The Baltimore Ravens (12-4) secured the AFC North title and ensured a first bye week in the playoffs with a confident 24-16 victory over divisional rivals the Cincinnati Bengals (9-7).

The Ravens got off to the perfect start, with Ray Rice breaking into the secondary and racing to the end zone for a 70-yard rushing touchdown. Both Billy Cundiff and Mike Nugent then proceeded to exchange field goals and left the Ravens leading by seven points at the end of the first quarter.

Baltimore then made it a two possession game in the second quarter, with Joe Flacco finding tight end Dennis Pitta for a 9-yard touchdown pass, part of a great performance for Pitta who finished with 62 yards on six receptions.

The Bengals cut the deficit back to seven points late in the third quarter however, with running back Bernard Scott going over for a 25-yard rushing touchdown, giving heart to the Cincinnati offense which had been fairly ineffective up to that point.

Despite pulling to within four points of the Ravens with another Nugent field goal, the game wrapped up midway through the fourth quarter when Rice broke off his second big run of the game, registering a 51-yard rushing touchdown, and giving the running back 191 rushing yards on just 24 carries.

Linebacker Terrell Suggs kept up the form which has many tipping him to become Defensive Player of the Year, sacking Andy Dalton as well as forcing a key fumble late in the game, with possession returning to the Ravens.

The Ravens will now enjoy a home match in the second round of the playoffs, and condemn archrivals the Pittsburgh Steelers to have to face the Denver Broncos next weekend.  The Bengals will also appear in the playoffs despite their loss to the Ravens today, and will have to travel to Houston to take on the Texans next week, illustrating the strength of the AFC North as arguably the most competitive division in the N.F.L.

The article Ravens Secure AFC North with Victory over Bengals appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Cincinnati Bengals (9-6) put together a highly impressive performance in their 23-16 victory over the in-form Arizona Cardinals (7-8). The win keeps the Bengals in the hunt for the final wild card slot in the AFC, with the first already taken by either the Baltimore Ravens or Pittsburgh Steelers, depending on which team eventually takes top spot in the AFC North.

The Bengals took control of the game immediately, moving into a 10-point lead by the end of the first quarter. An early field goal gave Cincinnati the lead, then Jermaine Gresham extended it when he collected an 11-yard touchdown pass from rookie quarterback, Andy Dalton.

Cincinnati then doubled their lead before halftime. Jerome Simpson acrobatically jumped over an Arizona defender to complete a 19-yard touchdown pass before Mike Nugent added a field goal, as time ran down in the second quarter. Despite Nugent adding another field goal in the third quarter and extending the Bengals lead to 23 points, the fourth quarter brought a scare for the home fans, with the Cardinals mounting a dangerous comeback. A 30-yard touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald sparked the Cardinals into life, and soon after, they were celebrating another touchdown after a 2-yard pass to Jeff King in the end zone.

A field goal for Arizona late in the fourth quarter reduced the deficit further and made it a one possession game with time running down. Despite being inside the Cincinnati 20-yard line with two minutes left on the clock, the Cardinals were unable to breach the Bengals defense and succumbed to a disappointing defeat.

Although Arizona fans will be pleased with the two touchdowns and 298-yards thrown by John Skelton, they will look back at the three interceptions given up by the second-year quarterback as arguably the most definitive factors behind their defeat. The Cincinnati defense was suffocating all game long, picking up three interceptions and five sacks, with safety Reggie Nelson picking up one of each, as the Bengals defense did a great job of giving their offense good field position. Dalton put in another efficient performance, throwing for two touchdowns and giving up no interceptions, but may find his hopes of earning the accolade of Offensive Rookie of the Year dashed, due to the more dynamic and explosive performances of Cam Newton.

The article Cardinals’ Comeback Almost Stuns Bengals appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4) kept up the pressure on the Baltimore Ravens at the top of the AFC North with a 27-0 victory over the struggling St. Louis Rams (2-13). The victory was even more impressive considering quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was still inactive as the Steelers seek to ensure ‘Big Ben’ is fully healthy for the rapidly approaching playoffs.

The Steelers quickly moved into the lead, scoring a field goal in the first quarter, and extending their lead to 10 points in the second quarter when rookie running back, John Clay, ran in a 10-yard touchdown. With just a solitary field goal in the third quarter, Pittsburgh entered the fourth quarter with a 13-point lead, and their defense on top of the Rams underpowered offense.

Although struggling in the passing game, the Rams had some success on the ground with running back, Steven Jackson, finishing with 103 yards on 24 carries. This was not enough to claw the game back for St. Louis, however, and they soon fell further behind in the final quarter with rushing touchdowns for both Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman.

Steelers Head Coach, Mike Tomlin, will be pleased with the performance of Mendenhall in the absence of Roethlisberger, as the tailback finished the game with 116 yards on just 18 carries, and was one of the key components in a comfortable victory for Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh offensive line did well to protect quarterback Charlie Batch too, despite Batch lacking the ability of Roethlisberger to keep plays alive, and allowed no sacks on the back-up quarterback. Despite throwing an interception, Batch was also fairly accurate passing the ball, completing 15 of his 22 attempts, for a total of 208 yards. Should Roethlisberger still not be totally healthy for the Steelers last game of the regular season, Batch’s accuracy may make Tomlin’s decision to rest his star quarterback for the playoffs much easier.

The famed Pittsburgh defense was also on form, with Lawrence Timmons, Ziggy Hood, and James Harrison all registering sacks on Kellen Clemens, whilst the Steelers secondary and pass rushers kept the St. Louis quarterback to just 91-yards passing, as well as causing him to connect on just 9 of his 24 attempts.

The article Steelers Cruise to 27-0 Victory over Helpless Rams appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Baltimore Ravens (11-4) bounced back from their disappointing loss to the San Diego Chargers with a 20-14 victory over divisional rivals, the Cleveland Browns (4-11). The Ravens maintained their position at the top of the AFC North with the victory and will finish top of the division if they can beat the Cincinnati Bengals in the last game of the regular season, regardless of how the Pittsburgh Steelers do in their game.

The Ravens got off to the perfect start, with Ed Dickson collecting a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback, Joe Flacco, in the first quarter and was soon followed up by a field goal from Shayne Graham, giving Baltimore a 10-point lead going into the second quarter.

