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Holmes' Grab Lifts Steelers

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 15, 2008

BALTIMORE - The Pittsburgh Steelers used a second straight fourth-quarter comeback to earn another AFC North title.
Santonio Holmes caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger with 43 seconds left, and the Steelers clinched their second consecutive division crown by beating the Baltimore Ravens 13-9 Sunday.

The Steelers trailed 9-6 before moving 92 yards in 13 plays to take their only lead and score the game's lone touchdown. Roethlisberger went 7-for-11 for 89 yards on the drive.

Last week, Pittsburgh used a 17-point fourth quarter to rally past Dallas 20-13. The Steelers have won five straight, and this was their first win in Baltimore since 2002. It also earned the Steelers a first-round bye.
Matt Stover kicked three field goals for the Ravens, who remain in the wild-card hunt.

The Steelers began their final drive at their 8 with 3:36 left. Two straight completions to Hines Ward moved the ball to the 34, and a third-and-10 completion to Nate Washington for 16 yards took Pittsburgh to midfield.

Washington caught a 24-yarder to the 14, and a 10-yard pass to Ward set up first-and-goal at the 4. After two incompletions, Roethlisberger scrambled left, then found Holmes over the middle for the winner.

The play was reviewed because it appeared Holmes' feet were in the end zone but the ball may have been in front of the goal line. The official explanation for a TD was that Holmes had both feet in the end zone with possession of the ball.

Page 776 of the rules digest in the NFL fact book reads: "A player with the ball in his possession scores a touchdown when the ball is on, above or over the goal line."

Trailing 9-3, the Steelers used a 30-yard pass from Roethlisberger to Ward to set up a 30-yard field goal by Jeff Reed with 9:26 to go.

Bal-FG Stover 28, 12:30.

Pit-FG Reed 31, 5:44.

Bal-FG Stover 26, :49.

Third Quarter

Bal-FG Stover 28, 6:02.

Fourth Quarter

Pit-FG Reed 30, 9:26.

Pit-Holmes 4 pass from Roethlisberger (Reed kick), :43.

A-71,502.

RUSHING-Pittsburgh, Parker 14-47, Roethlisberger 4-21, Moore 7-16, Washington 1-6, Russell 1-1. Baltimore, L.McClain 23-87, McGahee 6-18, Flacco 1-5, Neal 1-2.

PASSING-Pittsburgh, Roethlisberger 22-40-0-246. Baltimore, Flacco 11-28-2-115.

RECEIVING-Pittsburgh, Ward 8-107, Washington 5-76, Miller 3-26, Holmes 3-21, Parker 2-9, McHugh 1-7. Baltimore, Clayton 3-38, Mason 3-23, McGahee 2-15, Neal 2-15, Heap 1-24.

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