BALTIMORE -- The 2021 Steelers have been part of more escapes than Harry Houdini.
Every time you think they can't possibly find another way to win a game in the fourth quarter -- or in some cases, overtime -- they just find a way to untie the knot that's bound them for the first 45 minutes and will their way to victory.
It happened again Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, as the Steelers scored a touchdown with 2:54 remaining, then got a 36-yard field goal from Chris Boswell in overtime to beat the Ravens, 16-13.
The win, coupled with the Colts' stunning 26-11 loss at Jacksonville and the Raiders' 35-32 last-second overtime win over the Chargers on Daniel Carlson's 47-yard field goal, means the Steelers (9-7-1) are the seventh seed in the AFC playoffs.
They'll travel to Kansas City for a rematch with the Chiefs, who beat the Steelers 36-10 in Week 16, at 8:15 p.m. Sunday.
It didn't matter for the Steelers. They just wanted to win this game and send Ben Roethlisberger out a winner in what will be the final regular-season game of his storied career.
"That's Steelers-Ravens, I can’t say enough about the men in that locker room," Mike Tomlin said of his team. "Their collective will was on display. It was on display throughout a hostile environment today. Obviously, dire circumstances and so forth. A lot of competition in the stadium. Distractions, potentially on the outside. They were able to process all of that and make the necessary plays to secure a victory."
The Steelers and Ravens (8-9) were both aware of what was occurring in Jacksonville. Because the Ravens also needed a win by the Jaguars -- among other things -- to keep their playoff hopes alive, the scoreboard at M&T Bank Stadium gave consistent updates on what was going on there.
And every time the score was shown -- the Jaguars led wire to wire, despite being 15-point underdogs -- the crowd, which was split pretty evenly between Steelers and Ravens fans, cheered.
By the end, as Boswell's 36-yard field goal attempt sailed through the uprights, only the Steelers fans were left with anything with which to be happy about.
A team that started 1-3. A team that tied the lowly Lions. A team that stumbled through a five-week period in November and early December, going 1-3-1, won three of its final four games to at least have a shot at the postseason.
“It’s been our story all year. You guys buried us when we were 1-3," Tomlin said. "We’ve got a lot of warts, but we’re here, and that’s been our position since September. I’m just appreciative of that mental fortitude being displayed by those men in that locker room.”
The Steelers, warts and all, were on full display in this game.
They scored just three points in the first half, that coming after T.J. Watt, who tied the NFL's single-season sack record, forced a Tyler Huntley fumble. They also scored just six points in the first three quarters while allowing the Ravens to rush for 249 yards on a wet, rainy day.
But the defense also stood up when needed, including getting a huge interception by Cam Sutton in the end zone on the first play of the fourth quarter and the Ravens, who led 10-6 at the time, threatening to perhaps put the game away.
That seemed to spark the Steelers.
They mounted a drive that would have taken them into scoring range if not for a face mask penalty against left tackle Joe Haeg, who started in place of injured rookie Dan Moore. Ben Roethlisberger connected with Benny Snell -- subbing for a banged-up Najee Harris -- on a 24-yard gain to the Baltimore 18. After the 15-yard penalty pushed the Steelers back to the Pittsburgh 43, the Steelers were forced to punt.
But Pittsburgh's defense got a three-and-out and Roethlisberger, as he has done all season, directed a go-ahead scoring drive, converting a third-and-9 from the Baltimore 39 with a 20-yard pass down the middle to Ray-Ray McCloud and then connected with Chase Claypool on a 6-yard touchdown pass, his second TD catch of the season.
"It was supposed to go to someone else. They missed the audible," Claypool said. "I was fortunate enough to fall into that touchdown.”
McCloud, Claypool and a pair of rookies in Harris and tight end Pat Freiermuth all have made mistakes at times this season. But they all stepped up and made plays when it counted in this game.
Claypool had three rushing attempts for 33 yards, leading the Steelers in rushing. He also had five catches for 37 yards and the Steelers' lone score.
Freiermuth, whose fumble in overtime cost the Steelers a chance for a potential game-winning kick against the Lions, also stepped out of bounds late in this game to force the Steelers to punt. But he had six receptions for 53 yards, including a big third-down grab on the game-winning drive.
Harris returned in the third quarter after suffering an elbow injury in the first quarter and had 28 yards on 11 carries and four receptions for 37 yards. It wasn't his best game, but he made a great one-handed catch and run on the game-winning drive which gained 11 yards, while his 15-yard carry set up Boswell's game-winning field goal.
And the much-maligned McCloud came through with four receptions for 37 yards, including a 10-yard catch on fourth-and-8 from the Baltimore 41 in overtime.