Flacco then threw his second touchdown of the game in the second quarter, finding running back Ray Rice open, and Rice had little difficulty coasting into the end zone for a 42-yard touchdown. The Ravens added another field goal early in the third quarter, giving themselves a 20-point lead over the Browns, then had to brace themselves for a comeback from Cleveland. Josh Cribbs gave the Browns’ fans some hope with a touchdown on an 84-yard punt return in the third quarter, which was followed up by a 6-yard touchdown pass from Seneca Wallace to Evan Moore in the fourth quarter, but could not find another score as they lost the game by six points.

Whilst Wallace performed competently, if not spectacularly, at quarterback, running back Peyton Hillis looked in formidable form for arguably the first time this season, running for 112 yards on 24 carries. Although Hillis has slowly begun to find his form in this injury-plagued season, it may be too little, too late to save his career in Cleveland, and he could well be looking for a new team come the end of the season.

Although they allowed two touchdowns late in the game, the Ravens defense looked far more solid than they did last week against the San Diego Chargers. Ray Lewis looked to have fully recovered from his toe injury, registering a game-high 10 tackles as Baltimore managed to make the Browns’ offense look fairly ineffective for the majority of the game.

The article Ravens Win Despite Browns Comeback, 20-14 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Ray Lewis might have wished that he had waited another week before he returned from his toe injury, as the Baltimore Ravens (10-4) fell to a comprehensive 34-14 defeat to the San Diego Chargers (7-7).

The Ravens marched down the field confidently on their opening possession and looked certain to take the lead in the game. However, kicker Billy Cundiff, who is carrying an injury to his left thigh, was unable to convert the simple field goal, and gifted possession back to the Chargers. San Diego proved to be more clinical on their opening drive, with Mike Tolbert going over from the 1-yard line to end the Ravens streak of not allowing any kind of score on their oppositions opening drive.

Baltimore did manage to level the scores early in second quarter, quarterback Joe Flacco finding Ed Dickson with the 15-yard touchdown pass, and Cundiff was on target with the extra point. San Diego were exposing a Ravens secondary which, without Ladarius Webb on most plays, was allowing big yards to Phillip Rivers in the passing game, and retook their lead through a field goal initially, and then extended it with a rushing touchdown from Ryan Matthews as the game went into halftime.

The Chargers heaped even more misery onto the misfiring Ravens defense early in the third quarter, with Rivers finding Malcolm Floyd for a 28-yard touchdown, and moving San Diego into  a 17-point lead.  A Takeo Spikes interception then led to another rushing touchdown for Matthews, as they took the game beyond Baltimore, consigning the Ravens to their fourth loss of the season.

Rookie wide receiver Torrey Smith did grab a consolation touchdown for the Ravens in the fourth quarter, with a 36-yard touchdown, but it was too little too late for Baltimore who looked uncharacteristically poor in defense.

The Chargers will be thrilled with Rivers, who put in a masterful performance, throwing for 270 yards on just 17 completions, and although he only managed one touchdown, his accurate passing set up the rushing touchdowns of Matthews and Tolbert.

Baltimore Head Coach John Harbaugh will now be hoping that his brother Jim can do the Ravens a favor and beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, which would keep Baltimore at the top of the AFC North.

Image Courtesy of  Keith Allison

The article NFL Ravens Shocked by Masterful Chargers, 34-14 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) kept alive their playoff hopes with a 20-13 victory over the struggling St Louis Rams (2-12). The game started slowly, with the Rams leading 6-3 at half-time, with a touchdown yet to be scored. Mike Nugent leveled the scores early in the third quarter with another field goal, laying the foundations necessary for the Bengals to begin to dominate the game.

Cincinnati moved up into a higher gear and registered two rushing touchdowns, the first from Bernard Scott on a 1-yard run late in the third quarter, and the second from Cedric Benson on a 4-yard run early in the fourth.  St Louis did manage to score a consolation touchdown late in the game, though, with Kellen Clemens finding Danario Alexander with a 25-yard touchdown pass.

There was little to separate the two teams in the running game, with Benson and Steven Jackson collecting 76 and 71 yards respectively on the ground, but the Bengals were able to fall back on the increasingly reliable A. J. Green. The rookie wide receiver managed 115 yards on just six receptions, and continues to set the league alight in his first season. Green is one of the major factors in fellow rookie Andy Dalton’s success so far this season.

Safety Quintin Mikell dominated the Rams defense, registering eight solo tackles, as well as forcing two fumbles as he tried to keep the Rams in the game against a versatile Bengals offense. Both teams’ offenses generally struggled during the game, highlighting a shared inability to convert on third down, with the Bengals only able to move the chains 27% of the time, and the even worse 15% conversion rate of the Rams.

The victory keeps the Bengals in the race for a wildcard spot in the A.F.C. playoffs, and will be a reassuring influence on the young Cincinnati team after they must have feared that their recent poor form was going to take away any chance they had of making the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Rams continue to have a terrible season; the consistency of star running back Jackson is one of the only highlights in what will become a season to forget for St Louis.

Alexey Stiop / Shutterstock.com

The article Bengals Claw Tight Victory over Rams, 20-13 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Cincinnati Bengals (7-6) let a fourth quarter lead over the Houston Texans (10-3) slip, and fell to a 20-19 loss, in what was a crucial AFC matchup with the playoffs beckoning.

After a first quarter that boasted no touchdowns, but did see the home side take the lead with two field goals to one, quarterback Andy Dalton bounced back from a tough game against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, by finding wide receiver Jerome Simpson with a 17-yard touchdown pass.

Mike Nugent then went on to add another field goal before halftime, giving the Bengals a 13 point lead heading into the third quarter. The Texans closed in on the Bengals with tight end Joel Dreessen collecting a 6-yard touchdown pass from rookie quarterback T. J. Yates, but conceded a field goal late in the third quarter, setting up Cincinnati with a nine point lead going into the fourth and final quarter.

A field goal early in the fourth quarter moved the Texans to within six points and made it a one possession game. With time running down, Yates showed a maturity which belied his status as a rookie, and moved the Texans down the field, eventually finding Kevin Walter for a 6-yard touchdown pass, and gave Houston the win thanks to a single point lead over the Bengals.

Cincinnati’s defense held strong for most of the game, with Rey Maualuga forcing two fumbles, and outside linebacker Thomas Howard connecting with nine solo tackles as he was a dominant force on defense.

