Steelers edge Ravens, 20-19

By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers have uncovered their personal House of Chills -- Heinz Field.
For the third straight game on the Steelers' home field, the game went down to the wire. This time, kicker Jeff Reed's 37-yard field goal with 1:36 remaining Monday gave the Steelers a 20-19 win.
An inability to consistently run the football combined with a botched punt attempt and sloppy tackling (particularly on third down) allowed the injury-depleted Baltimore Ravens to shock the Steelers with a 19-17 lead late in the game.
Matt Stover kicked four field goals for the Ravens, including a 47-yarder with 3:21 to play for the go-ahead points.
But Roethlisberger's 23-yard pass to wide receiver Quincy Morgan sparked the stagnant Steelers offense to midfield to set up Reed's kick.
The win keeps the Steelers one-half game behind the Cincinnati Bengals (6-2) in the AFC North.
Ahead 17-16, the Steelers appeared in position to pin the Ravens deep in Baltimore territory when a bizarre play gave the Ravens excellent field position.
With 5:56 to go, the Steelers lined up for a punt but the snap hit upman Sean Morey, who had moved close to the line. Morey picked up the ball and tossed it to punter Chris Gardocki whose incomplete pass gave the Ravens possession at the Pittsburgh 45.
Wide receiver Derrick Mason's leaping grab at the 30 put the Ravens in field goal range and Stover connected for Baltimore's two-point lead.
For the second straight year on All Hallow's Eve, the Steelers gave their fans quite a thrill. Last year, the Steelers scored three first-quarter touchdowns in a 34-20 win over the then-unbeaten Patriots.
This year, it took the Steelers (5-2) a lot longer to get going against a far inferior opponent. The Ravens (2-5) and Steelers dueled to a 10-10 first-half tie.
The Ravens' trick play that turned into a Steelers treat came early in the third quarter after Ravens tailback Jamal Lewis took a pitchout and returned the ball to quarterback Anthony Wright.
Wright's desperation heave for wide receiver Randy Hymes at midfield was underthrown, allowing safety Chris Hope to intercept a deflected pass.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed his next six passes, including an 8-yard touchdown toss to rookie tight end Heath Miller to put the Steelers ahead, 17-10.
But the Steelers defense continued to struggle on third down as the Ravens succeeded on eight of 13 chances through the third quarter. And on one of the five failures, the Ravens connected with a quarterback sneak on and fourth-and-1.
That set up Stover's 40-yard field goal that reduced the Steelers' lead to 17-13 with 13:56 to play.
A little more than five minutes later, the Ravens were down just a point after Stover kicked a 49-yard field goal (the longest in Heinz Field's five years).
The Ravens defense excelled against the Steelers running game even though starters Ray Lewis (middle linebacker), Ed Reed (strong safety) and Anthony Weaver (defensive end) were inactive.
The Steelers opened the game by gobbling almost nine minutes off the clock by running 15 plays. Roethlisberger completed seven of his first eight passes, including a 4-yard touchdown toss to unguarded Miller.
Miller has six touchdown receptions, including one in each of the Steelers' last four games.
A personal foul call against Ravens linebacker Bart Scott gave the Steelers first-and-goal at the 5.
The Ravens responded with their own scoring march that covered 72 yards. Quarterback Anthony Wright hit Chester Taylor with a screen pass for a 13-yard touchdown.
Baltimore's second drive ended when Roethlisberger pooch punted and Cedric Wilson downed the ball at the 1. On the next play, Lewis broke out to the 12 where cornerback Deshea Townsend stripped the ball and cornerback Ike Taylor recovered.
That set up Jeff Reed's 42-yard field goal for a 10-7 lead.
Roethlisberger's second interception of the season set up the Ravens' second score, a 22-yard field goal by Stover that tied the game at intermission.
williams@vindy.com