The Baltimore Ravens notch their first win of the season Thursday right as they defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 23-20 in overtime. Justin Tucker made a 52 yard field goal with 5:13 remaining in the overtime. The Steelers (2-2) turned the ball over on downs in Baltimore territory on each of their overtime possessions and Josh Scobee missed field goals of 49 and 41 yards in the 4th quarter. The second miss with just over one minute remaining in regulation enabled Joe Flacco to lead the Ravens (1-3) on a 7 play 58 yard drive to set up a 42 yard field goal with three seconds left in regulation. The Ravens scored the game’s last 16 points and outgained the Steelers 356-263, won the time of possession 37:43-32:09 and gained 21 first downs to the Steelers 17.

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It seems like neither team looked like they wanted to win the game. The second half featured missed field goals by the Steelers, a fake field goal attempt by the Ravens and questionable play calling on fourth down by both teams. I feel that Coach Tomlin lad lost faith in Josh Scobee after the two missed field goals and he felt like he needed a touchdown to win the football game and that is why it can be rationalized that he would go for the first down. However the play calling especially on the last play of the first drive in overtime when he sent Alejandro Villanueva out wide and tried to run the wildcat was almost reprehensible. That being said I thought Michael Vick played an efficient, but not spectacular game with going 19 for 26 for 124 yards and a touchdown and no interceptions.
The difference in this game was the Ravens defense in the second half. Baltimore allowed 87 yards and no points on the final seven Steeler possessions after they gave up a touchdown which was set up by Flacco fumble at the Ravens 26 yard line. The defense stepped up despite the Steelers having good to excellent field position in the fourth quarter and in overtime. Also Joe Flacco did not have his best game (20-33, 189 yds. 1 TD, 1 INT), but he made the throws when he absolutely had to make them. Justin Forsett rushed for 150 yards on 27 carries and Baltimore rushed for 191 as a team after averaging only 72 yard per game in their first three games. Although the Steelers did have trouble with the run, but they played a decent game on defense with collecting five sacks and forcing two turnovers on Flacco. However, as the second Ravens possession of the second half proved that the defense still has a long way to go when it regards with consistent execution especially while they are not at full strength on offense. Flacco made it look a little too easy on that six play, 80 yard drive.

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Injuries
• Ravens WR Steve Smith Sr. left the game in the fourth quarter with a back contusion and did not return
• Steelers WR Markus Wheaton left the game with a right angle injury but did return
Facts
• Forsett’s 150 yard rushing total is the second most by an opposing running back against the Steelers under Mike Tomlin. Arian foster ran for 155 yards for the Houston Texans in 2011.
• The Ravens allowed a 100 yards rusher for the first time in 29 games when Lavion Bell rushed for 129 yards
• Antonio Brown’s streak of 35 straight regular-season games with at least five catches and at least 50 yards ended Thursday night when he finished with five catches for 42 yards.

Next
Ravens: vs Browns 10/11 1:00 CBS
Steelers: at Chargers 10/12 8:30 ESPN

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