Whilst Dalton may have been receiving the headlines so far this season as a potential Rookie of the Year, it was his opposite number who impressed today. Yates threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns, whilst also throwing one interception, as he led Houston admirably in the absence of Matt Schaub.

Image Courtesy of  https://www.facebook.com/HoustonTexans

The article Texans Grab Last Minute Win Over Bengals in Crucial AFC Matchup appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Baltimore Ravens (10-3) added more misery onto the Indianapolis Colts (0-13) winless season with a 24-10 victory at the M&T Bank Stadium, and maintained their position at the top of the AFC North after the Pittsburgh Steelers recorded a win over the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night.

The Ravens showed their intent to maintain their perfect record at home this season when quarterback Joe Flacco found rookie Torrey Smith for an 8-yard touchdown pass early in the first quarter. Kicker Billy Cundiff, who had been a doubt coming into the game, then extended the lead to ten points with a field goal as the Ravens began to exert their dominance.

Ray Rice then grabbed a touchdown of his own on a 6-yard run, capping off a 69-yard drive from the home side. Although the Colts managed to claw back three points with a successful field goal from Adam Vinatieri, the home fans were already beginning to feel confident the game was theirs, such was the control Baltimore had on the game, even at this early stage.

Baltimore continued to pressure the Colts defense in the second half, with Dennis Pitta collecting a 7-yard touchdown pass from Flacco at the end of a 63-yard drive which saw Rice go over 1000 rushing yards for the season. The Colts could just not catch a break, and their first possession after the Pitta score saw quarterback Dan Orlovsky sacked by Terrell Suggs and fumbling the ball, which was fortunately recovered by Joe Reitz, but still ended with the Colts having to kick possession back to the Ravens.

Flacco, who had been having a great game so far for Baltimore, then saw his intended pass for Anquan Boldin intercepted in the red zone by Joe Lefeged, keeping alive any hopes that Colts fans may have had for a comeback. The Colts defense seemed determined to keep their fans slim hopes alive, and forced a turnover of possession on downs.

Orlovsky then strung together a couple of passes, and it looked as if the Colts were on their way to the redzone, until linebacker Suggs came up with a big sack on the quarterback, forcing the Colts into a third and long situation, which culminated in an interception by safety Bernard Pollard, and effectively secured the win for Baltimore.

Despite the Baltimore defense performing to their usual high standards, the Colts managed to register a consolation touchdown as Orlovsky found Jacob Tamme with a 13-yard pass to end another frustrating game for Indianapolis. With leader Ray Lewis missing his fourth consecutive game due to a toe injury, the Ravens needed someone on their defense to step up, and Suggs filled the role comfortably.

He registered three sacks on Orlovsky as well as forcing three fumbles during the game, whilst Jameel McClain continues to show the kind of form which has many Ravens fans pinning their hopes on him becoming the long term solution once Lewis decides to call it a day.

Image Courtesy of   https://www.facebook.com/baltimoreravens

The article Ravens Cruise to Victory Over Winless Colts, 24-10 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) kept up their push for a home playoff spot with a 14-3 victory over AFC North rivals the Cleveland Browns (4-9). Despite putting together a strong opening drive, with quarterback Colt McCoy passing accurately off of play action, and hitting receivers Evan Moore and Josh Cribbs for big gains, they were stopped short of the touchdown by a dominant Steelers defense, and had to settle for a field goal.

Pittsburgh responded by putting together a similarly impressive drive which culminated in an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jericho Cotchery, largely thanks to Ben Roethlisberger’s ability to keep plays alive for longer than almost any other quarterback.

Turnovers then dominated the game, firstly with veteran receiver Hines Ward fumbling and losing possession for the Steelers, then McCoy threw a pass straight into the hands of Troy Polamalu to turnover any advantage Cleveland had gained. Pittsburgh then choked up another turnover, this time Heath Miller fumbling after a reception, all of which was made worse by a seemingly game-ending ankle injury to Roethlisberger.

But true to his personality, ‘Big Ben’ came back onto the pitch, and wrapped up the game for the Steelers late in the fourth quarter when he threw a 79-yard touchdown pass to in-form wide receiver Antonio Brown, who finished the game with 151 yards on five receptions.

Pittsburgh linebacker Jason Worilds also had a good game, collecting two sacks and a forced fumble as he continues to put in the performances which are beginning to suggest he may be the long term replacement for James Harrison when he eventually retires.

The Browns meanwhile have little to be pleased about, McCoy, a quarterback under pressure, threw two interceptions and no touchdowns, and questions will persist over whether McCoy is the long term answer for this franchise. In addition to their stuttering passing game, their running game proved no more fruitful, with neither Chris Ogbonnaya, Peyton Hillis or Montario Hardesty rushing for over 31 yards.

Image Courtesy of  https://www.facebook.com/steelers

The article Big Ben Fights Through Injury to Help Steelers to Victory appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

For all the talk this year about Chris Johnson losing his step and not being worth his new contract that made him one of the highest paid players in the league, he’s recently found his legs and just in time as the Titans make a push for the playoffs.

After a two month hiatus Johnson has comeback in a huge way rushing for 190 yards last week, and this time rushing for 153 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries, as the Titans gave the slumping Bills another loss 23-17. The Titans now sit at 7-5 and are in a tie for the final wild card spot with four other teams.

The Bills, who started the season on fire, now find themselves at 5-7 and out of the playoff race losing their fifth straight on Sunday. The Bills are now in a battle for the bottom of the AFC East as Miami beat Oakland on Sunday and pulled to within one game of the Bills. For the Titans, next up is the red hot New Orleans Saints who are coming off a big win over the Detroit Lions.

“In the beginning of the season, the passing game carried us, and now it’s time for the running game to step it up,” Johnson said. “The offensive line and everything is hitting on all cylinders right now, and hopefully we can continue to keep this momentum going.”

The Titans moved ahead when Johnson broke a run 48 yards for the score and they never looked back. On the Titans next possession he ran another in from four yards out which put Tennessee up 17-7. Rob Bironas added three field goals along with two fumbles the Titans won an easy one over the Bills.

