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Concerns Mount in Pittsburgh after Epic Collapse

NBC Sunday Night Football finally got an outstanding game after several stinker blow outs as the best rivalry in the NFL went down to the wire with the Baltimore Ravens beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 23-20 in NFL odds betting action with a second half that was one of the most exciting in recent memory.

Baltimore took a 16-6 lead late in the 4th quarter before the Steelers rallied and claimed a 20-16 lead with five minutes to go in the game. Baltimore got the ball late and quarterback Joe Flacco drove them methodically down into Pittsburgh territory with pin point passing before hitting Torrey Smith with a beautiful and perfectly placed 26 yard touchdown pass with eight seconds to play. The Ravens swept the regular season series with their arch rivals and it was a deflating loss for The Men of Steel as they are not accustomed to blowing leads late on their home field.

Flacco lit up the Steelers for 300 yards and that last TD while his Pittsburgh counterpart Ben Roethlisberger passed for 330 and a score. Neither team could rush effectively nor it came down to the QB’s and pass defenses with the Ravens prevailing and sending off alarms in the City of Steel.

What was most shocking about this epic collapse of the Steelers defense in the final moments is that they are ranked 3rd in the NFL for total defense and 3rd best as well against the pass.

For Baltimore coach John Harbaugh and Flacco it was a defining moment as they have been in the shadow of Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin and Roethlisberger far too long and suffered a tough playoff loss at Pittsburgh last year. With the regular season sweep of the series, the Ravens have staked their claim as the team to beat in the AFC North. This was the first time in five years that the Ravens beat Roethlisberger at Heinz Field.

Harbaugh was extremely proud of Flacco, who he has consistently defended against critics. Harbaugh said the Steelers and Ravens rivalry is “for men” and that nobody “shined brighter” than Flacco.

For Tomlin there will be plenty of criticism especially for a delay of game penalty that pushed what would have been a makeable 47 yard field goal attempt for a seven point lead back into a punt. Tomlin accepted responsibility for it as he said he was “hesitant.” There will be no hesitation from Steeler fans about criticizing the collapse and the loss.

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