Batch outplays Flacco as Steelers beat Ravens
The Steelers needed a win to stay alive in the playoff hunt, and they did exactly what they needed to do.
With Ben Roethlisberger and Byron Leftwich both out with injuries, it was up to Charlie Batch to lead the Steelers against the hated Ravens. And to make matters worse, he had to do it in the Ravens’ stadium.
Batch is 58 years old (or something like that), and some fans thought that this stage was too big for him. But Batch proved that he still had a few good games left in his old bones.
Batch passed for 276 yards, one touchdown, an interception, and an 89.6 quarterback rating. Meanwhile, Raven’s quarterback Joe Flacco only passed for 188 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and a 61.9 QB rating. Way to kick his butt, Charlie!!!
But make no mistake. This was no easy win. In fact, the Ravens led for most of the game. And the Steelers seemed to be trying hard to hand them another win. Charlie Batch started off shaky. He missed several wide open targets. Mike Wallace played much of the game like he had soaked his hands in butter. Emmanuel Sanders fumbled the ball while he was wide open and heading for an uncontested touchdown. And Antonio Brown threw an interception on a trick play that probably shouldn’t have been called in the first place.
But despite those mistakes, there were plenty of good things that happened. For example, Heath Miller played an outstanding game, and led the team in receiving yards. Cortez Allen played an outstanding game subbing for Ike Taylor. Jonathan Dwyer turned a failed running play into an unexpected touchdown. James Harrison produced a strip-sack, just when it was needed most. And of course, Shaun Suisham kicked the 42-yard field goal that won the game with no time left on the clock.
By beating the Ravens, the Steelers held onto their playoff hopes. If the playoff were to begin today, the Steelers would be the last AFC team to make the playoffs, and they’d face the Baltimore Ravens in the first round.
Next up for the Steelers is the San Diego Chargers. The Chargers have a 4-8 record, and would seem to be an easy opponent. But we’ve all realized that the Steelers often have a harder time against the bad teams than they do against the good teams. So next week’s game is likely to be more difficult than it should be.
Go Steelers!
One move that wont be mentioned but should be was moving legursky to center and pouncey to guard. For some reason Legursky plays very well(remember the superbowl against b.j ragi) when he plays center as opposed to guard. Beachum played well too. The oline blocked very well overall. One overthrow to wallace and sanders tossing the ball away cost them 2 touchdowns but they still got the win. This win proves that the browns game and the first ravens game should have been a win.
1Way to go Steelers!!!! That was a gutsy performance by a lot of players. Batch, Pouncy, Beachum. It wasn’t the prettiest overall but a win in baltimore is like a super bowl in my humble opinion. I hope that Cleveland game does not come back to bite us.
2This was a signature win for the team, a career game for Batch and Miller, a return to form by Harrison and a promising beginning for Cortez Allen, Beachum and Curtis Brown. It was also a colossal mistake by Cam Cameron to only call Ray Rice’s number 12 times. Hopefully Tomlin won’t rush Big Ben back until he is fully recovered because it would be far better to have him at 100% for the Bengals than to rush him back against the Chargers and risk further injury.
3I can’t wait until our OL is finally healthy. We have a lot of good young players there.
Ben will apparently back next week. yay!
You can tell Charlie wanted that one really bad. He earned it, for sure.
Looks like Mendenhall is done with the Steelers. A healthy scratch for an upcoming free agent? Yeah, he’s gone.
So, what did Troy actually do last night? It looked like he was there just to give the Ravens something extra to think about.
While on the subject of the secondary, I love our CBs. Ike has shaken off last year’s playoff loss, Keenan Lewis has come into his own, and Allen and Brown do a great job. Will Allen has been a pleasant surprise backing up Troy. Ryan Mundy…well, he hasn’t failed horribly. That’s saying something for him.
Is it just me, or are our WRs not as dominant as they were last year? Wallace, if you come back, don’t skip out on training camp next time.
Anyone else think Heyward has outplayed Hood?
So, yeah, hopefully the Steelers take the Chargers game seriously.