Buffalo which looked like an early team to contend for a playoff spot, rushing out to a 5-2 record, has gone into a tailspin. The Bills are currently  looking more like the team that was 0-8 last year, and that no one expected to do anything this year. ”Extremely shocked and disappointed: All those words,” quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said. “The way we’ve played lately hasn’t been good enough.”

C.J. Spiller who has been filling in for the injured Fred Jackson had a career high 83 yard performance and a touchdown. His touchdown came on a 35 yard run. Stevie Johnson, who was under fire for his antics during last weekends’ game when he mocked Plaxico Burress by pretending to shoot himself in the leg after he scored a touchdown, had 5 catches for 52 yards and a touchdown.

“Last week was last week,” said Johnson, “We moved on to the Titans and we tried to get this W and we came up short.” The Bills looked like they might mount a comeback, but ran out of time at the end of the game. The Bills try to snap their losing skid next week when they travel to the West coast for a showdown with the San Diego Chargers, who snapped their own losing streak with a win Monday night over the Jaguars.

Image Courtesy of  https://www.facebook.com/titans

The article Chris Johnson’s 153 Yards Power The Titans Past Bills 23-17 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3) kept pace with divisional rivals the Baltimore Ravens with an emphatic victory over the Cincinnati Bengals (7-5), effectively ending the Bengals’ hopes of winning the A.F.C. North.

The Bengals were still without key players Carlos Dunlap and Nate Clements for their important trip to Heinz Field, whilst the Steelers were boosted by the news that Troy Polamalu was able to play after fears he had suffered a concussion in their previous game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The first quarter ended scoreless as both teams failed to make anything happen concerning offense, and both defenses performed well, suffocating anything the opposition offense had to offer. Cincinnati came the closest to breaking the deadlock when Jermaine Gresham thought he collected a touchdown pass from Andy Dalton; however, the play was called back for a false start.

The Bengals then thought they had taken the lead when they successfully kicked a field goal a minute later, but again faced disappointment in the form of penalization for a delay of game, as well as the moment the Steelers blocked the subsequent kick.

The game exploded into life in the second quarter, however, with Rashard Mendenhall rapidly moving Pittsburgh into a 14-point lead with two rushing touchdowns, followed by Mike Wallace grabbing a 12-yard pass for the Steelers’ third touchdown in a span of just over four minutes.

The Bengals sparked hopes of a comeback when rookies Dalton and A. J. Green linked up for a 11-yard touchdown pass, but these hopes were soon extinguished when Antonio Brown ran in a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown just before the half, extending Pittsburgh’s lead back to 21 points.

Ben Roethlisberger wrapped up the scoring in the third quarter when he found Wallace for a 19-yard touchdown pass and the receivers’ second touchdown of the game. Roethlisberger went on to finish with 176 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions on his 23 attempted passes.

Another standout Steeler was defensive linchpin James Harrison, who looked quite the frightening form as he registered three sacks on the usually well-protected Dalton. Cornerback Ike Taylor was also in imperious form for Pittsburgh, putting in seven tackles as well as picking up an interception, as he helped the Steelers to a strong defensive performance.

The Bengals, who have enjoyed a good season, have now lost both their games against the Steelers and are unlikely to be able to challenge either the Steelers or the Ravens at the top of the A.F.C. North, but with outstanding youngsters like Dalton and Green, Head Coach Marvin Lewis can be optimistic about Cincinnati’s chances of upsetting those perennial power houses in one of the most competitive divisions of the N.F.L.

Image Courtesy of  https://www.facebook.com/steelers

The article Steelers Cruise to Victory Over Bengals, 35-7 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Baltimore Ravens (9-3) snapped their habit of losing to teams with a less than .500 record with a comfortable 24-10 victory over A.F.C. North rivals, the Cleveland Browns (4-8). With many Cleveland fans still angry about the relocation of their beloved team to Baltimore during the N.F.L. expansion, this game often takes an even higher meaning for them, and they will be disheartened to have not caused an upset.

The main injury concern before the game surrounded Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis, who continues to suffer from a toe injury, and although sources reported he probably could have played, the Ravens had him rest, ensuring that he is fully healed for the end of the season as well as the playoffs, which are looking more and more favorable for Baltimore.

Although the first quarter was scoreless, the visiting Ravens took the lead halfway through the second quarter with a 6-yard touchdown rush from running back Ray Rice, and Baltimore proceeded to extend the lead to 10 points with a successful field goal from Billy Cundiff.

The Browns cut the deficit back to seven points with a field goal of their own in the third quarter, but could not maintain it for long as the Ravens struck back with a one-yard touchdown from Ricky Williams, the tailback finishing off a 73-yard drive which had taken just three plays.

Baltimore really wrapped the game up when Ladarius Webb returned a punt for a 68-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, and although Cleveland managed to grab a consolation touchdown after a 22-yard pass to tight end Evan Moore, it was too little too late for the home side, who will now be resigned to finishing bottom of the A.F.C. North.

The dominant running game of the Ravens was just too much for the Browns, with Rice rushing for 204 yards on 29 carries, and Williams amassing 76 yards on 16 carries, with both backs registering a touchdown apiece.

With Lewis still out, Baltimore Head Coach John Harbaugh will also be pleased with the performances of inside linebackers Dannell Ellerbe and Jameel McClain, who effectively shut down the running game of Peyton Hillis and Chris Ogbonnaya. They were not the only defensive highlights for the Ravens, as rookie Pernell McPhee continues to impress, sacking Colt McCoy twice during the course of the game, whilst cornerback Jimmy Smith continues to grow into his role in the Ravens defense, collecting another interception in what was a composed performance from Baltimore.

The article Rice Rampant in Ravens Victory Over Browns, 24-10 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Jets are mathematically still in the thick of the AFC wild card race, but if they don’t improve their play it’s not going to matter what the numbers say. Coming off a victory over the Bills in a must-win game, the Jets look to keep things rolling when they travel to FedEx to face the Washington Redskins on Sunday.

New York narrowly avoided a loss and possibly the end of their season when Mark Sanchez found Santonio Holmes for the game winning touchdown with just over a minute left last week against the Buffalo Bills. While they got the win it was hardly a pretty game as Sanchez struggled, despite throwing for a career high four touchdowns, and the defense had trouble stopping a Bills offense which was without its best player in running back Fred Jackson.

