BALTIMORE — The Steelers turned a woeful offensive performance in the first half into a surprising comeback victory against the Baltimore Ravens, 28-24, that kept them as the NFL's only unbeaten team and gave them a commanding lead in the AFC North.
The victory allowed the Steelers to tie their best-ever start (7-0), set in 1978, and gave them a two-game lead on the Ravens (5-2). It was third time in the past four years the Steelers have beaten the Ravens in Baltimore. It also capped a three-game stretch in which the Steelers defeated teams who had a combined record of 14-2.
The Steelers stopped the Ravens twice in the final two minutes — once on fourth-and-3 at their own 8 and the final time on an incomplete pass into the end zone from their 22 as time expired.
The Ravens shredded the league's No. 1 rush defense for 265 yards on 47 carries, 179 of which came in the first half when the Ravens held a 17-7 lead. Rookie J.K. Dobbins led the way with 113 yards on 15 carries.
But when the Ravens tried for the go-ahead touchdown on fourth-and-3 at the Steelers 8, defensive end Isaiah Buggs, playing for injured Tyson Alualu, stopped quarterback Lamar Jackson after a 1-yard gain with 1:54 remaining. Jackson fumbled on the play after being hit by Minkah Fitzpatrick, and linebacker Robert Spillane recovered.
Then, on third-and-10 from the Steelers 23, Jackson's pass for Marquis Brown in the end zone was broken up by Fitzpatrick.
The Steelers defense had three takeaways, including a 33-yard interception return for touchdown by Spillane on the third play of the game.
The Steelers used their third takeaway and second interception of Jackson to finally score on offense.
Rookie linebacker Alex Highsmith intercepted Jackson on the second play of the second half, very similar to what happened to start the game, leading to Ben Roethlisberger's 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Eric Ebron. That cut the Ravens lead to 17-14 just one minute, 39 seconds into the second half.
Then, looking unlike what they did in the opening 30 minutes, the Steelers went 77 yards in 10 plays to take the lead, 21-17, on James Conner's 1-yard run — a touchdown aided by a 20-yard pass interference penalty against Ravens Terrell Bonds on Ray-Ray McCloud. Roethlisberger was 6 of 6 for 65 yards on the drive.
After a couple short possessions, the Ravens came back to take the lead, 24-21, on Jackson's 3-yard touchdown to Brown — capping a drive in which Jackson found a wide-open Brown for a 39-yard gain on third-and-14.
Roethlisberger, though, continued to attack with the pass, completing 7 of 8 passes for 45 yards and throwing an 8-yard touchdown to rookie Chase Claypool in the right corner of the end zone to give the Steelers a 28-24 with 7:29 remaining. The 80-yard drive was aided by a pair of penalties for facemask and pass interference that totaled 25 yards.
The Ravens held a 17-7 halftime lead, and the Steelers are fortunate the score wasn't much worse.
Tied 7-7 and with second-and-goal at the Steelers 8, Jackson was strip-sacked by Bud Dupree, and linebacker Vince Williams recovered at the 4. It was the second takeaway by the Steelers, but it didn't seem to have much effect.
The Steelers offense struggled mightily in the first half, managing only 42 yards rushing and 24 yards passing and failing to produce any points in the opening 30 minutes for the first time this season. The Steelers' lone score was the 33-yard interception return by Spillane.
It was the first time in 823 career attempts that Jackson had an interception returned for touchdown.
The Ravens had 179 yards rushing and averaged 6.4 yards per carry in the first half. Jackson also threw for 84 yards and a touchdown. The Ravens outgained the Steelers, 254-64, and had more first downs (16-5). Dobbins did most of the damage, gaining 69 yards on eight carries.
After Spillane gave the Steelers a 7-0 lead, the Ravens came back on the next possession and went 75 yards on nine plays to tie the game on Jackson's 6-yard touchdown to receiver Myles Boykin over the outstretched arm of Williams.
The Ravens made it 14-7 in the second quarter, running the ball right at the Steelers on an 80-yard drive in which they rushed for 69 yards on eight carries. Gus Edwards, who started the drive with a 25-yard run, finished it with a 1-yard touchdown.
Kicker Justin Tucker made it 17-7 on the final play on the first half, kicking a 51-yard field goal after the Ravens used 15 plays tom move 59 yards.
The first half was marred by an incident in which Ravens linebacker Matthew Judon was ejected when he swung and hit an official during an unsportsmanlike conduct altercation between receiver Diontae Johnson and Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters.