"The growth and development of these young guys throughout this journey and the negativity that’s usually associated with growth and development did not take away from their efforts. They smiled in the face of it, and I’m just appreciative of that," Tomlin said. "And, obviously, I’m appreciative of our quarterback—QB 1 (Roethlisberger). He’s been smiling in the face of adversity for 18 years. So, even though it’s not surprising, it’s still appreciated."
This team takes its cue from Roethlisberger and did so again in this game. He was 19 of 25 for 149 yards and a touchdown from the fourth quarter on, after completing 11 of 19 passes for 95 yards and an interception in the first three quarters, sending the Ravens to their sixth consecutive loss and fourth in a row against the Steelers.
"It’s pretty special. Do you expect anything different in this rivalry? It’s special," said Roethlisberger, who ran his career record -- including playoffs -- to 19-11 against the Ravens. "Anytime you come to this place and get a win. People always ask me where is my least favorite place to come and play? It’s always Baltimore, and it’s for a couple of reasons. It’s because of how good the team is and its defense. And this place is always crazy loud. The fans are ruthless, which I think is a compliment to this place and how hard it is to play here. So, it’s pretty special to get this win."
Especially with everything that was at stake.
"We still have a pulse if you give us a chance," said Watt. "To get us in the dance, anything can happen, and that’s where we are right now. So, (we’re) hungrier than ever. We want to continue to play football, continue to make plays. A lot of guys in there are ready to get into the facility tomorrow, watch some film and move forward."
• The fourth-quarter comeback was the 41st of Roethlisberger's storied career. Only Peyton Manning (43) and Tom Brady (42) have more.
There's a calmness that Roethlisberger exudes in those circumstances.
"It’s pretty contagious," said Claypool of what Roethlisberger brings to the huddle when the game is on the line.
That will be what the Steelers perhaps miss the most whenever this season actually does come to an end and they need to find a replacement for Roethlisberger.
As great, for example, as Aaron Rodgers has been in his career, he has just 18 fourth-quarter comebacks. Now, maybe that's because his team doesn't put him in that situation, but the fact Roethlisberger is up there with Manning and Brady shows just how special he is in those circumstances.
Include the playoffs and Roethlisberger has 57 career game-winning drives. Only Brady has more. He's just a winner.
"Every time we’re in a game like that, it comes down to the last drive," Heyward said. "We got No. 7 as a quarterback. We feel like if we give him a shot, he’s going to produce.”
As for Roethlisberger, he's been through a lot of these battles with the Ravens. But to beat Baltimore at M&T Bank in his final game?
"It’s up there. And I think part of it is that so many people got involved," Roethlisberger said of where the win ranks in his career. "So many people helped make this happen. Offense, Defense, Boz. There was never a doubt that he wasn’t going to make (the game-winning field goal). No offense to the guy on the other side, but Boswell is pretty good, too. Yeah, I think our guy is pretty good, too. This is a group that we just want to get in.”
He got his wish -- largely because of what he does in those clutch moments late in games.
• Steelers and Chiefs again. We just saw that in Week 16 and the Chiefs ran away with the game, 36-10.
So, what could be different about it this time?
Well, if you watched the Chiefs on Saturday night against the Broncos, both Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce got banged up in that game. And running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire injured his shoulder in the game against the Steelers and hasn't played since.
The Chiefs do still have Patrick Mahomes. So, of course they'll be understandable favorites. (The early line is 13 points.) But nobody thought the Jaguars were going to beat the Colts on Sunday, either.
• Spare me the "the Steelers don't deserve to be in the playoffs" stuff. If you're in, you deserve to be there -- especially this season.
If the Colts, for example, deserved to be in the postseason, they would have won one of their final two games in win-and-you're-in situations.
The Steelers did what they needed to do to get in. Oh, and they proved to be the second-best team in the AFC North this season, sweeping both the Browns and Ravens.
Remember, too, that the Steelers' schedule was the most difficult going into this season of any of the AFC North teams. And that coaching staff everyone loves to rip?
According to Football Outsiders, going into this weekend, the Steelers' projected wins given their team DVOA was 6.6 wins. They finished with 9.5.
Tomlin did an above average job getting this team, with its offseason financial issues, into the postseason. He kept his team in the fight all season long, something that wasn't always easy given its limitations.
• Some were questioning Tomlin's decision to go back to Pressley Harvin as the team's punter.
But the Steelers had all last season to evaluate Corliss Waitman when he spent the season on their practice squad. And they know his strengths and limitations.
One also wonders how it would have played in the locker room if Harvin lost his job because his father died.
Now, you could argue that he would have lost his job on merit. But, again, the Steelers know all about Waitman. And don't discount the fact that on a wet, cold turf, they might have just gone with the better, more experienced holder.
