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 Joe Flacco passed for 259 yards and two second-half touchdowns
with no interceptions to set up a clash with the top-seeded New
England Patriots next Saturday in the divisional round.
"We've got a good football team and I think we're getting better
every time we take the field," said Flacco, MVP of Baltimore's 2012
Super Bowl triumph, after the win in Pittsburgh.
Baltimore, who only made the playoffs after San Diego lost on the
last day of the regular season, registered five sacks of Steelers
quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and hurried him into numerous
mistakes.
It was the first playoff win for the Ravens over AFC North foes
Pittsburgh after three losses.
"This is a very special victory for us, because of who it comes
against -- our most respected rival," said Baltimore coach John
Harbaugh, joined on the sideline by brother Jim, who has left the
49ers to coach the University of Michigan.
"Five sacks against the number two offense in the league.
Our pass rush did a great job."
 Despite the heavy pressure, two-time Super Bowl winner
Roethlisberger brought the Steelers close early in the fourth
quarter, taking advantage of a fumble by Justin Forsett with a
six-yard touchdown pass to Martavis Bryant to make it 20-15.
The Ravens countered with a 52-yard field goal by Justin Tucker and
then built up a comfortable cushion.
A full-force blitz rushed Roethlisberger into floating a short pass
to running back Ben Tate that tipped off his fingers for an
improbable interception by linebacker Terrell Suggs, who trapped the
ball between his legs before it hit the ground.
On the next play, Flacco rolled right and hit tight end Crockett
Gillmore for a 21-yard touchdown that made it 30-15.
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The Steelers sorely missed the running and pass catching of injured
running back Le'Veon Bell, who hyperextended his knee in last week's
game.
Pittsburgh were held to a total of 68 yards rushing and were
continually thwarted in the red zone, settling for three field goals
in the first half.
"There is disappointment with our performance but such is life,"
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "We didn’t make enough critical
plays and they did."
Baltimore got a five-yard touchdown run from Bernard Pierce in the
second quarter to lead at the half despite trailing Pittsburgh in
time of possession by 21 minutes to nine.
Roethlisberger, without a reliable running game, attempted 45
passes, completing 31 for 334 yards and was intercepted twice.
'Big Ben' banged his head on the ground after the fifth sack of the
game late in the fourth quarter and left the field to be checked for
concussion before returning.
Steve Smith led Ravens receivers with 101 yards on five receptions,
with tight end Owen Daniels catching four passes for 70 yards.
(Reporting by Larry Fine in New York, Editing by Peter
Rutherford/Patrick Johnston)
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