The “Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” from the Steelers win over the Ravens
Following every Pittsburgh Steelers game, Travis Newton takes a no-holds-barred, unabashed look at what went well, not so good and just plain ugly. Here is this week’s edition of the “Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”
After the Primetime Thanksgiving night matchup against the division rival Ravens was postponed, the Steelers got a chance to feast with their families. Unfortunately, that feast was followed by famine on the field nearly a week later as Pittsburgh squeaked out a win against a depleted Baltimore roster.
The Good
Joe Haden Pick Six
Ravens Ball: 1st Quarter 7:04 – 3rd-and-4 BLT 12
The Steelers defense bailed out the offense once again after a fourth-down pass by Ben Roethlisberger was intercepted and brought back to the Baltimore 6 yard line. Joe Haden responded for his team just three plays later, scoring the first points of the game off of the second turnover by RG3.
Haden in zone coverage read the eyes of Griffin who projected his pass to the underneath receiver. Haden bailed early from the wide receiver and jumped the pass in stride, pinballing into the endzone for the second pick-six of his career.
The Bad
Marquise Brown Touchdown Reception
Ravens Ball: 4th Quarter 3:10 – 1st-and-10 BLT 30
When the Ravens needed it, second-string Quarterback Trace McSorley delivered a dime to Marquise Brown who used his elite speed to finish the job.
The first down pass was right on the money to Brown who benefited from an unnecessary risk by Safety Terrell Edmonds, who went for the interception instead of securing the tackle. Brown capitalized on the mistake, speeding down the sideline and turning around Minkah Fitzpatrick before trotting into the endzone for a 70-yard touchdown.
The connection resulted in the first career touchdown for McSorley and more importantly brought the Ravens back within one possession of the Steelers lead.
The Ugly
Ray-Ray McCloud Muffed Punt
Ravens Ball: 1st Quarter 4:41 – 4th-and-17 BLT 26
After some early-season struggles at the returner position by Diontae Johnson, Ray-Ray McCloud had been a more consistent candidate for the role. That was until he muffed a punt late in the first quarter, which set up Baltimore with prime field position.
The 58-yard punt by Sam Koch gave his punt coverage team plenty of time to get down the field and surround McCloud. With a defender in his face, McCloud declined what should have been an obvious decision to call for a fair catch. After getting hit immediately upon the catch, the young returner dropped the rock which was scooped up by Anthony Levine of the Ravens on the Pittsburgh 16 yard line.
The Special Teams blunder led to the only score of the First Half for Baltimore and gave them a temporary 7-6 lead.
