Pittsburgh Steelers keep playoff hopes alive with 17-10 win over Ravens and steelers coach $80,000 bonus to the…
Although the Steelers didn’t have the best of days in Baltimore, they did get the outcome they required.
The Steelers took a 10-point lead just before the two-minute warning after wide receiver Diontae Johnson converted a short Mason Rudolph pass into a 71-yard touchdown on the opening play of the fourth quarter, breaking a 7-7 tie. Before the Steelers were forced to attempt a field goal due to a sack by Markus Golden, Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley advanced the ball deep into their territory using a combination of passes and scrambles.
With only seconds remaining, Justin Tucker’s 36-yard attempt to cut the lead to 17-10 was unsuccessful, and the Steelers recovered the onside kick to complete the victory that keeps Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes alive.
There are now three ways the Steelers can qualify for the playoffs. They will move on in the event that the Bills fall to the Dolphins and the Jaguars lose to or draw with the Titans. In the event that the Colts and Titans game on Saturday night ends in a tie, they will also make it.
When Baltimore attempted a late comeback, Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt was not present on the field. Watt, who had two sacks to reach 19 for the season, was sidelined early in the fourth quarter due to a left knee injury that forced him to leave the game in the third quarter. Watt’s health will be crucial to their chances of winning another game on the road in the playoffs’ first round, should they advance.
Running back Najee Harris ran 26 times for 112 yards, while Rudolph was 18 of 20 for 152 yards. That helped the Steelers control the ball for almost thirty-five minutes and put Harris over the 1,000-yard mark for the third time in his three NFL seasons.
Although the Steelers lost two fumbles, the Ravens also did, and neither of the Steelers’ turnovers resulted in Baltimore scoring any points. They will now take a break until the divisional round. Depending on how things go, they may play their rivals in the AFC North in round three.
