Maddox leads Steelers into top spot
Pittsburgh jolted Baltimore 31-18 for sole ownership of first place in the AFC North.
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Now that they've righted themselves, the Pittsburgh Steelers aren't looking back at their 0-2 start.
Instead, the first-place Steelers are peeking ahead.
Tommy Maddox completed his first 11 passes and Pittsburgh scored touchdowns on its first four possessions Sunday in a 31-18 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
The Steelers' third straight victory gave them sole possession of the top spot in the AFC North. Next week, Pittsburgh (4-3) travels to Cleveland (4-4) in another battle for first place.
"You can't relax now," Steelers coach Bill Cowher said. "We're going to have a big challenge next week."
The last time they faced Cleveland, the Steelers used a remarkable relief performance by Maddox to pull out an overtime victory and avoid an 0-3 start. Pittsburgh has lost only once since.
"It's great for us to go out and beat three teams in our division. Now we're sitting on top," Steelers receiver Hines Ward said. "If we can go to Cleveland next week and beat them, we'll really control our own destiny."
Led 28-3 at half
Maddox threw two touchdown passes to Plaxico Burress, and Amos Zereoue ran for two scores as Pittsburgh took a 28-3 halftime lead. It was the Steelers' most productive first half since Sept. 8, 1996, when they scored 28 against the Ravens.
Led by Maddox, who replaced an ineffective Kordell Stewart as the starting quarterback after pulling out the Cleveland game, Pittsburgh has outscored the opposition 93-35 during its three-game streak.
"Oh and 2? I don't even remember that. As far as I'm concerned, right now we're just 4-1," linebacker John Fiala said.
Maddox, a former XFL star who rejuvenated his career in Pittsburgh, left with a sprained left ankle midway through the third quarter but returned with 11 minutes remaining.
"I was pretty upset about it, but it was good to get back out there and play with the guys," he said.
Good day
After going 14-for-19 for 154 yards in the first half, Maddox finished 18-for-24 for 172 yards.
Zereoue, subbing for an injured Jerome Bettis, ran for 53 yards as Pittsburgh improved to 6-1 against the Ravens in Baltimore.
"I love playing against Baltimore. I've never lost here and I never want to," Burress said. "They don't like us and we don't like them. It's that simple."
Burress was ejected during a second-quarter altercation that also caused the ejection of Baltimore's James Trapp, but by then the Steelers had a comfortable lead.
Jeff Blake started for injured Ravens quarterback Chris Redman, who had a back injury. Baltimore (3-4) made 26 first downs and out-gained Pittsburgh 360-283, but five turnovers and 13 penalties were too much to overcome.
Blake went 29-for-50 for 298 yards, passed for a touchdown and ran for another in his first NFL start since November 2000 with New Orleans.
Turnovers
But he also threw three second-half interceptions.
"I don't think I was rusty. I just forced it instead of throwing the ball away," he said.
The Ravens lost two fumbles; one set up a Pittsburgh score and the other ruined a promising drive.
"They didn't stop our offense. We stopped ourselves," Blake said.
Blake's 12th career rushing touchdown, a 1-yard dash with 11:11 remaining, made it 31-18. But Jamal Lewis fumbled at the Pittsburgh 31 with 4:39 remaining, effectively ending the Ravens' comeback bid.