By Bob Smizik, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Linebacker James Harrison sacks Ravens quarterback Steve McNair forcing a fumble which Harrison recovered in the first quarter.
What was billed as a grudge match between two intense rivals, who also happen to be the NFL's foremost practitioners of the brutal art of "physical" football, played out in surreal fashion last night on the turf at Heinz Field.
It was the Steelers vs. the Baltimore Ravens, two teams that truly do not like each other, and that usually means the ultimate in smashmouth football.
Instead, it was the ultimate in one-sided football. In an outcome expected by no one, the Steelers dominated from the start, winning not only the battle of skill but, even more convincingly, winning the battle of wills and of toughness. They bashed, smashed and trashed the Ravens, scoring five touchdowns in the first half and going from there to a 38-7 win.
With a crowd of 63,457 in attendance and with members of the 75th anniversary all-time team watching and being honored at halftime, the Steelers put on a show that won't soon be forgotten -- and one the Ravens will struggle mightily to remove from their memory bank.
Call it Roethlisberger's revenge. Call it the national television coming out party for James Harrison.
But most of all call it the end of an era.
Wide receiver Santonio Holmes and linebacker James Farrior celebrate with teammate defensive back Anthony Smith after he recovered a fumble in the second quarter.
Although this game might most be remembered for the five touchdowns thrown by Ben Roethlisberger in the first half and the outrageous defensive numbers put up by Harrison, it also will go down as the day the Ray Lewis-led Ravens ceased to be a factor in the AFC North Division.
Considered old, but not too old, the Ravens looked to be positively ancient and were no match for the Steelers. They were outhit, outplayed and all but knocked out by the dominating Steelers.
Quarterback Steve McNair, long a Steelers nemesis, ran for his life most of the night as the Steelers manhandled his protectors. He threw 22 times, completing 13 for only 63 yards.
The win left the Steelers at 6-2 and the Ravens at 4-4. The Cleveland Brown, 5-3, have a chance to grab a share of the AFC North lead when they visit Heinz Field Sunday. It won't happen. The Steelers might not push around the Browns the way they did in a 34-7 win in the season opener. But the Browns can't play with this team.
The race in the AFC North is over.
Roethlisberger and Harrison were ridiculously dominant. The Steelers had three touchdowns, all on passes by Roethlisberger, before the Ravens had their second first down. Harrison had three forced fumbles, 21/2 sacks and an interception before the Ravens scored.
The Steelers led, 35-0, with 1:15 remaining in the first half. Roethlisberger, who left the game with a hip injury late in the third quarter but later returned for one more series, completed 13 of 16 passes for 209 yards.
Steeler quarterback Ben Roethlisberger celebrates with guard Alan Faneca and tackle Marvell Smith after throwing his second of five touchdown in the first half against the Ravens.
He did that against the team that had made him look inept last season. In decisive losses by a combined score of 58-7 in 2006, Roethlisberger was sacked 14 times, threw four interceptions and lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown.
That was Roethlisberger at his worst, this was Roethlisberger at his best.
Harrison never played better. For once, Lewis wasn't the best linebacker on the field. Harrison wasn't just the best linebacker on the field, he was the best player on the field. He added another sack in the third quarter to end the evening with 31/2, thus surpassing his previous season total of three.
Perhaps the play that best summed up Harrison's dominance came early in the second quarter. On a second and 8 from the Ravens 20, he broke through to sack McNair for a 7-yard loss and force a fumble. But he wasn't done. The fumble was recovered by running back Willis McGahee, who was thrown for an additional 10-yard loss with Harrison making the tackle.
On one play, he sacked the quarterback, forced a fumble and tackled the running back.
If there was any consolation for the Ravens it was that they stopped running back Willie Parker, limiting him to 42 yards on 23 carries.
But that was all they could hold their heads high about. These proud, old champions took a loss they won't soon forgot, a loss from which they won't soon recover.
Bob Smizik can be reached at bsmizik@post-gazette.com.
First published on November 6, 2007 at 12:43 am
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