Their play wasn’t a good sign for a team likely forced to win at least four of their last five games, if not all, to have a shot at the final playoff spot in the AFC. For the Jets to have success down the stretch, they’ll have to rely on Sanchez to improve his play and lead the team. He completed 48.6 percent of his passes for only 180 yards last week.

The once feared defense allowed the Bills to drive 90 yards down the field for the score earlier in the game, and almost let Ryan Fitzpatrick lead the Bills down the field in less than a minute for the game winning score. Had Stevie Johnson made a wide-open catch on a play during that drive, the Bills probably would’ve scored and won the game.

“We have to keep improving, there’s no question,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “We’re not going to win and we’re not going to reach our goal if we don’t get better. But we definitely plan on getting better.”

“It is funny how if we make a mistake, we’re horrible and it’s, `Oh, they’re terrible,” Ryan said. “That could be bad luck there, too. But if we make a play, it’s, `Oh, we’re just lucky.’ So, maybe it’s the green (team colors). I don’t know. I hope karma is with us. I hope we continue to be lucky, and we’ll take that.

“The old saying, `I’d rather be lucky than good.’ I’d rather be both, and I think we are.” The Jets are hoping for luck, and that they gained momentum heading into the game Sunday because their track record against the ‘Skins isn’t good. The Jets are 1-8 all time versus Washington.

Washington also hopes to keep some momentum going, coming off a close win over Seattle to snap a six game losing streak. The Redskins came back from 10 down in the fourth to score 16 unanswered points. ”That’s what you’re in this game to do, is to win,” Washington coach Mike Shanahan said. “But at the same time, when you’re around a football team that’s giving you everything they’ve got, you feel good.

“That’s why I feel good about the character of this football team, and it was nice to find a way to win because they deserved to win. Our players have been working extremely hard, and hopefully we can keep it going.”

Rex Grossman is coming off of one of his best performances of the season completing over 73 percent of his passes and racking up 314 yards. To add to that, rookie running back Roy Helu earned himself the start this week rushing for 108 yards and a touchdown last week. He also caught seven passes for 54 yards as well.

Image Courtesy of   https://www.facebook.com/Jets

The article Game Preview: Jets at Redskins as Jets Hope For a Win appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Baltimore Ravens (8-3) emerged victorious against the visiting San Francisco 49’ers (9-2) in a game dubbed as the ‘Harbaugh Bowl’. A huge defensive effort from the Ravens was enough to secure a 16-6 victory as they secure their position at the top of the AFC North.

Unsurprisingly, the Ravens looked keen to run the ball early on, as the home side were 6-0 on the season when running back Ray Rice has 18 or more carries in a game. This allowed the passing game to open up for Joe Flacco, and he found Anquan Boldin for a couple of good gains as Baltimore moved to within field goal range and took a three point lead in the game on the opening drive.

The 49’ers opening drive was not as successful, as the visiting team went three and out, extending the Ravens record of shutting out opposition teams on opening drives to 19 games. This was to the delight of the injured Ray Lewis, or ‘Mufasa’ as his teammates call him, who was doing a very good impression of a lion as he prowled up and down the sideline.

San Francisco kicked a field goal of their own to tie the game up, and were unlucky not to take the lead when Alex Smith found Ted Ginn for what would have been a 75-yard touchdown pass, only for the play to be called back for a penalty against the 49’er offense.

The home side then put themselves back into the lead with another field goal, but were disheartened to not have got a touchdown when they had managed to get into a first and goal situation. This extended San Francisco’s steak of not allowing a touchdown in the first half to five games, the highest in the NFL.

The first half was then brought to an end with the 49’ers moving down the field and looking to target a deep threat, only for Ravens cornerback Ladarius Webb to come up with a great interception in the end zone, and allowing Baltimore to maintain their lead into the second half.

The third quarter offered little of note apart from the 49’ers leveling the scores with their second field goal of the game. Towards the end of the quarter however, the Ravens put together a 76-yard drive which saw completed passes to seven different receivers, and culminated in an 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dennis Pitta at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

Defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano will have every reason to be pleased with himself and the Baltimore defense who had been excellent all game, but seemed to find an even higher gear in the fourth quarter, recording multiple sacks and tackles for a loss.

An addition to their momentous defensive effort, they added another field goal, extending their lead to 10 points and making it a two possession game, which ultimately proved too much for the 49’ers to overcome. Baltimore managed to record nine sacks in the game, which tied the franchise record, and included a haul of three for linebacker Terrell Suggs, who continues to show that he can become the leader of this defense when Lewis does eventually retire.

The loss, although disheartening, will not damage San Francisco’s playoff hopes, and should the Green Bay Packers slip up in the playoffs, then this matchup could very well meet again in Indiana at the Super Bowl.

Image Courtesy of   https://www.facebook.com/baltimoreravens

The article Harbaugh Bowl a Defensive Masterpiece from Ravens appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

In a game of two sides who have underperformed this season, the Cleveland Browns (4-6) emerged victorious at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7) in a close-fought match, the final score 14-10 to the Browns.

The Browns continue to be haunted by their lack of options at running back, with both Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty still ruled out due to injuries. The Jaguars were also missing key personnel in the form of Rashean Mathis, who was placed on Injured Reserve earlier in the week.

Although the Jaguars have been disappointing this season, they got off to the perfect start when running back Maurice Jones-Drew powered into the end zone from the six-yard line early in the second quarter.

Not to be outdone, the Browns responded in similar fashion, with running Chris Ogbonnaya getting the rushing touchdown from the one-yard line, leveling the scores as both sides headed into the halftime interval.

There was very little to separate the sides as they entered the second half, but the Browns nearly took the lead when Colt McCoy threw into the end zone from the six-yard line, only for the pass to be intercepted by Jaguars safety Dawan Landry.

Cleveland did finally propel themselves into the lead early in the fourth quarter when McCoy found wide receiver Josh Cribbs for a three-yard touchdown pass, putting the home side seven points ahead.

Although the Jaguars managed to kick a field goal and cut the deficit to four points, they couldn’t put anything else on the scoreboard and will head home disappointed to have lost to a side whose form has been as poor as their own.

Cleveland Head Coach Pat Shurmur will be pleased to have picked up the victory ahead of a tough end to the season which sees the Browns having to contend with the threat of all of their divisional rivals at least once.

