>> They are playing for the Lamar Hunt Trophy. It goes to the AFC champion. Will it be Baltimore, or will it be Pittsburgh? Baltimore trying to do what Pittsburgh did three seasons back -- that is to win out of the six slot, winning three games on the road, and going all the way to the Super Bowl. So here we go... ...with Hauschka and the Ravens. And it's a short, high kick. But only travels to the 14. It's Russell. And he hurdles and drags three or four with him to the 34. So that's an excellent starting point for Pittsburgh. One last word. Roethlisberger there with his coordinator, Bruce Arians. Ben already with six wins in the postseason. Only Tom Brady has more in his first five years in the league. 6-2. His third AFC Championship Game. You see Daren Stone being helped. >> Yes, he got blocked, just run over on the kickoff. And very shaky. Actually was going to the wrong sideline. His teammates had to help him over to the Ravens' sideline. >> So they'll start out with Willie Parker. Late-season surge for Parker, who's finally healthy and showing it here if you take into account the last week of the regular season and then last week against the Chargers. So he earns the first handle. And runs into the arms of Ray Lewis after picking up 3. >> Jim, just to go back on this kickoff. This is -- number 39, in the middle. Oh, he's hit by Davis. Just knocks him straight back. And you understand why he was shaky going off the field. >> Another player that was shaky going off was Ayanbadejo, the Pro Bowl special teamer for the Ravens. So they had two Baltimore players bruised and banged up there on the opening kickoff coverage. After a 3-yard run by Parker, second and 7. And that's movement early by Willie Colon, the right tackle. >> Yeah, kept them in their stances an awful long time. >> False start. Number 74. Offense. 5-yard penalty. Second down. >> Bill Carollo the referee. And a good one. Working his final game tonight. He's retiring after this one. A man who's worked 5 conference championship games and two Super Bowls. There he is. This is the kind of thing you'd like to go into retirement, from his angle, very quietly. >> Yeah. >> So they'll go with three receivers here on second and 12. That adds Nate Washington as the third receiver, and actually they're going five wide. They put Willie Parker in the slot to the right. They protect Roethlisberger. Amazing time. And tosses... Washington had it for a moment, and it got jarred loose by Ed Reed. Frank Walker, who also starts in this game for the injured Samari Rolle -- he also was in there on the hit. So Washington couldn't hold on. >> Well, what you'll see the Pittsburgh Steelers -- a lot of things. They spread the field with a five-wide-receiver look because they want this Baltimore defense to declare what they're gonna do. "Are they gonna blitz me? Are they gonna drop back and play coverage?" And the number-one key for Ben Roethlisberger today is -- what would it be, Jim? "Don't throw it near Ed Reed." Look where he is, try to look him off, and go to the other side. >> Limas Sweed is an extra receiver for the Steelers. Working the middle. Ball's caught. And Ward is free! Cuts back middle. Hines Ward high-stepping it inside the 25. Ray Lewis finally runs him down. Ray Lewis comes all the way down to stop him, but not until it gains 45. >> Ben Roethlisberger really starting right where he left off last week. The protection's very good up front. And he gets that extra time. Look how long it took him to finally find Hines Ward down the middle. And just sticks it in there. Because the coverage is pretty good. Jim Leonhard's underneath. The safety over the top. Oh, boy. He's going for the interception. But the extra pep on the football gets it by the Baltimore defense. >> Right between the two safeties, Reed and Leonhard. That puts Hines Ward over 1,000 yards in his career, postseason. Santonio Holmes gets into the mix. Brought down by Bart Scott. It's second down and 5. And they'll work three tight ends into this lineup. It's to Parker. And that right side is plugged up. Holds him to only 2. And a few words exchanged between Ed Reed and Willie Colon. Third and 3. Mewelde Moore in. Helping protect the quarterback. Roethlisberger throws it. Too high for Miller. Ngata was putting on the pressure. We'll see Jeff Reed come out for a field-goal attempt. >> Lot of different looks. This time you only have Heath Miller on the right side. Nobody else over there. Three wide receivers to the left. They were trying to get the one-on-one coverage. They got it. But Jim Leonhard very good underneath. Doesn't allow Heath Miller to get open. >> Jeff Reed has made his last nine in the postseason. And