Published : Nov. 7, 2011 - 16:38
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward tries to get up after making a block on Sunday. (UPI-Yonhap News)
PITTSBURGH (AP) ― Torrey Smith wasn’t going to let the game-winning touchdown slip through his hands twice.
Five plays after a sure scoring strike tipped off his fingers, the Baltimore rookie receiver held onto a 26-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco with 8 seconds remaining to lift the Ravens past the Pittsburgh Steelers 23-20 on Sunday night. “For him to keep coming back to me, that meant a lot,” Smith said.
Smith also was flagged for a costly penalty on the game’s first play, negating Ray Rice’s long touchdown run. But he capped Baltimore’s game-winning 92-yard drive by beating William Gay down the right sideline as the Ravens (6-2) snapped Pittsburgh’s four-game winning streak.
Flacco finished with 300 yards passing and Baltimore swept the season series from the rival Steelers (6-3) for the first time since 2006. “Don’t be fooled, we’ll see them again in January,” Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs said. “This is the only team in the world that can play like we play and match us blow for blow.”
The Steelers appeared to be in control after rallying from a 10-point deficit to take a 20-16 lead with less than 5 minutes to go when Ben Roethlisberger hit Mike Wallace for a 25-yard score.
Pittsburgh’s defense held once and the Steelers moved in range for Shaun Suisham to attempt a 47-yard field goal that could have pushed their lead to seven.
Dolphins 31, Chiefs 3
Falcons 31, Colts 7
49ers 19, Redskins 11
Jets 27, Bills 11
Saints 27, Buccaneers 16
Cowboys 23, Seahawks 13
Texans 30, Browns 12
Cardinals 19, Rams 13
Giants 24, Patriots 20
Broncos 38, Raiders 24
Bengals 24, Titans 17