QB Dennis Dixon, making his first NFL start, threw an interception in overtime and the Steelers lost 20-17 to the Ravens.
Said Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, “We came up short tonight in a tough environment versus a good football team. They made the plays necessary to win and we came up just short.”
Despite the pick, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette thought Dixon did enough to get the Steelers a victory on Sunday night.
LB James Harrison played on the Steelers kickoff coverage unit as the team tried to correct their problems in that phase of the game.
The Steelers defense failed to hold on a key fourth down in the fourth quarter, giving the Ravens a chance to kick the tying field goal.
LB Paul Kruger, the Ravens’ second-round pick in April, had the key interception in overtime and finally made a big play after a mostly invisible rookie season.
RB Willis McGahee’s first-quarter touchdown snapped a string of 33 touchdown-less drives in the first quarter for the Ravens.
The Ravens ran for 132 yards on 29 carries against a Steelers defense that was only allowing 69 yards per game on the ground entering the game.
Ravens WR Mark Clayton snapped out of a slump with seven catches for 129 yards, and had key catches on both of the team’s touchdown drives.
The Ravens used DT Haloti Ngata as an extra blocker on the play that resulted in McGahee’s touchdown.