this is from 34 yards. Mitch Berger to hold. Jared Retkofsky is the snapper. Reed executes it. Scoring on their opening possession not something the Steelers have really had any success with the second half of the season. How big is that just to come out and be able to convert on a third and 12 with a big play, put 3 on the board? >> Well, you know, gives you confidence, of course, Jim. And the one thing the Steelers were worried about with their offense, any time they got third and long, they just expect the Ravens to blitz everybody and make them throw it really fast and make the tackle. So that was kind of a gift from the Raven defense. Maybe they're trying to break into this game, too, and make sure they don't make a big mistake early. >> Of course, the last two playoff games -- at Miami, at Tennessee -- the Ravens saw the opponent score first. And that happens again here tonight. Zbikowski is the returner. And he trudges ahead to the 28. 23-yard runback. From the 27. They're gonna come out throwing. Flacco dumps it. McGahee with the catch. It's a short one. Give him only 2. Larry Foote immediately drops him. >> Tackled by Larry Foote. Second down and 7 at the 30-yard line. >> Second and 8. They got Flacco running again. Mason had a chance to grab it. Got back to his feet. Got shoved by McFadden. And it's incomplete. >> Derrick Mason -- incomplete. Tackled on the play by Bryant McFadden. Third down and 7 at the 30-yard line. >> Third and 8. Flacco showing off that big arm. And almost caught. That was Mark Clayton trying to haul it in. With Polamalu and Ike Taylor back there defending. >> Well, we saw something there. Joe Flacco, as he drops back, he knows he's gonna throw it deep and left. He looks right. And at the last second he throws it down the left sideline. Why? Because of number 43. Try to get him out of the field of play so you can complete long passes down the field. That time, Polamalu looked pretty healthy when he changed directions. >> Sam Koch in to punt. How 'bout that? Baltimore comes out with three pass plays. A team that leaned so heavily on the rushing attack. And that one goes out of bounds. Roethlisberger and the Steelers, again good starting position. 36-yard line. They begin with Parker. That's Trevor Pryce who met him head on. >> Well, you see Willie Parker. I'll tell you this -- one thing, when they watched the film and they watched the game last week -- the Tennessee Titans ran the football at times against this Baltimore Ravens defense -- he goes, "Boy, it encouraged me. Made me feel good that we got a chance." That along with the fact that he's really healthy and this field is in good condition. Willie Parker expects to go inside, but he expects to bounce it outside a couple times today, too. >> Picked up just a yard. It'll be second and 9. And it's Parker again. Ngata wraps him quickly. 10 picks the last 8 games and going for another one. Plus a couple of fumble recoveries. >> That was a unique way of getting two guys on one receiver, where he was lined up. >> Edgar Jones, number 84, lining up at defensive end. He's also a backup tight end for the Ravens. And they're in on Roethlisberger! And they get him with Ngata and Pryce. >> Well, it was just such a moving defense that time. And you're never gonna get them all blocked. Look from the right side. They outnumber you. What a good job by Ngata, moving behind his other blitzers and sneaking in and getting that sack. And all the Raven defenders said, "When you come at Ben Roethlisberger" -- he sees it coming, so he protects himself, Roethlisberger does. "When you go at him, you got to get your arms spread, and you got to act like he's a punt returner and don't let him out of there." >> Berger. There was a little pressure coming in there from Nick Greisen. But gets it away. Figurs drops it and falls on it. Yamon Figurs. Jim Nantz and Phil Simms here at the AFC title game. Baltimore and Pittsburgh separated by only 250 miles. One of them hoping to travel about 1,000 miles south to meet Arizona in two weeks. Second series for the Ravens. This is their first rush. It's McGahee backing in for about 3. He's got a tender calf, hurt it before the San Diego game in warm-ups. Play-action. Flacco. He is well sealed. Remarkable time. And in and out of the hands of Le'Ron McClain. But, man, was that defended downfield by that Pittsburgh secondary. >> Remarkable time. And what a job covering down the field by the Steelers' secondary. If you're the quarterback, nowhere to go. The one person he hoped to throw it to was double-covered. And finally finds McClain, who's not expecting the football and drops it. >> A third and 7. >> What they're expecting -- Baltimore thinks that Pittsburgh's gonna crowd the line of scrimmage and just play the run. In fact, so far in this game, they've been dropping back, playing pass. >> Picked off. Picked off by Deshea Townsend. [ Crowd cheering ] The rookie makes the big mistake early. Mid-first. >> Well, they got Joe Flacco out of his comfort zone. Not getting those easy first-down completions. And then throwing inside the numbers. Much tougher for rookie quarterbacks to do. They're just not used to seeing all the traffic. And Deshea Townsend, 26. Watch him. He sees it. He breaks right in front of Derrick Mason. Easy interception. He dropped back. Good job by Townsend dropping back, protecting the first-down marker. Then when he saw Flacco release it, drove on the football and beat Derrick Mason to it. >> Each team has had it twice. There's been only one first down surrendered in this game. That was the long play to Ward. But the Steelers get the takeaway. From the Baltimore 35. Roethlisberger. He's looking for someone open. Now goes down the sideline. And he had a man open! Willie Parker... had spun away from his defender, Jarret Johnson. I think it hit him right in the face guard, right in the helmet. >> He lost sight of the football, maybe, when it came by. >> Nope. Shoulder pad. >> He just took his eyes off of it. And Mike Tomlin even told us he is not a very good pass receiver. And especially if you run him down the field. The farther he goes down the field, the more nerves are gonna come into it. And we can see why they bring in Mewelde Moore when they want to throw it. >> Drops back, shotgun. Second and 10. They pick up blitz. Roethlisberger throws. And that one was wild and wide of Washington. His first interception in 98 passes. And that was his 50th toss of this postseason. But let's see if the Steelers make anything out of it. From here -- 35-yard line -- if they fail to gain anything, 52, 53 yards. On this field, you just don't see it. If they had to call on Reed. But instead they pick up the first down with Ward. Stepping in front of Frank Walker for 11. And he's gimpy. >> Well, what they did -- they put Hines Ward on the inside. Here he is. He's gonna go up and down. And they just give him all this area to work one-on-one with Frank Walker. Watched him do it on Friday. Hines Ward, what a job. Sells it up the field. Sticks his foot in the ground. And gets far enough down there to get the first down. Boy, that's a nice throw by Roethlisberger. Down low to the outside. Let Hines Ward go down, protect himself, and make sure you don't turn the football over. >> Might have rolled that left ankle. Trevor Pryce shaken up. Hines Ward has picked up both first downs in this game tonight. But he is hurt on this one. >> Oh, yeah, he gets bent over that right knee, Jim. And he's on the sideline, trying to walk it off. And he keeps flexing his knee. Check out his right leg. >> Planted here. Now it gets twisted around right on that right knee. So he's on the bench getting attention. First down for the Steelers. All this coming off the Townsend interception. Ball at the 24. Blitz. Roethlisberger deep. Ball caught! Holmes. They say he's down inches shy of the goal line. Good for 23. Holmes makes an appeal. He wants the 6. >> What a job by Roethlisberger, hanging in there. Throws off his back foot. Look at the blitz. Ray Lewis comes in untouched. He knows, he sees it presnap that Holmes is gonna have a defender to his outside. So again he puts it in a perfect spot. >> Boy, his knee never touched. I think it's a touchdown. >> And you know what? I would challenge this if I was Mike Tomlin. I would not take a chance. >> He's got the red flag. And he is. He's gonna go ahead and go for it. And I think he's gonna win it. >> Well, no, it's... >> You got a challenge flag in the hands of Harbaugh, too. >> Baltimore is challenging the ruling on the field that it was a catch. We'll review the play. >> Interesting, though. We saw Tomlin throw the red flag, too -- that he wants to challenge, he wants the touchdown. >> Even though they're challenging the catch, this could be ruled a touchdown once they review the play. He's taken to the ground. >> Well, you've always talked about this one -- how you got to continue the catch all the way to the ground. >> Didn't even notice it as I was watching it live. The fact that you've got to -- when you're taken to the ground by a defender, you basically have to get up with that football. >> What do you know? Santonio Holmes. Pittsburgh and Baltimore. And Holmes is involved in a goal-line controversy. [ Chuckling ] Only took us a half a quarter to get there. >> Mm. >> But the ball does come out. See, the knee never