Today’s game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers was for the right to claim first place in the AFC North. Plus, the Ravens were amid a four-game losing streak that had to end sometime. And that sometime was today. The Ravens claimed the rights to first place in the AFC North division with their 21-14 slugfest victory over the Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium.
With today’s win the Ravens run their record to 4-4 overall and 2-0 in the AFC North, while the Steelers drop to 4-4 overall and 1-1 in the AFC North.
Ravens quarterback JOE FLACCO who left the game for the locker room early in the third quarter due to a knee strain, put together a solid game that saw him and his receivers having to put the Ravens’ offensive success on their shoulders because of a lack of a running game today. 
Flacco’s main targets today were receivers MIKE WALLACE (4 catches for 124 yards and 1 score) and STEVE SMITH SR. (4 catches for 47 yards). Wallace and Smith were super helpful moving the sticks and setting up Ravens scores.
It also helped the Ravens cause that Steelers quarterback BEN ROETHLISBERGER was off his game today as he was 23 of 45 for 264 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 pick. The Ravens secondary and their pass rush made Roethlisberger and his receivers work overtime for those 264 yards. If there ever was a game in which 264 passing yards weren’t enough to win a game, today’s contest was a testament of that.
The Ravens saw their longest play of the season go down late in the first quarter. On 2nd and 9 from the BAL 5-yard line, Wallace caught a Flacco pass not too far from the line of scrimmage. The speedy receiver then broke two tackles and took off untouched down the left sideline for a 95-yard scoring play. That play gave the Ravens an eventual 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.
Wallace’s score was not only a much needed scoring play for the Ravens, but it was also a welcome gift for the receiver as it was his first scoring play since Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns back on September 18, 2016.
Wallace’s 95-yard scoring reception was the longest touchdown reception in Ravens history and it is also the longest reception in team history. The previous record holder for longest reception in Ravens history (scoring or non-scoring) was held by DERRICK ALEXANDER, who had a 92-yard reception (he didn’t score on the play) back on December 7, 1997 versus the Seattle Seahawks.
JUSTIN TUCKER added to the Ravens lead with a successful 49-yard field goal, which gave his team a 10-0 lead with just three seconds remaining in the first half.
The Ravens early in the fourth quarter, received a huge special teams play from a guy who should be in the conversation as far as receiving more carries in their running game. Ravens running back JAVORIUS ALLEN at the snap, took off for the area that Steelers punter JORDAN BERRY occupied. Then Allen dove at the punter’s legs to block the punt, which enabled his teammate and wide receiver CHRIS MOORE to scoop up the ball at the PIT 14 and proceed to skate 14 yards untouched into the end zone. With 13:36 left in the game and with Smith Sr.’s two-point conversion reception, the Ravens had a 21-0 lead.
Then finally with 8:38 left in the game the Steelers got on the scoreboard, when receiver ANTONIO BROWN (7 catches for 85 yards and 1 score) got between Ravens cornerbacks LADARIUS WEBB and TAVON YOUNG to secure a 23-yard touchdown reception. That score cut the Ravens lead to 21-7.
Roethlisberger took it upon himself to try to will his team to a late game comeback when he took off from the pocket and then dove into the end zone for a 4-yard score. With 48 seconds left in the game the Steelers cut the Ravens’ lead to 21-14.
But Roethlisberger’s touchdown run ended up being the last time the Steelers threatened the Ravens because a few plays later, Steelers kicker CHRIS BOSWELL muffed an onside kick that barely left the kicking tee.