The gradual improvement made by Ogbonnaya over the last few games, culminating in him running for 115 yards on 21 carries, will also please Shurmur. If Ogbonnaya can develop into a real threat running the ball, then his presence will allow McCoy to target the threats of Greg Little and Cribbs more efficiently.

With the Bengals up next for Cleveland, they will be hoping that they can welcome back some of their key injured players, as the Bengals continue to look dangerous despite losing to both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens in their last two games.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.facebook.com/clevelandbrowns

The article Browns Escape With Victory Over Jaguars appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Baltimore Ravens (7-3) moved to top position in the AFC North with a well-earned 31-24 victory over divisional rivals the Cincinnati Bengals (6-4). The most noteworthy injury news prior to this game revolved around Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.

A toe injury, which had ruled Lewis out of practice in the week running up to the game, brought to an end a streak of 57 consecutive games started for the 16-year Raven. The Bengals were not without injury concerns of their own, however, having ruled wide receiver A. J. Green inactive following a knee injury sustained a week ago during their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Both teams went three and out on their opening plays, perhaps inevitably, considering the inconsistencies of the Ravens offense recently and the fact, the Ravens are the only team in the N.F.L. to have not conceded points on the opening drive of the game. Despite having home field advantage, the Ravens were the first to give away points, running back Cedric Benson powering into the end zone.

Cincinnati’s lead was short lived, however, with quarterback Joe Flacco rolling right from the snap, and with plenty of time for his receivers to escape their coverage, found Anquan Boldin for a 35-yard touchdown pass.

Baltimore then added another touchdown, this time Ray Rice going over from the one-yard line after a couple of excellent catches from wide receiver Torrey Smith had allowed the Ravens to advance down the field.

The Bengals responded well after the half, answering a Ravens field goal with another rushing touchdown for Benson, reducing Baltimore’s lead to just three points. As in the first half, Ravens struck back quickly with rookie Jimmy Smith grabbing his first interception in the N.F.L.

Smith later fumbled the ball; fortunately for Ravens’ fans, the ball was recovered by Brendon Ayanbadejo, and set up Rice for the one-yard touchdown run. Things quickly went from bad to worse for Cincinnati with Ladarius Webb acrobatically picking off an Andy Dalton pass on the Bengals’ 38-yard line, and Flacco proceeded to throw a touchdown pass to Smith on the first play of Baltimore’s possession, lengthening their lead to 17 points.

Jimmy Smith could not continue to live up to the high standards he had set for himself with his first-ever interception in the N.F.L. as he let Bengals wide receiver Andre Caldwell get away from him and collect a 49-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter, the longest scoring play allowed by the Ravens all season.

Hopes of a Cincinnati comeback ignited when tight end Jermaine Gresham juggled the ball as he moved into the end zone, managing to take control of the ball just before he was pushed out of bounds. The Bengals had to settle for a field goal, bringing them to within seven points of Baltimore.

With less than a minute to play, and the Bengals in a first and goal situation, the Baltimore defense, shorn of its on-field leader Lewis, put in a titanic effort, forcing the Bengals to go four and out and secure victory for the home side.

The Ravens’ stuttering performance last week against the Seattle Seahawks was put to bed after this vital victory over the Bengals, although question marks will remain over the consistency of the Ravens, especially against lesser opposition.

Head Coach John Harbaugh will be pleased with a number of players performances, notably wide receiver Smith, who had 165 yards on just six receptions, including one for a touchdown, as well as tailback Rice, who helped his side with 104 yards on 20 carries.

Image Courtesy of   https://www.facebook.com/baltimoreravens

The article Ravens Soar to the Top After Defeating Bengals appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Baltimore Ravens (6-3) were unable to build momentum after their impressive victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers last week as they succumbed to a 22-17 loss on the road at the Seattle Seahawks (3-6).

Although the Ravens could still not welcome back wide receiver Lee Evans due to his ankle injury, concerns over Matt Birk, Ed Reed, and Terrell Suggs all amounted to nothing as the trio started against the Seahawks. Meanwhile, Seattle declared starting quarterback Tavaris Jackson active after a pectoral injury from the previous week.

The underdog Seahawks made the much better start to the game, racing into a 10-0 lead, with Marshawn Lynch running in a touchdown from a yard out, and kicker Steven Hauschka adding a field goal. If Lynch had been the go-to man on the Seahawks drive, then Ed Dickson stepped into that role for the Ravens, with Joe Flacco targeting him consistently on their drive, which culminated in Ray Rice passing to Dickson for a one-yard touchdown pass, cutting the Seahawks’ lead to just three points.

Hauschka added three more field goals for Seattle towards the end of the second quarter, the latter coming as a result of a fumbled kick return from David Reed, turning things from bad to worse for the Ravens. The Seahawks then increased their lead to 15 points with another field goal after Flacco’s pass was deflected, and linebacker David Hawthorne intercepted the ball for the Ravens’ third turnover of the game.

As the third quarter came to a close, the Ravens found success with the no-huddle offense, much in the same way they did previously against both the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers, and were rewarded with a field goal, and setting up an exciting final quarter.

Baltimore continued to use the no huddle offense, and drove quickly up the field midway through the fourth quarter, and Flacco found Dickson for his second touchdown of the game with an 11-yard pass, leaving the Ravens trailing by just five points with just under six minutes left to play. Unfortunately for the visitors, their defense could not make anything happen, and Seattle ran the clock out with Lynch running  strongly.

The performance of tight ends Denis Pitta and Dickson will be pleasing to Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron, as will the performance of the offense when it was in its hurry-up mode, but more worryingly for Baltimore is the fact that they have slipped to another defeat against a side they should be beating if they have genuine playoff ambitions.

The Ravens’ lack of a significant running game ultimately cost them this game, with Lynch running for over 100 yards, as well as the Seahawks punishing Baltimore for their errors, including the two fumbled kick returns from D. Reed. They will need to be more clinical on offense and solid in defense next week when they take on AFC North rivals the Cincinnati Bengals as they look to reaffirm their position at the top of the division.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.facebook.com/baltimoreravens

The article Late Push Not Enough for Baltimore Ravens in Seattle appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The St Louis Rams (2-7) visited the Cleveland Browns (3-6) with the Browns labelled, rather unusually, as favorites, but did enough to overcome the home side with a 13-12 victory.  The Browns continued to suffer from injury woes, and were still unable to welcome back Peyton Hillis, Montario Hardesty and Mohammed Mossaquoi to active duty, heaping the pressure on running back Chris Ogbonnaya, as well as receivers Greg Little and Josh Cribbs.