touches. >> The knee never touches. That football is just short of the goal line that time, Jim, from the side we saw it. >> At what point is it a catch? >> Falling to the ground, he's got to go to the ground and have control through the catch. And that football came out. >> Fascinating to see both coaches reaching for the red flag at the same time. >> Yeah, it really was. I was saying Mike Tomlin should do it. This'll be interesting to see if this was all one motion and had been ruled an incomplete pass. >> I think the fact that Bill Carollo is exchanging some information with one of his comrades is not a good sign for the Steelers. >> The only thing that could maybe stop it is the fact that he put his hand on the ground and tried to push himself forward -- the receiver. Will that change the outcome of the decision by Bill Carollo? >> Holmes is just certain over there that he has a touchdown. Hines Ward. >> Yeah, he's tried walking it off a couple times, Jim. >> He's going in for a moment. >> After reviewing the play, it's been determined the receiver, in the process of making the catch, went to the ground and lost control of the ball. By rule, this is an incomplete pass. >> Wow. >> It'll be second down. >> See, Holmes... >> The ball will be placed at the left hash, just inside the 25-yard line. >> He never even thought that was an option. >> That is some alert call by John Harbaugh. We didn't even see the fact that the football came out -- or I didn't when I was watching it live. But the fact here -- watch as he catches it. Then when he puts his hand on the ground, you think, "Does that change the play?" No. It came out because the defender was taking the receiver to the ground. [ Crowd booing ] You know, it looks like a tough rule, Jim, but we -- gosh, we see it almost every single week when we do games. >> Santonio Holmes. He thought -- worst scenario -- he was gonna see his team a half-yard away. But instead the ball is reset at the 24, and it's a second down and 10. >> I was wondering why John Harbaugh threw that red flag. I was waiting for Mike Tomlin to do it. >> Limas Sweed is the third receiver. So they have Sweed, Washington, and Holmes. Operating without Ward. Ben. Back to Holmes. And it's broken up by Walker. Now he's telling them, "You got to throw the flag." >> Frank Walker. You said it earlier, Jim -- in for Samari Rolle. Pretty physical corner. Has played well this year. Watch that left arm. Well, doesn't pull him. You think maybe he pulled. Well, look at... Santonio Holmes actually has his hand on him, too. So, good play by Frank Walker. And Ben Roethlisberger really doing a good job of making sure Ed Reed is not gonna get in some of these plays. Looked him off, waited till the last second to fire it down the left sideline. >> So now a third and 10. Here comes the safety blitz. Roethlisberger always good at shaking it off. Gets the pass away. And just throws it away. Back of the end zone. That was Nakamura who was coming in on Big Ben. >> Yeah, he comes on the blitz. Ben Roethlisberger's so big. He plays relaxed, so he really sinks into the ground. And the fact that he just plays so low, he's able to break a lot of arm tackles and get out of those blitzing situations. And, man, when you break the pocket -- oh, boy. We saw it with Chad Pennington with the Miami Dolphins. When you break the pocket against the Ravens, their outside defenders attack you. >> This will be a 42-yarder for Reed, who beat the Ravens in that first matchup of the season, late September, from 46 yards. And this one straightens out. And it's good. So far, the Baltimore offense has had it for six plays, picking up 4 yards and no first downs. >> Jim, we said at the top of the show, this defense of Pittsburgh's -- I think you said it -- they finished first in almost every category. They were disappointed that there was one category where they didn't. And they just believe it's all about them playing better than the Baltimore Ravens' defense today. >> It is, this time, Figurs back to return the kick instead of Zbikowski, who had the last runback. And Figurs... And dropped by Anthony Madison. Let's get a report from Steve Tasker. >> Well, guys, in that last series, Hines Ward had to leave the field after a reception and limped pretty badly. They came over, examined him on the bench area. He actually left the bench area and went to the locker room and was gone for some minutes. Now he's back on the bench area. But it's his right knee, and his return is questionable. >> Wow. >> You know, that's big, Jim, because they have built so much around Hines Ward on their offensive side today. They use him as a decoy and throw it down the field. And think