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Big Ben Helps Steelers Clock Overtime Win

Posted on: Tuesday, 30 September 2008, 07:00 CDT

By Gary Mihoces

PITTSBURGH -- Jeff Reed's 46-yard field goal in overtime gave the Pittsburgh Steelers a 23-20 victory against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night and boosted the Steelers into first place in the AFC North Division.

Pittsburgh (3-1) also won its 14th consecutive home game on Monday Night Football going back to 1992 and beat division rival Baltimore for the seventh time in the last eight games at home. The Ravens fell to 2-1.

Baltimore won the overtime coin toss, but two penalties and a sack forced it to punt from its end zone.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sparked the winning drive with a 24-yard pass to backup running back Mewelde Moore, pressed into service on a hard-hitting night when the Steelers started without injured rushing leader Willie Parker and lost two running backs to injuries.

"I'm just glad we won," said Roethlisberger, who rallied his team from a 13-3 halftime deficit. "The guys never backed down. We played terrible offensively in the first half, but they fought through it and we came out offensively and did well. You got to give a lot of kudos to our defense."

In a 15-second span of the third quarter, Roethlisberger, who said he called the plays when the Steelers went to a no-huddle offense in the second half, threw a touchdown pass and the defense added another TD to give Pittsburgh a 17-13 lead.

Roethlisberger connected with Santonio Holmes on a 38-yard touchdown pass with 4:09 left in the third.

On Baltimore's next play from scrimmage, Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley returned a fumble by sacked Ravens rookie quarterback Joe Flacco 7 yards for a touchdown that gave Pittsburgh a 17-13 lead.

Pittsburgh added a fourth-quarter field goal, but Flacco, who earlier had thrown his first NFL TD pass, led the Ravens on a game-tying drive. He connected with wide receiver Derrick Mason on a 35-yard pass on third down to set up the tying score byLe'Ron McClain with 4:02 left.

Pittsburgh lost running back Rashard Mendenhall (broken shoulder) and guard Kendall Simmons (torn tendon). Both were put on injured reserve and are lost for the year.

"What a tough, hard-fought battle," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "One that we were fortunate to come out on top. The team hung together. We aren't perfect, but we are together." (c) Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Source: USA TODAY

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