Safety T. J. Ward also missed the game after suffering a foot injury in the previous week, and Usama Young started in his place. The Rams had less injury concerns to contend with, as Sam Bradford recovered sufficiently from an ankle injury to start, but right tackle Jason Smith was listed as inactive for the game.

The game was largely decided by kickers Josh Brown and Phil Dawson, with Browns kicker Dawson missing a 22-yard field goal after a bounced snap in the last two minutes of the game, a field goal that would have won the game for Cleveland. The Rams, as well as earning the victory, were also able to get in the end zone in the second quarter, quarterback Bradford finding Brandon Lloyd for a seven-yard touchdown pass, the only touchdown of the game.

Even with Mossaquoi out, the Browns were still able to find eight different players on receptions, the most prominent of whom was Little, who caught for 84 yards on six receptions, and performed well given the lack of an effective running game to take the pressure off of Colt McCoy and the passing game.

Ogbonnaya did manage to run for 90 yards on 19 attempts, and was helped on occasion by both Little and Cribbs, who rushed cumulatively for 31 yards on four attempts, but the Browns continue to struggle in the absence of Hillis and Hardesty. Meanwhile, the Rams relied on running back Steven Jackson, who ran for 128 yards and took the pressure off of St Louis’s receivers in what was a close game.

The loss will be difficult for Cleveland to take, and was one of the games Head Coach Pat Shurmur will have targeted to help the Browns turn their season around ahead of a difficult run, in which they will play both the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers twice, as well as divisional rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals, once.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.facebook.com/Rams

The article Bounced Snap Costs Cleveland Browns in Defeat to Rams appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3) bounced back from a disappointing loss to bitter rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, last week, with a 24-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals (6-3) in a critical AFC North clash. The loss ends a five-game winning streak for the Bengals, and also means the the team must lose their spot at the top of the division.

Whilst the Steelers were still missing linebacker LeMarr Woodley, they were boosted by the return of James Farrior, as well as James Harrison, who showed no fresh injury concerns after his return to the team last week against the Ravens.  Meanwhile, Jermaine Gresham boosted the Bengals as he returned from the inactive list, and although inside linebacker Rey Maualuga’s return bolstered the Bengal’s 4^th ranked N.F.L. defense, they were still without influential defensive end Carlos Dunlap.

The loss to the Ravens likely spurred the Steelers, who quickly moved to 14-0 in the first quarter, with Ben Roethlisberger finding Jerricho Cotchery for a 16-yard touchdown pass before Rashard Mendenhall added a touchdown of his own with a two-yard run. The Bengals did manage to cut the deficit before the end of the quarter though, as Andy Dalton threw a 36-yard pass into the endzone which wide receiver A. J. Green caught well above the heads of Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark.

Cincinnati did manage to tie the game at 17-17 in the second half, when Dalton floated a one-yard touchdown pass to the back of the end zone for tight end Gresham, who showed good footwork to stay in bounds and take the catch. Running back Mendenhall soon re-established Pittsburgh’s lead, however, powering into the end zone from nine yards out and setting up a tense final quarter.

Although the Bengals continued to put pressure on the Steelers defense, they were unable to truly threaten Pittsburgh’s end zone, and when William Gay intercepted Dalton’s pass, the game was effectively over for Cincinnati.

Head Coach Mike Tomlin will be happy with his team, having emerged victorious from a hard-fought game, and will be pleased with how successful his offense had been, especially against a side who were ranked fourth in the N.F.L. for defense prior to this game, as well as rushing for over a 100 yards, an accomplishment which no team has been able to achieve against the Bengals in their last six games.

Wide receiver Antonio Brown was particularly impressive for the Steelers, catching the ball for 74 yards on four catches during one drive in the first half. Not quite as impressive was Pittsburgh’s offensive line, which allowed five sacks on quarterback Roethlisberger, and will need to improve if the Steelers are to make an impact beyond the regular season. The Bengals, meanwhile, will need to bounce back quickly, as they face a testing trip to Baltimore next week when they take on divisional rivals the Ravens.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.facebook.com/steelers

The article Steelers Outmuscle Defiant Bengals appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Tennessee Titans (4-4) battled hard, but ultimately lost a close game 24-17 to the visiting Cincinnati Bengals (6-2). Despite looking the stronger team early on at LP Field, the Titans could not maintain their first half momentum, and gave up 17 unanswered points in the second half as they fell to defeat.

The Bengals continued to suffer from the absence of injured linebacker Rey Maualuga, as well as tight end Jermaine Gresham, although defensive end Carlos Dunlap was available after being listed as doubtful. Although the Titans had injury problems of their own, especially in the secondary, they were more concerned with the poor form of running back Chris Johnson, whose future in Tennessee seems to become less and less certain with each poor performance the tailback turns in.

Tennessee took an early lead with a field goal in the first quarter, but the lead was not to last long, with quarterback Andy Dalton picking out tight end Colin Cochart for a one-yard touchdown, making the score 7-3 to the visitors. The Titans regained their lead quickly though, wide receiver Damian Williams making an excellent catch at the back of the endzone for an eight-yard touchdown.

With time running down in the second, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck orchestrated a drive down the field with a culmination of timeouts and the Titan’s no-huddle offense, which ultimately resulted in Hasselbeck passing for 16 yards to Lavelle Hawkins and the touchdown.

Cincinnati continued to look dangerous however, and cut the lead to just three points when Dalton threw his second touchdown pass of the night, this time to Jerome Simpson for 15 yards. Dalton then continued to lead the Bengals comeback, ending the visitors drive with a five-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Andre Caldwell, giving them a four point lead over the Titans.

A field goal from Mike Nugent with two minutes left to play was enough to secure the win for the Bengals, and Head Coach Marvin Lewis will be pleased with his side’s second half comeback in what was a challenging away game. Dalton impressed throughout the game, and was pivotal in leading his side’s comeback, passing for 217 yards, as well as three touchdowns.

Rookie wide receiver A.J. Green also continued to impress, making 83 yards on seven receptions, and distancing himself at the top of the rookie receptions table. Although the Titans will be disappointed with a loss at home, especially after they took a substantial lead early in the game, but the continuing good form of Hasselbeck will not leave Titan’s fans completely disheartened.

