lamberts-lost-tooth
12-31-2007, 06:23 AM
Bring on Jacksonville
Monday, December 31, 2007
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Ravens exacted their revenge here yesterday, and now it's the Steelers' turn to try.
With both teams playing lineups weakened by injuries and rested players, Baltimore handed the Steelers their third loss in their past four games, 27-21.
It reversed a 38-7 Steelers victory against the Ravens Nov. 5, but did nothing to alter the fact the Steelers (10-6) will open the playoffs at 8 p.m. Saturday at Heinz Field, and they will do it against Jacksonville.
"Ready or not, here we come," coach Mike Tomlin said. "We didn't like our performance the last time we played those guys, taking nothing away from them."
The Jaguars beat the Steelers, 29-24, Dec. 16, running for the most yards in Heinz Field history, 224. Baltimore had success running as well yesterday with 180 yards rushing against the NFL's No. 1-ranked defense.
And that wasn't Fred Taylor or Maurice Jones-Drew tearing through the Steelers' defense. It was former backup Musa Smith, who had 83 yards, and little-known Cory Ross, a 5-foot-6 undrafted, second-year pro getting his first 12 NFL carries for 72 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown run.
"It's disappointing to us," defensive end Brett Keisel said, "especially this team that loves to stop the run and prides itself on stopping the run and we haven't been able to do that."
Baltimore also won behind rookie quarterback Troy Smith, the Heisman Trophy winner from Ohio State. He completed 16 of 27 passes for 171 yards and one touchdown, perhaps climbing to the top of Baltimore's depth chart for 2008.
The Ravens ended a nine-game losing streak and finished 5-11 after winning the AFC North Division at 13-3 last season, a title the Steelers claimed last weekend.
The Steelers, who fell behind 27-7 and scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to make a game out of it, rested a handful of key players in what was a meaningless game for them. Quarterback Charlie Batch started for Ben Roethlisberger, and Troy Polamalu and Hines Ward did not suit up. Younger players and backups filtered into and out of the lineup as the game progressed.
"No matter what the circumstances are, it's always great to win a game, to finish that way against a division rival," Baltimore coach Brian Billick said.
The Steelers certainly hope yesterday's regular-season finale played in a steady rain is not indicative of what lies ahead. Not only could they not stop the run, they could not run it themselves. They managed only 46 yards with Najeh Davenport, who scored on a 1-yard run, getting 27 on 12 carries.
Batch completed 16 of 31 passes for 218 yards, two interceptions and had touchdown throws of 59 yards to Santonio Holmes and 7 yards to Cedrick Wilson in the fourth quarter.
Musa Smith scored on a 2-yard run for Baltimore, Devard Darling caught a 15-yard scoring pass and Matt Stover kicked field goals of 28 and 31 yards.
"That loss was similar to a lot of our losses," Tomlin said. "We had some self-inflicted wounds early, and the spirit and effort we displayed [in the fourth quarter] wasn't enough to bring us back."
The Ravens struck first after Willie Reid fumbled the opening kickoff -- Tomlin lumped it among the self-inflicted wounds -- and Baltimore took over at the Steelers' 35.
Musa Smith eventually ended an eight-play drive with a 2-yard touchdown run and a 7-0 lead for the Ravens. It became 10-0 near the end of the opening quarter when Stover kicked a 28-yard field goal.
Baltimore scored again early in the second quarter and did so in what has become an alarming way for the Steelers. Ross cut back through the Steelers' defense for a 32-yard touchdown run.
"I came out a little too fast and a couple guys got cut off," linebacker Larry Foote said. "It's a technique thing and it's execution, but that's behind us."
That gave the underdog Ravens a 17-0 lead. The Steelers broke through with a touchdown on Davenport's 1-yard run after a 47-yard pass interference penalty against cornerback Corey Ivy on Nate Washington put the ball at the 2.
Ravens cornerback David Pittman helped atone for that when he intercepted Batch's pass late in the second quarter and returned it 30 yards, starting another Baltimore drive at the Steelers' 38.
It led to Stover's second field goal of the half, from 31 yards, but not until cornerback Ike Taylor dropped a potential interception. The ball went through his hands with a wide open field and possible touchdown in front of him.
"We had opportunities for interceptions and didn't get it done," Tomlin said.
Baltimore jumped ahead, 27-7, late in the third quarter when Troy Smith threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Darling.
The Steelers scored for the second time when Batch found Holmes on a slant and Holmes broke free and ran untouched 59 yards for a touchdown with 7:13 left.
Washington recovered the onside kick for the Steelers, and they followed with another touchdown, Wilson making a nice grab of Batch's 7-yard pass on fourth down.
It was too little too late on this day. The Steelers did get the ball back but with time running out, Batch threw his second interception.
Win or lose, the Steelers were going to play Jacksonville Saturday night. San Diego assured that when it won in Oakland yesterday to claim the No. 3 seed. The Steelers are No. 4.
"We're just giving up the plays," Foote said of the problems on defense that have materialized in the second half of the season. "But we know that's behind us right now. It's 0-0 and we're coming out next week ready to go."
