NFL Recap (Baltimore-Pittsburgh)
Posted: Sun October 18, 1998 at 6:10 p.m. EDT
PITTSBURGH 16, BALTIMORE 6
PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Kordell Stewart threw a
55-yard pass to Charles
Johnson for the game's only touchdown and the Pittsburgh Steelers
recorded a season-high seven sacks and three interceptions en route to a
16-6 victory over the Baltimore Ravens in a
battle of AFC Central Division rivals.
With his team trailing 6-3 at the half, Stewart found a wide-open
Johnson streaking down the left sideline for the go-ahead score one minute
into the third quarter. The 55-yard pass was the longest completion for
the Steelers this year and the first touchdown pass for Stewart in four
games.
"It was a blitz to the backside and Kordell did a good job of seeing
me down the other side," said Johnson. "My assignment was just to get
going and for him to get it out there. He threw it perfectly."
The play was set up by a 37-yard return by recently-signed receiver David Dunn to open the
second half. Two plays later, Pittsburgh went ahead for good. The Steelers
signed Dunn earlier in the week after releasing wide receiver Andre Coleman.
The win, coupled with Jacksonville's loss at Buffalo, moved the
Steelers (4-2) within one game of the first-place Jaguars in the AFC
Central.
Stewart completed just 12-of-27 passes for 146 yards with an
interception for an anemic Pittsburgh offense, which ranks 14th in the AFC.
Stewart came into the contest with a 51.0 passer rating, ranking him next
to last in the league.
"His heart and soul is in this thing," said Pittsburgh coach Bill
Cowher of his struggling quarterback. "This guy takes his job seriously.
He was frustrated at halftime. We had a little talk and put things back in
perspective.'
"I appreciate a coach who talks to me like that," said Stewart. "He
just told me to relax, told me to keep working and that things would work
out. After the first half I wasn't too happy."
The Steelers sorely missed running back Jerome Bettis, who was
sidelined with a sprained left knee. Richard Huntley filled in
for Bettis and had just 52 yards on 21 carries.
Johnson finished with 71 yards on two catches and scored his first
touchdown since the season opener at Baltimore, when the Steelers defeated
the Ravens, 20-13.
The loss dropped the Ravens (2-4) into a fourth-place tie with
Cincinnati in the AFC Central.
"This is the type of football game I expected," said Baltimore coach
Ted Marchibroda. "The only difference was I thought we would come out on
top. These are two good teams and we knew we were going to come into a
hornet's nest here."
Cornerback Dewayne
Washington, who was the goat in last week's loss to Cincinnati,
redeemed himself with a goal-line intereception of Eric Zeier to squelch
Baltimore's last serious threat with 3:34 remaining in the third quarter.
Washington was victimized by Bengals wide receiver Carl Pickens for over 200
receiving yards, including the game-winning touchdown grab with seconds
remaining in the Steelers' 25-20 loss to the Bengals.
"This defense will always welcome the challenge to keep us in the game
or to win the game," said Pittsburgh linebacker Levon Kirkland. Most of
the time, we can deliver the goods."
Zeier finished the game 17-for-25 for 173 yards, before being relieved
by Jim Harbaugh early in
the fourth, due to an apparent hand injury.
Harbaugh, who hadn't thrown an intereception in his previous 208
attempts, was picked off twice in the final quarter, by Pittsburgh safeties
Carnell Lake and Darren Perry,
respectively. Harbaugh did not complete a pass on any of his five attempts
and faced constant pressure from a Pittsburgh defense which recorded seven
sacks, two of which were registered by defensive end Oliver Gibson.
"I felt comfortable coming into the game," said Harbaugh of his first
appearnance in four weeks. "I was ready to go in and do it, but I didn't.
It really hurts. This is the most important thing in my life right now."
After Lake's interception at midfield, Norm Johnson made a 42-yard
field goal to extend the Steelers' lead to 13-6 with 3:09 left.
"We're very competitive in our defensive backfield," said Lake. "Today
we made some plays. It's a good feeling and will give us some confidence.
We feel good about our performance."
Chris Oldham
recovered Jermaine
Lewis' fumble on the ensuing kickoff, giving Pittsburgh the ball with
just over three minutes remaining. Johnson then booted a 40-yarder -- his
third of the game -- with 2:19 remaining to cap the scoring.
Matt Stover, who
missed on three field goal attempts in Baltimore's opening day loss to
Pittsburgh, accounted for all the scoring for the Ravens, making kicks of
41 and 40 yards in the first half. Priest Holmes, who was
held to a measly 29 yards last week against Tennessee, ran for 76 yards on
23 carries.
The Steelers have won four straight against the Ravens and extended
their regular season home winning streak to 10 games, dating back to their
loss to Dallas in last year's season opener.
The Ravens have not scored a touchdown since their Week Five 31-24
victory over Cincinnati. They were held to a pair of Stover field goals
and a safety in a 12-8 loss to Tennessee last week.
Lethon Flowers
fell on a Holmes fumble at the Ravens' 40 on Baltimore's opening drive and
Johnson kicked a 41-yard field goal seven plays later as the Steelers took
a 3-0 lead with 11:26 remaining in the first quarter.
Stover answered with his first field goal with just over a minute to
play in the opening stanza. His kick capped an 11-play 48-yard drive,
which stalled when linebacker Mike Vrabel recorded the
Steelers third sack of the quarter at the Pittsburgh 23.
Huntley fumbled at the Pittsburgh 36 with 3:15 left in the half to set
up Stover's second field goal, which gave the Ravens a 6-3 lead at the
half.
Former Steelers cornerback Rod Woodson made his first
appearance at Three Rivers since his departure after the 1996 season and
listened to boos from the Pittsburgh faithful throughout the contest.
"We have a long way to go," said Woodson. "We've dug ourselves into a
hole early in the year and now we're trying to climb out of it. How well
you play is irrelevant. The Baltimore Ravens lost today."
Woodson almost intercepted Stewart on the final play of the first
quarter, but watched the sure pick slip through his fingers and into the
chest of Courtney
Hawkins for a 48-yard pickup. Hawkins led Pittsburgh with three
receptions for 82 yards.
Neither team amassed much yardage, as Pittsburgh held a slight 241-230
edge in total offense. The Ravens, who had yielded three straight
100-yard rushing performances held the Steelers to 79 yards on the ground.
© 1998 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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