Steel City Blitz
After the Pittsburgh Steelers won Super Bowl XL, the 2006 season proved a disappointment when they finished 8-8. Having won the big one, Coach Bill Cowher decided to go in a different direction. He swapped the football sideline for a commentator’s booth.
Mike Tomlin took over as the head coach in January 2007. Little was known about the Vikings defensive co-ordinator. Most pundits and the Steelers players thought they would promote from within. After Tomlin was announced as the new coach, some believe the Rooney Rule played a part in the hiring.
The draft was Coach Tomlin’s first challenge, and he used his first two picks on LB Lawrence Timmons and DE LaMaar Woodley. Both played a part in confirming Coach Tomlin’s defensive mind.
Coach Tomlin had a lot to prove to the fans who revered Cowher who had finally brought the fifth Lombardi to Pittsburgh. When the Steelers opened the new season with three wins, any doubts about the new coach were quickly dispersed.
While the Steelers struggled in 2006, the Ravens ruled the roost winning the division and sweeping the series with the Steelers. They outscored the Steelers 58-7 in two routs, but Hines Ward was certain the team had put those disasters behind them.
“What happened last year, happened last year,” Ward said. “It wasn’t a great year. Right now it’s another divisional game for us, a chance to separate ourselves from the rest of the division.”
Coach Tomlin’s view on the bitter rivalry. “The dislike is probably something that sizzles and sells.”
Not that any was needed, but for the Steelers, the added incentive was their celebration of the team’s 75th season the weekend of the game.
Baltimore’s star linebacker Ray Lewis wrote on the team’s locker room message board, “The division lead is on the line. Need any more motivation. The perfect team to claim our territory.”
The (5-2) Steelers vs (4-3) Ravens; November 5, 2007
Under the spotlight of Monday Night Football, Ben Roethlisberger sent the Ravens flying off into the gloom.
On Baltimore’s first series, James Harrison sacked Steve McNair causing a fumble that Harrison recovered. The Steelers took over on their opponent’s 20. Roethlisberger made light work of a short field finding Heath Miller with a 17-yard touchdown pass. Jeff Reed kicked the point after to give Pittsburgh a seven-point lead.
The Steelers defense held the Ravens second possession to a three and out. After Baltimore did the same to Pittsburgh, Harrison forced another fumble with a crushing hit on the Ravens punt returner that Lawrence Timmons recovered. Aided by penalties by the Ravens, Roethlisberger finished the 28-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes.
As time was expiring in the first quarter, Troy Polamalu forced a fumble that was recovered by Anthony Smith. Presented with another short field of 36 yards, Roethlisberger finished the 3-play drive with a touchdown pass to Nate Washington of 30 yards.
The Steelers continued to pile on the pressure in the second quarter. Roethlisberger...
