BALTIMORE, Maryland October 2, 2015 - It was, afterall, the Ravens most desperate hour. Off to an inconceivable 0-3 start and already with a division loss, Baltimore trundled into Pittsburgh a few days after a third straight nail-biter of a loss, and promptly fell behind the Michael Vick quarterbacked Pittsburgh Steelers, 20-7. As in the first three games, Joe Flacco rallied the Ravens, throwing a stunning and deft pass to Kamar Alexander for a touchdown on the possession after the Steelers took their biggest lead.. On a night with a pronounced swirling wind, a wind that forced two missed Steeler field goals and a decision by Steeler Coach Mike Tomlin to forego field goals and go for it on two fourth downs in the overtime, Justin Tucker kicked a field goal with three seconds left in regulation time to tie the game, then a 52-yard effort in overtime to win the game.
The game was a continuation of one of the NFL's most storied rivalties, and Flacco has engineered some amazing Baltimore wins in the Steel City during his years of quarterbacking the Ravens. Tonight, however, he was sacked five times - the most in his NFL career - and intercepted once. He also fumbled on the Ravens' first possession of the second half, a turnover that the Steelers converted into a touchdown on a pass from Vick to former Maryland Star Darius Heyward-Bey. But behind by 13 points and with the season about to trickle away, Baltimore suddenly rallied. Justin Forsett, who ran for 150 yards, made several spectacular runs on the Ravens next possession. The Ravens scored on Flacco's pass to Alexander, who had to assume a huge role in the Ravens' offense after both Steve Smith, Sr. and Michael Campanaro were forced to the sidelines with back injuries. The Ravens then stopped Vick and the Steelers and forced a punt from the Pittsburgh endzone. Campanaro, who scored Baltimore's first TD on a stunning 9-yard run, returned the punt to the Steeler 33, and a penalty put the Ravens at the Steeler 28. But a fake FG on fourth down failed and the Steelers still led, 20-14. Tucker kicked a FG to bring Baltimore within 20-17, but that looked for all of the world like the final score when the Ravens could not move the ball after a missed FG, allowing the Steelers to take over on downs deep in Raven territory with just 2:04 left. But the Steelers could not get a first down, and after another missed FG, the Ravens took over with just over one minute left. Baltimore was also out of time-outs. But Flacco completed passes to Marlon Brown and rookie Michael Boller, who was making his first NFL catch, as the Ravens moved to the Steeler 27 with 7 seconds left. Tucker then converted to send the game to OT. In overtime the Ravens suddenly beligerant defense stopped the Steelers twice on fourth down, giving Flacco a chance to win the game. On the second OT possession, Flacco took advantage. Along with the running of Forsett, who exploded tonight after three straight subpar games, the Ravens marched just deep enough into Steeler territory to give Tucker a shot at winning the game. From 52 yeards, the All-Pro did not disappoint.
Flacco told a television interviewer after the game that the Ravens came into Pittsburgh thinking the Ravens could move the ball through the air. But in this rivalry game, game plans never seem to work and both teams end up slugging it out and grinding it out. In the end, he said, the Ravens held together and played like there was no tomorrow. Thanks to Flacco and a suddenly tough defense, tomorrow doesn't look all that bad.
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