Steelers Come Back, Hold on For Tight Win over Ravens, 20-19
PITTSBURGH — The Steelers spent three quarters chasing the Baltimore Ravens, but they ran them down at the finish line, with Diontae Johnson’s touchdown with 1:48 to play putting Pittsburgh up for good.
The defense held on, with Baltimore unable to score on a 2-point conversion with 12 seconds left as the Steelers secured a 20-19 victory.
Johnson caught a Ben Roethlisberger pass in the left flat and reached for the goal line for a 5-yard score to put Pittsburgh ahead for the first time in the game. Roethlisberger hit Pat Freiermuth for the 2-point conversion to put the Steelers up seven.
After an out of bounds kickoff, Lamar Jackson drove the Ravens down the field and hit Sammy Watkins in the end zone for a touchdown. Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh elected to go for the 2-point conversion and the win, but Jackson’s pass to Mark Andrews fell incomplete.
Both offenses struggled in the early going, with the Steelers gaining just one first down on their first three possessions. Baltimore moved the ball more effectively, but could not find points.
Devonta Freeman broke the deadlock with a three-yard run in the second quarter to put Baltimore up seven and start the Steelers chasing. The teams exchanged field goals to make it 10-3.
The Steelers looked to have drawn level early in the fourth quarter with two big passing plays. Ben Roethlisberger hit Chase Claypool on a 40-yard catch-and-run to get the Steelers into scoring position.
Roethlisberger then broke out his trademarked pump fake to get Diontae Johnson wide open over the middle for a 29-yard touchdown. But instead of tying the game at 10, Chris Boswell missed the extra point and the Steelers were chasing once again.
A long pass interference penalty against Minkah Fitzpatrick put Baltimore into field goal range and Justin Tucker pushed the lead to four.
Roethlisberger led the Steelers down the field again, using a 25-yard pass to Johnson to get into field goal range and Boswell made it a one-point deficit once again.
The Steelers defense forced a three-and-out on the ensuing possession, with T.J. Watt sacking Lamar Jackson and Ahkello Witherspoon breaking up a third-down pass. That set up the Steelers’ go-ahead scoring drive.
The Steelers improved to 6-5-1, and moved to a game and a half behind Baltimore for first place in the AFC North. They’ll next visit Minnesota on Thursday night.
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