4@DP,
5I agree with you. Moving Pouncey to guard worked out great. Legursky definitely seems to do better at center. Nevertheless, I can’t wait for Willie Colon to come back. I’ve really come to like the physicality that he shows at guard.
@JP,
6I’ve been hoping that Cleveland game doesn’t bit us in the butt either. We already have too many conference losses. But a division loss to Cleveland was totally inexcusable. but of course, if the Steelers run the table for the rest of the season, then it won’t really matter.
Dan R.,
I was wondering when someone was going to mention Cortez Allen. He played a phenomenal game! I was so proud of him.
I’ve heard that Ike may be out for 2-6 weeks. But after the way Cortez Allen played, I’m not as concerned as I originally was.
7Dan,
Lots of good points!
Charlie definitely wanted that win. I couldn’t tell, but was he crying in that long embrace that he has with Ben?
Yes, Troy did seem to be on the field, but not on the stat sheet. But I’m sure he’ll get better.
And I also agree with you that the DB’s have been great. As I mentioned earlier, Troy still isn’t himself yet. But the CB’s have been great. And Ryan Mundy has been……..Ryan Mundy. But we can’t be greedy, can we?
Lastly, I think the WR’s lack of dominance is more due to Haley, and not the WRs themselves. Haley just doesn’t call a wide open game like Arians did. And our WRs excel in a wide open game. Mike Wallace is a one trick pony, and they haven’t used that trick very much this year. Antonio Brown is great after the pass when he has lots of open space on long passes. But Haley has been using him on mostly shorter passes in traffic where he can’t outrun a CB or safety like he used to do. And with Brown and Wallace in closer, that makes things more cramped for Sanders. But I understand why Haley is doing it. Keeping Ben alive is more important than Mike Wallace’s yards per catch average.
8Cortez Allen and Keenan Lewis did have great games. I think the Lake Effect is real(time for him to get a multi-year deal iron clad deal so he doesnt leave). Mike Wallace has cost this team two turnovers drop passes and showed a lack of effort. Ship him out and get the compensatory pick. I am through with him. I beleive Sanders Brown Burress Cotchery Miller can get it done with no problem. I know its a long shot but I would love to see them bring Weslye Saunders next year instead of pope. Those six could do damage to any secondary. The d-line actually has been getting pressure Keisel looked all but dead for a whele lately he has been getting some nice pressure. So has Casey Hampton.
9I was never convinced about Wallace as the season started and after he arrived.
No one wants someone who doesn’t really want to be there and Wallace chose $$$ over team.
It sure looks like his play is uninspired.
He’s just putting his time in which I’m sure rubs the team the wrong way.
He had a fair offer and room to wiggle and finesse some, but no.
10Mendenhall and Wallace depart from the team in the offseason, The haters come out and say the Steelers lost too much and are too old…anyone else getting deja vu here?
11DP,
Bruce Arians took Weslye Saunders to Indianapolis with him. He’s not coming back to Pittsburgh.
Everyone seems to have turned on Mike Wallace. But I’m not ready to give up on him yet. I actually hope that Todd Haley will adopt a little bit of Bruce Arians playbook, and return to using Wallace in his natural element. He should get 3-5 long shots downfield each game.
I’m also not ready to give up on Mendenhall. Unlike some of the players that the Steelers have moved on from in recent years, Mendy and Wallace are still young. Redman and Dwyer are still one-dimensional runners. Mendy is still the most talented of the bunch. And has anyone else noticed he doesn’t spin anymore? Hallelujah! No more Spindenhall.
12Admin:
Though I think Wallace is still a good player, I just have a gut feeling he’ll leave if someone breaks the bank for him. As for Mendenhall, he’s an upcoming free agent that was a healthy scratch in a do-or-die game against the Steelers most hated rival. And Tomlin has him 3rd on the depth chart. His time in Pittsburgh is over.
13I agree as to Mendenhall.
A tremendous talented player.
With a consistent healthy OL, he’d excell.
Doesn’t the OL consider him the top back?
If he’s healthy the rest of the way it will be huge for the team.
14This also points out one of his weaknesses the last couple of years.