Different vibe boosts Ravens to statement-making triumph
Flacco, defense key victory in Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH — Eric Weddle walked into the interview room in full uniform. Then the Baltimore Ravens well-bearded safety did a little dance and made a proclamation.
“I told you,” Weddle said. “These ain’t the same Ravens.”
After two years and two painful near misses, he might be right. Baltimore can win in Pittsburgh again, fueling confidence the Ravens can win anywhere.
The proof came in a cruelly efficient 26-14 victory over their AFC North rivals on Sunday night that looked an awful lot like how it used to look when Baltimore had it going earlier in head coach John Harbaugh’s tenure.
Joe Flacco threw for 363 yards and a pair of scores. Justin Tucker kicked four second-half field goals. Baltimore’s defense did the rest, keeping Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown under wraps over the final 30 minutes as the Ravens (3-1) ended a three-game losing streak to the Steelers (1-2-1).
“You can’t become a true Raven until you win in Pittsburgh,” Weddle said. “I’ve officially become a Raven. What a great team win.”
Pittsburgh managed just 47 yards in the second half, sputtering in a place the Steelers have so often soared. Not this time. Not on a night they converted just 2 of 12 third downs and didn’t take a snap in Baltimore territory after halftime.
“I just didn’t make enough plays, point blank,” Roethlisberger said. “I’ll take ownership on this game. Squarely on me.”
Two years ago, the Ravens fell on Brown’s “Immaculate Extension” on Christmas night. Last winter, Baltimore scored 38 at Heinz Field … and got beat on a field goal in the final minute. Those memories have been hard to shake.
“I think it was all in the back of our heads,” Weddle said. “The way we’ve lost here has not been fun.”
Maybe that’s what made this one a little sweeter than most. Even Harbaugh admitted this wasn’t just another opponent and this wasn’t just another victory, answering loudly “Yes, it does” when asked if there was a different vibe this time around.
The Steelers (1-2-1) came in having won nine straight Sunday night appearances. Baltimore brought Pittsburgh’s run to an abrupt end. Roethlisberger finished 27 of 47 for 274 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Steelers. Brown caught five passes for 62 yards, including his second touchdown pass in as many weeks.
Yet Pittsburgh couldn’t generate anything in the second half. The Steelers mustered three first downs after the break and there was no balance to be found. Pittsburgh ran the ball 11 times for 19 yards, the absence of All-pro running back Le’veon Bell — who has yet to sign his franchise tender — growing more acute by the week.
Ravens (-2½) at Browns, 10 a.m. Sunday; Falcons at Steelers (-3½), 10 a.m. Sunday
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