Monday, December 31, 2007
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Ravens exacted their revenge here yesterday, and now it's the Steelers' turn to try.
With both teams playing lineups weakened by injuries and rested players, Baltimore handed the Steelers their third loss in their past four games, 27-21.
It reversed a 38-7 Steelers victory against the Ravens Nov. 5, but did nothing to alter the fact the Steelers (10-6) will open the playoffs at 8 p.m. Saturday at Heinz Field, and they will do it against Jacksonville.
"Ready or not, here we come," coach Mike Tomlin said. "We didn't like our performance the last time we played those guys, taking nothing away from them."
The Jaguars beat the Steelers, 29-24, Dec. 16, running for the most yards in Heinz Field history, 224. Baltimore had success running as well yesterday with 180 yards rushing against the NFL's No. 1-ranked defense.
And that wasn't Fred Taylor or Maurice Jones-Drew tearing through the Steelers' defense. It was former backup Musa Smith, who had 83 yards, and little-known Cory Ross, a 5-foot-6 undrafted, second-year pro getting his first 12 NFL carries for 72 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown run.
"It's disappointing to us," defensive end Brett Keisel said, "especially this team that loves to stop the run and prides itself on stopping the run and we haven't been able to do that."
Baltimore also won behind rookie quarterback Troy Smith, the Heisman Trophy winner from Ohio State. He completed 16 of 27 passes for 171 yards and one touchdown, perhaps climbing to the top of Baltimore's depth chart for 2008.
The Ravens ended a nine-game losing streak and finished 5-11 after winning the AFC North Division at 13-3 last season, a title the Steelers claimed last weekend.
The Steelers, who fell behind 27-7 and scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to make a game out of it, rested a handful of key players in what was a meaningless game for them. Quarterback Charlie Batch started for Ben Roethlisberger, and Troy Polamalu and Hines Ward did not suit up. Younger players and backups filtered into and out of the lineup as the game progressed.
"No matter what the circumstances are, it's always great to win a game, to finish that way against a division rival," Baltimore coach Brian Billick said.
The Steelers certainly hope yesterday's regular-season finale played in a steady rain is not indicative of what lies ahead. Not only could they not stop the run, they could not run it themselves. They managed only 46 yards with Najeh Davenport, who scored on a 1-yard run, getting 27 on 12 carries.
Batch completed 16 of 31 passes for 218 yards, two interceptions and had touchdown throws of 59 yards to Santonio Holmes and 7 yards to Cedrick Wilson in the fourth quarter.
Musa Smith scored on a 2-yard run for Baltimore, Devard Darling caught a 15-yard scoring pass and Matt Stover kicked field goals of 28 and 31 yards.
"That loss was similar to a lot of our losses," Tomlin said. "We had some self-inflicted wounds early, and the spirit and effort we displayed [in the fourth quarter] wasn't enough to bring us back."
The Ravens struck first after Willie Reid fumbled the opening kickoff -- Tomlin lumped it among the self-inflicted wounds -- and Baltimore took over at the Steelers' 35.
Musa Smith eventually ended an eight-play drive with a 2-yard touchdown run and a 7-0 lead for the Ravens. It became 10-0 near the end of the opening quarter when Stover kicked a 28-yard field goal.
Baltimore scored again early in the second quarter and did so in what has become an alarming way for the Steelers. Ross cut back through the Steelers' defense for a 32-yard touchdown run.
"I came out a little too fast and a couple guys got cut off," linebacker Larry Foote said. "It's a technique thing and it's execution, but that's behind us."
That gave the underdog Ravens a 17-0 lead. The Steelers broke through with a touchdown on Davenport's 1-yard run after a 47-yard pass interference penalty against cornerback Corey Ivy on Nate Washington put the ball at the 2.
Ravens cornerback David Pittman helped atone for that when he intercepted Batch's pass late in the second quarter and returned it 30 yards, starting another Baltimore drive at the Steelers' 38.
It led to Stover's second field goal of the half, from 31 yards, but not until cornerback Ike Taylor dropped a potential interception. The ball went through his hands with a wide open field and possible touchdown in front of him.
"We had opportunities for interceptions and didn't get it done," Tomlin said.
Baltimore jumped ahead, 27-7, late in the third quarter when Troy Smith threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Darling.
The Steelers scored for the second time when Batch found Holmes on a slant and Holmes broke free and ran untouched 59 yards for a touchdown with 7:13 left.
Washington recovered the onside kick for the Steelers, and they followed with another touchdown, Wilson making a nice grab of Batch's 7-yard pass on fourth down.
It was too little too late on this day. The Steelers did get the ball back but with time running out, Batch threw his second interception.
Win or lose, the Steelers were going to play Jacksonville Saturday night. San Diego assured that when it won in Oakland yesterday to claim the No. 3 seed. The Steelers are No. 4.
"We're just giving up the plays," Foote said of the problems on defense that have materialized in the second half of the season. "But we know that's behind us right now. It's 0-0 and we're coming out next week ready to go."