Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens: Tough Matchup Proves NFL Hypocrisy

The Pittsburgh Steelers took on the Baltimore Ravens in what essentially was the game that would decide the AFC North.

As expected, the game was not the prettiest and best-played game by either team and was hard-fought right to the end.

In the end, though, the Steelers made the plays they needed to make and came away with the ugly victory.

Here is my game recap on a game that was hotly contested and once again proved how hypocritical the NFL is about all their penalties.

Ben Punched in the Face

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BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 05: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is sacked by linebacker Terrell Suggs #55 of the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of the game at M&T Bank Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland.

I am not going to say that every penalty that is called during every game is terrible. However, the NFL has been supremely inconsistent on its new emphasis on “safety” penalties.

I will focus on two in particular, and I will start with the first quarter of the game, when Haloti Ngata of the Ravens sacked Ben Roethlisberger and punched him in the face in the process.

I’m not saying he did it on purpose. However, hitting a quarterback in the head is always a penalty, unless you do it against the Steelers apparently.

I haven’t been one of those fans who’s been saying that the officials are targeting the Steelers either. I think the referees are terrible in every game, for every team, but it’s just kind of weird that no call was made on such a blatant hit that broke his nose.

Heath Almost Decapitated

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BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 05: Tight end Heath Miller #83 of the Pittsburgh Steelers lies on the field after being injured during the third quarter of the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. (P

The other non-call of the night was in the third quarter, when Heath Miller attempted to make a catch and was coming down and almost had his head taken off by a Ravens linebacker.

It is completely ridiculous that a penalty for hitting a defenseless receiver was not called here, and Miller left the game with a concussion.

I don’t think Roger Goodell or any other fans can argue much that the Steelers aren’t getting fair officiating because if any other quarterback got punched in the face there would have been an immediate flag.

Ryan Clark got flagged for a helmet-to-helmet hit against the Raiders when it was clear he hit the guy in the back, and Heath Miller has his head bent backwards on a play and nothing.

The NFL is embarrassing enough to watch with all the penalties. I’m just waiting for James Harrison to get fined this week for even thinking about hitting Joe Flacco.

Ironman Ben Roethlisberger

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BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 05: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks to pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the third quarter of the game at M&T Bank Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Larry Fre

You can say what you want about Ben Roethlisberger. However, he is one of the best and toughest quarterbacks in the league.

Ben was already playing the game against the Ravens with a sprained foot—or whatever the Steelers want to call it—and then had his nose broken in the first quarter.

He missed the first game against the Ravens this season, and nothing was going to keep him from playing and finishing this one.

The play on the touchdown drive, when Terrell Suggs had Ben dead to rights and Ben just fought away enough to throw the ball out of bounds and keep the Steelers at 2nd-and-10, was just a great individual effort and probably saved the touchdown.

Defensive Battle

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BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 05: Wide receiver Hines Ward #86 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts after dropping the ball while linebacker Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on during the second quarter of the game at M&T Bank Stadium on December 5, 2

Against the Ravens defense, I don’t think anyone thought we were going to light it up offensively.

In fact, we did better than I thought and racked up 288 yards on the Ravens, with 234 coming through the air and 54 on the ground.

The Steelers were actually shut out in the first half and were hampered by the fact that Ben could not take every snap from center and was using a half shotgun to hand the ball off.

Obviously the running game could never get going. However, Rashard Mendenhall was able to accumulate 45 yards, which put him over the 1,000-yard mark on the season.

More Injuries

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BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 05: Tackle Flozell Adams #71 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is helped off the field after an injury during the third quarter of the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. (P

As if the Steelers did not have enough problems, they sustained some more key injuries in the game against the Ravens.

Heath Miller was obviously lost due to a concussion after that nasty hit, and Flozell Adams left the game with a high ankle sprain.

Maybe most importantly, though, Daniel Sepulveda tore his right ACL and will miss the rest of the season.

The only good news on the injury front was that Brett Keisel came back against the Ravens and looked pretty good.

Shaun Suisham Steps Up

Shaun Suisham had a good game field goal-wise and made both of his attempted kicks to stay perfect as a Steeler.

Suisham had to make an unexpected contribution when Sepulveda was lost and had to take over punting duties as well as his normal kicking ones.

He responded and helped the Steelers keep field position by at least getting off decent punts and could have pinned the Ravens at about their five if not for a penalty on Keenan Lewis.

Suisham has done a nice job for the Steelers so far in his limited action replacing Jeff Reed, and hopefully he can keep this up for the rest of the season.

Isaac Redman’s Day

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BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 05: Running back Isaac Redman #33 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs the ball in for a touchdown against safety Dawan Landry #26 of the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter of the game at M&T Bank Stadium on December 5, 2010 i

Isaac Redman has not really been involved in the offense this season and has been mainly used as the short yardage back.

He has been great at that job all season. However, he struggled today against that stout Ravens defense and ended up with four carries for 10 yards and had a fumble.

In the game’s most crucial moment, however, Ben Roethlisberger looked for Redman on a third down pass in the red zone, and Redman fought his way into the end zone for the winning score.

Redman would not be denied and has always run hard any and every time he has had the opportunity to get the ball this season.

Bryant McFadden Picked On

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BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 05: T.J. Houshmandzadeh #84 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball against Bryant McFadden #20 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half of the game at M&T Bank Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. Pittsburgh

Bryant McFadden came into the game nursing a hamstring injury, and the Ravens clearly took advantage of it during the game.

McFadden seemed to be a step slow and was burned on one of Joe Flacco’s big throws in the game to Donte' Stallworth for 67 yards.

Flacco seemed to be singling out McFadden on the field and tested him constantly, resulting in many completions and at least one pass interference penalty.

It wasn’t all bad for McFadden though, since he still made sure tackles and had a big pass breakup in the fourth quarter in the end zone with Ryan Clark.

Troy Polamalu Flies

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BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 05: Safety Troy Polamalu #43 of the Pittsburgh Steelers and teammate guard Trai Essex #79 celebrate defeating the Baltimore Ravens 13-10 at M&T Bank Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty

Troy Polamalu may have disappeared for a stretch during the season; however, he is definitely stepping his game up recently.

The Steelers defense is just better with him on the field, especially with him flying around and making plays.

He had been having a pretty quiet night actually until the Steelers needed him most, and on 2nd-and-5 with about three minutes left, Troy seemed to take flight to crush Joe Flacco and force a fumble, which led to the Steelers' winning touchdown.

Troy always seems to have Flacco’s number and ended the night with five tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and two hits on the quarterback.

Defense Stands Again

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BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 05: Matt Birk #77 of the Baltimore Ravens prepares to snap the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. Pittsburgh won 13-10. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)

Last season during that five-game losing streak, the defense seemed incapable of holding any type of lead, and the Steelers missed the playoffs.

This season the defense has shown in countless games that if they need to, they will shut down the opposing offense, and they will cause a turnover if the Steelers need it.

In the game against the Ravens, the Steelers held the Ravens to 269 yards, 43 rushing, and forced the turnover in the final minutes exactly when they needed it.

The Steelers defense is the best in the league in my opinion, and this performance only strengthened my belief that the Steelers will win the rest of their games on their way to another Super Bowl championship.