HEADLINE NEWS - Team Note Book

Monday - 12/17/2001

The Ravens dropped a 26-21 game to the AFC Central Champion Pittsburgh Steelers at PSINet Stadium last Sunday night to fall to 8-5 on the year. The 11-2 Steelers totaled 476 yards of offense, including 333 yards passing by Kordell Stewart. Stewart completed 20 of 31 passes and two TDs, including a back-breaking 90-yarder to WR Bobby Shaw on a third-and-seven from the Pittsburgh 10-yard line in the fourth quarter to give the Steelers a 19-7 lead. The Steelers had a 41:05 to 18:55 time of possession advantage and ran 73 plays to the Ravens� 53.

Pittsburgh set the tone in the first quarter by marching 73 yards in 14 plays and consuming 8:28 off the clock to take a 3-0 lead on Kris Brown�s 22-yard field goal. The Ravens took a 7-3 lead when QB Elvis Grbac rambled around the right end on a QB keeper early in the second quarter, but Brown kicked his second field goal to cut the lead to 7-6. Matt Stover missed a 48-yard field goal on the Ravens� next possession to end his NFL record of 38 consecutive games with a field goal, then Stewart threw a 25-yard TD pass to WR Plaxico Burress for 13-7 Pittsburgh lead at halftime.

After a scoreless third quarter, the Ravens had the Steelers backed up at their own 10 when Stewart hit Shaw on a third-and-seven play to give Pittsburgh a 19-7 lead, but the Ravens responded after a 32-yard kickoff return by Corey Harris with a Grbac to Qadry Ismail 14-yard TD pass to make the score 19-14. On the Steelers� next possession, Stewart hit Burress on a 38-yard strike on another third-and-seven situation to set-up a Dan Kreider four-yard TD and a 26-14 lead. Grbac threw his second TD pass of the fourth quarter to Brandon Stokley with 1�20 left in the game to close the gap to 26-21, but the ensuing onsides kickoff was recovered by the Steelers and Baltimore, with no timeouts remaining, could not stop the clock. The Steelers stretched their win streak over the Ravens in Baltimore to five, while the Ravens suffered their first-ever December loss under head coach Brian Billick.

December 16, 2001
Post-game Notes
Steelers at Ravens

Injuries

LB Shannon Taylor � dislocated left shoulder, did not return, day-to-day
CB James Trapp � re-injured his strained groin, did not return, day-to-day

Notes:

The Steelers clinched the AFC Central division with the 26-21 win.

Top Records in AFC
Pittsburgh 11-2
Oakland 10-3
New England 9-5
Baltimore 8-5
NY Jets 8-5
Seattle 7-6
Denver 7-7

QB Kordell Stewart tied a Steelers� record with a 90-yard TD pass to WR Bobby Shaw.

Stewart�s 90-yarder to Shaw was the longest pass play ever against the Ravens (78t, Mark Brunell to Fred Taylor, 9/20/98 vs. Jacksonville).

90t Kordell Stewart to Bobby Shaw 12/16/01 at Baltimore Ravens
90t Terry Bradshaw to Mark Malone 11/8/81 at Seattle Seahawks
90 Bubby Brister to Dwight Stone 10/14/90 at Denver Broncos

Plaxico Burress had career-high 8 receptions and 164 yards.

Shaw had 2 catches for 100 yards to give the Steelers 2 100-yard receivers for the first time since 11/1/98 vs. Tennessee (Courtney Hawkins and Charles Johnson).

Ravens� WR Qadry Ismail had a 14-yard TD reception, giving him a career-high 7 TD receptions on the season. He has 6 career TD catches vs. Pittsburgh in 6 games.

Matt Stover�s NFL-record streak of consecutive games with a field goal ended at 38. Stover�s only attempt was wide left from 48 yards.

QB Elvis Grbac accounted for all of the Ravens� scoring with two TD passes and a touchdown rush.

Jermaine Lewis had the longest punt return of the season, a 62-yarder.

Pittsburgh�s 476 total net yards were the most allowed by the Ravens since 11/28/98 vs. Indianapolis (540).