• Credit to Raiders interim head coach Rich Bisaccia for going for the win Sunday night against the Chargers. Throughout the game, announcers on both radio and TV kept mentioning a tie in that game would have put both the Raiders and Chargers into the postseason.
And Bissecia could have made that happen. But, allowing the Chargers into the postseason when you control their fate would have been akin to the Steelers laying down for the Ravens to allow them into the playoffs or vice versa.
So, with the Raiders getting in, the Steelers went 2-5 against teams that made the playoffs this season. That's not great, obviously, but it again shows how difficult the Steelers' schedule was.
And they won the games they needed to win.
As for the Raiders, they got to send a message to the Chargers, a division rival, that they're the better team.
• McCloud has gotten a lot of heat this season. And most of it has been deserved. Heck, I didn't even have him guaranteed a roster spot at the end of training camp.
But with James Washington and JuJu Smith-Schuster out for Sunday's game, he stepped up in a big way. Not only did he make some big catches, he gave the Steelers a boost in the return game, as well. McCloud averaged 14.5 yards on two punt returns and also had a 32-yard kickoff return.
You'd still like to not have to use him on offense, but he made plays in this game when called upon.
• If Watt doesn't win NFL Defensive Player of the Year, they should stop giving the award.
I spent a lot of this game focused on him. The Ravens wanted to make sure he didn't affect the game. And he still affected the game.
He's just a special player.
• The Steelers are going to have some decisions to make up front with their line next week.
Kevin Dotson either has to be activated or reverts back to IR by Tuesday. And Dan Moore, who like Dotson has a high-ankle sprain, isn't going to be ready to go next week, either.
The guess here is that Tomlin will again go with J.C. Hassenauer at center over Kendrick Green. Green was injured last week and spent most of this past week on the COVID-19 List. But the Steelers have won their past two games -- two big games -- with Hassenauer at center.
Haeg isn't great at left tackle, but he was good enough. And with the only other option being moving Chuks Okorafor over to left tackle and inserting Zach Banner at right tackle, I just can't see them making that move considering they haven't played Banner all season.
What will really be interesting is seeing if Dotson is ready, if he'll go in at left guard over John Leglue. Leglue hasn't been great, but he's been serviceable. But continuity also matters. Dotson is clearly the better player, but he also hasn't played in over a month.
I'd go with Dotson, but it wouldn't surprise me if Tomlin goes with Leglue. Then again, the decision might be out of his hands if Dotson still isn't ready to return.
One decision Tomlin does need to make this week is who starts at inside linebacker.
The team rotated throughout this game, with Robert Spillane playing virtually full time -- except in the dime -- and Devin Bush and Joe Schobert rotating. Both had been on the COVID-19 List, so that made some sense as they get their legs back under them.
But with the playoffs now here, the Steelers just have to play their two best guys.
Against the Chiefs, I'd play Bush, who can better run with Kelce, and Spillane.
• Boswell is just unflappable.
Jeff Reed had 13 game-winning walk-off kicks in his career with the Steelers. Gary Anderson had 18 in his career -- though it wasn't all spent with the Steelers.
Boswell now has nine game-winners. And at 30, he's still got plenty of career left ahead of him.
The Ravens' Justin Tucker is widely considered the best kicker of all-time, and rightfully so, but Boswell is right behind him.
"He’s for sure the greatest kicker of all time. You know, I love playing them," Boswell said. "And Tomlin loves, you know, leading up to this week, it’s kind of, we know his range. As soon as you get across the 50, you’re in his range. So, it’s just always fun to compete against him, and you know, kind of, not really compare yourself, because we’ll never have the same field goals. We’ll never have the same, you know, attempts or anything, but it’s just always a good, I guess self-measurement against one of the greatest of all time and seeing where you stack up against him."
I asked Tomlin what Boswell's range would have been for a game-winner in this one. It was cold, windy and wet.
"I guess we'll never know," Tomlin quipped.
I guess not. Nor will we know what Tucker's range was for a game-winner.
THE ESSENTIALS
• Boxscore
• Live file
• Scoreboard
• Schedule
• Standings
• Statistics
THE INJURIES, ILLNESSES
• Najee Harris, running back, exited after one series with an elbow injury but returned in the fourth quarter.
• Dan Moore, left tackle, was inactive with an ankle injury.
• Buddy Johnson, inside linebacker, is on the Reserve/Injured list with a foot injury.
• James Washington, wide receiver, is on the Reserve/COVID list.
THE AFC NORTH
• Baltimore
• Cincinnati
• Cleveland
THE SCHEDULE
Right back to Kansas City:
THE MULTIMEDIA
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THE CONTENT
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