Ravens blank Steelers; win fifth straight

Nov 26, 2006, 21:35 GMT

Baltimore, MD - Baltimore drove Ben Roethlisberger and, for all practical purposes, the defending Super Bowl champions out of the playoff picture, sacking the signal-caller a career-high nine times en route to a dominating 27-0 victory over Pittsburgh at M&T Bank Stadium.

Baltimore (9-2) starts an important two-game road trip in Cincinnati next Thursday night on the heels of a five-game winning streak. Steve McNair was efficient with 140 passing yards and a touchdown before becoming a spectator early in the fourth quarter, and Jamal Lewis rushed for 66 yards and a score before joining McNair on the bench.

The rest was well deserved after a physical pounding of a team usually known for superior strength in the trenches.

Roethlisberger bobbed and weaved, circling for his life each and every time he dropped back to pass. By game's end, Roethlisberger was in a purple haze and Pittsburgh's brief two-game win streak had ended.

Roethlisberger finished 21-of-41 for 214 yards and two interceptions with Willie Parker managing just 22 yards on the ground. Parker, despite entering the game as the third-leading rusher in the conference, has yet to reach the 100-yard plateau on the road.

The Steelers (4-7) were shut out for the second time in a season for the first time since 1989. They were blanked, 9-0, during Week 2 at Jacksonville in Roethlisberger's season debut.

The domination began from the onset.

After a Pittsburgh three-and-out, McNair aired it out and the Ravens went to work. The signal-caller was 4-of-5 on the touchdown march, including a 3rd- and-2 completion to Derrick Mason and a 20-yard TD toss to Todd Heap off a double move that froze Deshea Townsend.

After backing the Steelers to the edge on their goal line, the Ravens received great field position at the Pittsburgh 47 midway through the second period.

A wide receiver screen to Mark Clayton for 13 yards, the majority coming after a missed tackle by Bryant McFadden, set up a pounding approach for the remainder of the scoring drive.

After a pair of quick-hitting bursts by Ovie Mughelli, Lewis finished it off with a one-yard TD plunge.

Another quick and unsuccessful Steelers march -- that included a chest injury to Roethlisberger on a sack by Bart Scott -- gave the Ravens life for three more points before the half.

A mix of run and pass put Baltimore in possession, then Matt Stover split the uprights from 37 yards out for a 17-0 edge with 10 ticks remaining.

Roethlisberger -- under pressure throughout the game -- couldn't dodge another speeding bullet midway through the third. Deep in Ravens territory, Roethlisberger tried to work a pump fake for the receiver on the outside, but the blitzing Corey Ivy got there first with a strip and Adalius Thomas recovered it and rumbled 57 yards for the team's AFC-best fourth defensive touchdown and a 24-0 edge.

Stover converted his second field goal of the contest, a 40-yard kick, after a Roethlisberger interception with 4:15 left in the game.

Game Notes

Parker had rushed for 259 yards in the previous two games.

Baltimore has won four in a row at home against the Steelers.

The Ravens have an interception in 10 of their 11 games.

Pittsburgh hosts Tampa Bay next Sunday.

A stadium- record 70,946 saw the Ravens rout Pittsburgh.

© 2006 The Sports Network