Tailback Johnson’s 64 yards from 14 carries, and 46 yards from four receptions may not be particularly sensational, they do represent an improvement on his recent form, and the quickest way for the Titans to return to winning ways would be for Johnson to find his groove again, which would in turn allow for Hasselbeck to be even more effective.

The Bengals now face a testing schedule for the next four weeks, which sees them meet the Steelers (twice), Ravens and Browns, in a series of games which could make or break their season.

The Titans face a slightly easier challenge, taking on the Panthers and Buccaneers in their next games, but will be eager to ensure they do not have any slip-ups as they seek to put pressure on the Houston Texans at the top of the AFC South.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.facebook.com/bengals

The article Cincinnati Bengals Claw Back Victory Over Titans, 24-17 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Houston Texans (6-3) enjoyed a comfortable 30-12 victory over the visiting Cleveland Browns (3-5) at Reliant Stadium. The win improves what is already the Texans’ best start to a season in franchise history, and Head Coach Gary Kubiak will be pleased with what he saw from his side, not least from rookie linebacker Brooks Reed, who collected two sacks and generally looked solid in defense, helping the keep the Browns to just 172 yards.

With Cleveland only managing to put up 107 points in their opening seven games, their offense was always likely to struggle, especially against Houston, who have the third best defense in the NFL, allowing just 286.8 ypg. However, with the Browns currently fifth in the yards allowed table, and dangerous wide receiver Andre Johnson still sidelined with injury, Defensive Coordinator Dick Jauron will be left wondering what happened to his side.

The Texans put themselves into a commanding position in the first quarter, registering two touchdowns, the first a 27-yard rush from Ben Tate, and the second was a darting run from quarterback Matt Schaub from two yards out. Arian Foster compounded Cleveland’s problems when he rushed for 19 yards and a touchdown in the second quarter, extending Houston’s lead.

With just under five minutes left to play, Colt McCoy sparked Cleveland’s fans hopes of a comeback, when he found Josh Cribbs for a two-yard touchdown pass, but it proved too little too late for the Browns, who had looked second best all game long.

The game was won on the ground, with Foster recording 124 yards on 19 carries, and Tate racking up 115 yards on just 12 carries. Stripped of both Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty, the Browns could not make a similar impact on the ground, with running back Chris Ogbonnaya only managing to rush for 28 yards from his 13 attempts.

Cleveland, lacking an effective running option, turned to the passing game. With Mohamed Massquoi out for a second consecutive game, McCoy targeted Cribbs consistently. Although Cribbs did grab a touchdown pass to help his team, the wide receiver could only average ten yards per reception, and rarely troubled an in-control Houston defense.

Browns Head Coach Pat Shurmur will be hoping that both Hillis and Massaquoi can return to full training this week, as their meagre haul of 12 points just goes to highlight how toothless the Browns offense has looked of late.

The Browns will look to pick themselves up in Week 10 when they face the St Louis Rams at home, one of the few teams to have actually scored less points than the Browns prior to the Week Nine games. Meanwhile, the Texans will visit the inconsistent Buccaneers as they attempt to further cement their place at the top of the AFC South.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.facebook.com/HoustonTexans

The article Texans Run Through Cleveland Browns, 30-12 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) suffered a devastating loss to the Baltimore Ravens (6-2) during a 23-20 defeat to their bitter rivals at Heinz Field, as they gave up top spot in the AFC North.

Whilst the Ravens were still missing wide receiver Lee Evans, guard Ben Grubbs was able to return to duty, and they had no new major injury concerns, unlike the Steelers.  Pittsburgh did welcome back James Harrison after he recovered from his eye injury, but were without linebackers LaMarr Woodley and James Farrior for this crucial match.

Baltimore almost made the perfect start when Ray Rice found a hole on the Ravens first possession, and ran for a 76-yard touchdown, only for a flag to be thrown for holding by wide receiver Torrey Smith. The Ravens did take the lead soon after however, with the Steelers holding them out despite being on the one-yard line, and Baltimore had to make do with a field goal from Billy Cundiff.

Both teams proceeded to trade field goals and ended the second quarter with Baltimore leading 9-6. As predicted, both teams’ defenses seemed to be dominating the play, and limiting the opposition to field goals.

With the Steelers advancing down the field, and finding a couple of big gains through the air, it felt like only a matter of time before Ben Roethlisberger found someone for a touchdown pass, but then the veteran quarterback threw a ball straight at Terrel Suggs, and the linebacker picked up the interception.

The drive following Suggs’ interception was turned into a touchdown when Ike Turner was called for pass interference on Anquan Boldin, which brought the Ravens to the 10-yard line, and Rice had no trouble finding a hole and getting the touchdown, making it 16-6 to Baltimore.

Pittsburgh hit back in similar fashion however, going on an 80-yard drive, which culminated in Rashard Mendenhall going over for a one-yard touchdown, and cutting the Ravens lead to three points with most of the fourth quarter left to play.

Roethlisberger then put the Steelers into the lead for the first time on the night, passing on the run to Mike Wallace for a 35-yard touchdown pass, making the score 20-16 to Pittsburgh. The Ravens were not finished though, and went on a 92-yard drive, and Joe Flacco found Smith in the endzone for a 26-yard touchdown pass, securing the win for the visitors with just eight seconds left to play.

Head Coach Mike Tomlin will be disheartened with the loss, but can be content with the performance of Roethlisberger, as the quarterback continues from where he left off against the Patriots last week.

The Ravens, who have now recorded a sweep over the Steelers this year, will be encouraged by the return of Grubbs and the solidity that he brought to an offensive line which has been heavily criticised so far this season. Flacco’s proficiency on third down, and his contributions to the game-winning drive, will also have pleased Offensice Coordinator Cam Cameron, even if there are still large question marks over the quarterback.

The Steelers will head into Week 10 having to play AFC North surprise package the Cincinnati Bengals, and will need to maintain their focus after emotionally charged matches with rivals New England Patriots and the Ravens. The Ravens, meanwhile, will travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks, and will be fairly confident of getting the win but will need to ensure they do not slip up in the same way they did two weeks ago against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.facebook.com/baltimoreravens

The article Baltimore Ravens Break Steelers’ Hearts, 23-20 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.