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Ravens Break 9-Game Skid

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By DAVID GINSBURG, The Associated Press

Published: December 31, 2007

BALTIMORE - The Pittsburgh Steelers had already accomplished their primary goals in the regular season, so the AFC North champions entered the finale against the Baltimore Ravens with a different objective: Stay healthy.

The Steelers sustained a few injuries in their 27-21 loss Sunday, but more important was the fact that several key players - including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Hines Ward - were held out to allow their wounds to heal.

Minutes after the game ended, and perhaps well before then, the Steelers turned their attention toward the Jacksonville Jaguars, their opponent Saturday night in the opening round of the postseason.

"Ready or not, here we come," first-year coach Mike Tomlin said. "That's the reality of it. We're a 10-6 team, we won our division, we've got a home game versus the five seed and we look forward to preparing for that."

Pittsburgh could have captured the No. 3 seed by defeating Baltimore, coupled with a loss by San Diego, but the Steelers downplayed that scenario earlier in the week.

It wasn't just idle talk. If this game meant anything to the Steelers, they probably would have played Roethlisberger, Ward, safety Troy Polamalu and cornerback/kick returner Allen Rossum. All were on the inactive list, nursing minor injuries.

Playing for the first time since replacing Roethlisberger in a 38-7 rout of Baltimore on Nov. 5, Charlie Batch went 16-for-31 for 218 yards and two interceptions. Fifty-nine of those yards came on a touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes with 7:13 remaining.

That made it 27-14, and after a successful onside kick, Batch threw a fourth-down TD pass to Cedrick Wilson with 3:36 left.

But the comeback bid ended with an interception by David Pittman in the closing seconds.

Musa Smith ran for 83 yards and a touchdown in his first NFL start, helping the Ravens (5-11) earn their first victory since Oct. 14 and end a nine-game losing streak.

"I took a deep breath once we got that interception," Ravens receiver Derrick Mason said. "All that frustration just came out. No matter how the season went, we were able to win our last game, and that's good."

Bal-M.Smith 2 run (Stover kick), 10:08.

Bal-FG Stover 28, 1:48.

Second Quarter

Bal-Ross 32 run (Stover kick), 13:27.

Pit-Davenport 1 run (Reed kick), 10:07.

Bal-FG Stover 31, :17.

Third Quarter

Bal-Darling 15 pass from T.Smith (Stover kick), 3:41.

Fourth Quarter

Pit-Holmes 59 pass from Batch (Reed kick), 7:23.

Pit-Wilson 7 pass from Batch (Reed kick), 3:36.

A-71,353.

RUSHING-Pittsburgh, Davenport 12-27, Russell 6-20, Batch 1-(minus 1). Baltimore, M.Smith 22-83, Ross 12-72, T.Smith 5-23, McClain 1-2.

PASSING-Pittsburgh, Batch 16-31-2-218. Baltimore, T.Smith 16-27-0-171.

RECEIVING-Pittsburgh, Washington 5-68, Holmes 4-98, Miller 3-20, Davis 2-13, Haynes 1-12, Wilson 1-7. Baltimore, Mason 6-72, Darling 3-49, M.Smith 3-8, Clayton 2-26, Green 1-10, McClain 1-6.

MISSED FIELD GOALS-None.

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