgh's Haden stepped in front of receiver James Proche II to intercept Griffin and return the ball 14 yards for a touchdown. Chris Boswell missed the extra point.
The Ravens' offence promptly went three and out, but Pittsburgh returner Ray-ray Mccloud muffed the punt, and Baltimore's Anthony Levine recovered at the Steelers 16-yard line. That led to Edwards' one-yard touchdown run.