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0 - 10/29/2000

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens
Oct. 29, 2000

Game Review: The Ravens lost their third consecutive game, 9-6, to the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers to drop to 5-4 on the season, while Pittsburgh improved to 5-3 with their fifth consecutive victory. The win gave Pittsburgh sole possession of second place in the AFC Central. A change of quarterbacks by the Ravens did not help produce different results, as Baltimore�s offense did not score a TD for the fifth consecutive game. QB Trent Dilfer got the starting nod, replacing Tony Banks, and completed 11 of 24 passes for 152 yards, with no TDs and one INT. The Ravens� best chance to score a TD came on their opening drive, but after marching 64 yards in nine plays, Dilfer fumbled the center exchange at the Steelers� nine, and SS Lee Flowers recovered the fumble on the 13-yard line. It was the last time that the Ravens would be inside the Pittsburgh 20.

Like last week, Matt Stover kicked two field goals to give the Ravens a 6-0 lead. Stover�s three-pointers came from 51 and 49 yards. In the third quarter, Kordell Stewart connected with Hines Ward on a 45-yard TD pass. Kris Brown�s missed the point after attempt, pushing the ball wide right. On the ensuing kickoff, Ravens� KOR Corey Harris fumbled the ball and Pittsburgh recovered at the Ravens� 27. Six plays later, Brown atoned for his missed PAT by kicking a 24-yard field goal, giving the Steelers a 9-6 lead. The fourth quarter was scoreless, as Dilfer�s last four passes fell incomplete, including a fourth-and-10 pass for Qadry Ismail with 1:59 remaining in the game.

Injuries:

WR Travis Taylor broke his left clavicle and is out 4-6 weeks.
LB Jamie Sharper � right ankle sprain � returned to play.
S Kim Herring � toe sprain � returned to play.
S James Trapp � abdominal contusion � returned to play.

Notes:

The Ravens have allowed only four touchdowns in the last six games; the Steelers three in six. The Steelers and Ravens are 1-2 in points allowed per game in the NFL. Pittsburgh has allowed 84 points (8.4 per game) and Baltimore has allowed 98 points (8.9 per game).

The Ravens have not scored a TD in five games (all in October). They have not scored a TD in 58 possessions.

Jamal Lewis gained 146 of Baltimore�s 274 yards from scrimmage today, including 93 rushing and 53 receiving (the leader in both categories).

K Matt Stover has scored Baltimore�s last 46 points. Stover has kicked 11 straight successful field goals and is 23-25 on FGAs with nine PATs for 78 points in 2000.
He has connected on 41 of his last 43 FGAs (95.3%).

Baltimore held Jerome Bettis to 65 yards on 18 carries (3.6-yard avg.). The Ravens have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in an NFL-high 26 games.

The loss was the Ravens� third straight , matching last season� three consecutive losses in October. Baltimore has not won an October home game since Oct. 27, 1996 vs. St Louis (37-31 in overtime). Overall, the Ravens are 5-14 in October including 1-8 at home.

Kordell Stewart�s 45-yard TD to Hines Ward tied for the longest TD pass of the season against the Ravens (Jacksonville�s Jimmy Smith from Mark Brunell on 9/10). Chris Sanders caught a 46-yard pass from Steve McNair on Oct. 22 for Tennessee (no TD).

The Ravens are 5-2 vs. the AFC Central, Pittsburgh is 4-3.