The Baltimore Ravens took a step toward putting their disappointing start to the season behind them by avoiding late mistakes en route to a 23-20 overtime win over Pittsburgh on Thursday.
Justin Tucker belted a 52-yard field goal with 5 minutes, 8 seconds remaining in overtime as the Ravens won their first game after having lost their first three contests by a combined 14 points with each defeat marked by untimely late errors. It was Tucker’s third field goal of the game.
The Ravens drove 32 yards in eight plays for the final field goal. The winning march came after the Steelers drove to the Baltimore 33-yard line on their second possession of overtime, but decided against attempting a game-winning field goal by kicker Josh Scobee on fourth-and-one. Scobee missed two field-goal tries late in the fourth quarter.
Photo: AFP
Steelers quarterback Michael Vick, who was starting in place of injured Ben Roethlisberger, threw incomplete to give the ball back to the Ravens, who avoided the first 0-4 start in franchise history.
Ravens running back Justin Forsett rushed for 150 yards on 27 carries. Flacco completed 20 of 33 passes for 189 yards and one touchdown with one interception.
Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith left in the third quarter with a lower back contusion and did not return. He was held to 24 yards on four receptions.
Flacco said winning their first game will do wonders for their confidence.
“When you fight through one like this, it does a lot for your team, especially a young team like we have,” Flacco said. “It feels a lot better than 0-4. That’s what was staring us in the face.”
Vick was 19-for-26 passing for 124 yards and a touchdown in his first start for the Steelers. Heading into the game, Vick had almost as many interceptions as touchdowns in the past four seasons.
The four-time Pro Bowl selection replaced Roethlisberger, who sat out after suffering a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee Sunday in a win over the St Louis Rams. Roethlisberger is expected to miss at least four weeks.
Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell rushed for 129 yards and a score on 22 carries. Last season, he managed a combined 79 yards against the Ravens in two games.
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