Pittsburgh-Baltimore: Steelers' Dixon Shines in First Career Start, Loss

Ex-Oregon Duck and current Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dennis Dixon , who was informed he would start his first career game against the Baltimore Ravens not two days before game-time, dropped back 30 seconds into the second quarter, spun to his right in order to avoid the oncoming run, set himself, and then NFL touchdown" target="_blank">rifled a tight spiral 20 yards down field to receiver Santonio Holmes. The Steelers star receiver shook off a defender then out-sprinted him to reach the corner of the end zone.

Dixon pointed to the heavens and celebrated with his teammates, something that was routine during his four years at Oregon.

With the Ducks, he was extremely versatile; a gifted, tall, lanky athlete at 6′3″, 200 lbs., he was as deadly with his legs as with his arm. In 2007, his senior season, he was a Heisman Trophy candidate, throwing for 2,136 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Late in the year he tore his Anterior Cruciate Ligament against Arizona State, but after being cleared to play two weeks later to face Arizona, his knee buckled dropping back to pass, ending his Heisman Trophy chances and squashing any chance Oregon had to play for a National Championship.

Dixon was a twig physically throughout his career in Oregon, when he entered Steelers camp after being selected in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft, and on this night, during his starting debut.

Still, with the ACL-tear in his past, Dixon played with the poise and composure he possessed with the Ducks. Against a watered-down, but still aggressive Baltimore defense, his offensive coordinator Bruce Arians called some pretty simplistic plays—slants, hitches, all within 10-15 yards—but as Dixon completed those, Arians' confidence grew in the 24-year-old, and he let him take a few shots down the field. One of note was his gunned pass to Holmes that tied the game.

On Pittsburgh’s next drive, he completed five of his seven attempts, but one, an 18-yarder to Holmes, was called back due to a holding penalty. Earlier in the contest, another extremely positive play was spoiled because of a holding penalty.

On Pittsburgh’s second possession, Dixon dropped back on a 3rd-and-5 at his own 45-yard line. He couldn’t find an open receiver, so he took off, evading and juking a couple of defenders while scrambling downfield for a 31-yard gain. However, whistles blew and the referee announced Justin Hartwig had held a Ravens defensive lineman on the play. Instead of a first down on Baltimore’s 24-yard line, the Steelers were left with a 3rd-and-13 on their 35-yard line, which they failed to convert.

Still, his run was foreshadowing. With six-and-a-half minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and the Steelers behind by three, 17-14, the Ravens blitzed on a 3rd-and-5.

Pittsburgh’s drive was fueled by a fumble recovery at their own 46-yard line, and Dixon led his team down to the Baltimore 24-yard line to set up a moment he will remember forever.

Taking into account the Ravens blitz, and the fact that the left side of the Steelers line was receiver-heavy, he took the snap, easily evaded the rush, bootlegged to the left, and immediately scrambled upfield. Arians drew up a play, on third down no less, trusting Dixon’s legs and it worked.

There wasn’t a Raven in sight after receiver Hines Ward decleated the closest defender, and Dixon sprinted into the end zone , holding the ball in his outstretched right hand as he reached pay dirt. This same play happened time and time again at Oregon, and now on the biggest stage—the NFL.

From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows; in overtime, he made his lone mistake.

At the 50-yard line five minutes in, Dixon tried to find Holmes on a quick slant. Holmes slanted as diagrammed, but multiple Ravens hovered over the area. Dixon finally showed signs of inexperience, zeroing in on Holmes without seeing 23-year-old defensive end Paul Kruger fly in, tracking the play all the way.

Kruger intercepted Dixon’s pass and ran it back 26 yards, setting up a game-winning field goal by Billy Cundiff five plays later.

Despite the interception and the loss, Dixon gave the Steelers a great chance to win in his first real action as a quarterback in the National Football League. Head coach Mike Tomlin praised Dixon for his efforts. “I like his demeanor throughout it all. He made some plays. I thought he represented himself relatively well.”

Within his comments, there is the sense that he expected more. Even against a stingy Ravens defense, coming in having thrown just one pass, there were higher hopes for Dixon, a testament to how much Pittsburgh thinks of the former Duck.