about the Baltimore Ravens defense. They were gonna double cover him. Now they don't have to. That ruins a lot of plays by Pittsburgh's offense. They'll have to go to a whole new plan. >> Ward has picked up the only two first downs on the night for either side. And that's Woodley bringing down Willis McGahee. Go to play-action fake. Able to get away from James Harrison and just get rid of it for the incompletion. Keisel was the first one creating chaos. Or second one. And Harrison also made a stab at the quarterback, who's now missed his last five throws. >> Look at the top of your screen, Jim. This is where they want to throw the football. And they do the big play-action fake. Joe Flacco hides the football. What have you got? You got two defenders back there on one receiver. Again, the Steelers are daring the Ravens to run the football. They are playing pass. >> A Steeler defense that limited San Diego to only 15 yards rushing last week. Third down. Flacco. William Gay defending. And it's over the head of Mason also. So the Ravens' three series -- no first downs. >> Well, what is the difference in this Pittsburgh defense this year and years past? The difference is that their pass coverage has just gotten so much better. And Mike Tomlin, an ex-defensive back coach, he adds his little touches to the defensive backs to go along with Dick LeBeau's blitzing 3-4 defense. And it's been a terrific combination. >> Sam Koch to punt to Santonio Holmes, who had the big runback last week. Went 67 yards for a score. There is a flag down. It was Marcus Smith on the coverage. The punt -- 52 yards by Koch. >> I'm laughing. We saw all that pretty offense in the first game. I wouldn't say this is a pretty start to this game, would you? >> No. It's kind of what you expected, though, right? >> Well, you never know, but, boy, the hitting, the blitzing, and you understand why they're both here -- about their defenses. >> While the kick was in the air, holding on the receiving team. Half the distance to the goal. Receivers will keep the ball. First down. >> That pins Pittsburgh inside the 10. >> Jim, just look at this. Now the Ravens got the game where they want it. They got Pittsburgh backed up. It's about field position. Now your defense has to do its job to help out the offense. >> Ward remains out of the lineup. So they call on Willie Parker. That was Brandon McKinney on the tackle. But 4 yards picked up by Parker. >> I had a chance to talk to Willie Parker, and he just said -- struggled so much. Had an MCL. The inside of his knee was hurting him. And he struggled with it. Mike Tomlin said to him about midseason, "Don't worry. I'll take care of you. I'll get you ready." And he rested him. And we saw last week how rested he was and how good he can be when he's at full strength. >> Second and 6. Parker. That's Jim Leonhard running up quickly. >> Wow. How 'bout that? He can return. He can play terrific pass defense. And how quick was he coming off the edge to stop that run? >> He's a guy that signed as a free agent in the off-season. They really didn't know what they had when they picked him up. Fourth-year man out of Wisconsin. Here he comes. Untouched, really. >> That's what he is. He's a blitzer from the outside. Took the perfect angle. Made the play. >> Ward is back out there now. He's at the bottom of your screen -- there he is. Got Corey Ivy defending him. Third and 5. That's to Miller. And a diving catch by the tight end for the first. Good for 18. >> What did we say? The number-one thing for the Baltimore defense -- "keep him in the pocket." And that time -- does he get the catch? Yes. Hands underneath it. Heath Miller. He is truly a tight end that can do it all. Catch the football, terrific blocker. But the Ravens, they said it -- he's not<i> good</i> when he gets outside the pocket against the Ravens -- he's<i> great.</i> >> So a drive that started back at the 9 is out to the 33. Rollout. Roethlisberger. Washington. And a good chunk of yardage picked up on first down. Give him 8. >> They'll keep moving the pocket. If you're worried about the pass rush and blitzes, what do you do for the quarterback? Well, you keep changing where he's at. Move him to the outside. Drop him back short. Drop him back deep. And that's a good job by Bruce Arians, mixing it up for Ben Roethlisberger. And the offensive linemen. >> Interesting -- Ward was out there for that one play, but... >> Didn't look good running down -- I watched him run down the field. >> So these last two snaps, he's back out. Second and short. Ball's out. Recovered by the Ravens. Recovered by Jim Leonhard. Stripped by Ray Lewis. >> Boy, so many times Ray Lewis and these defenders -- you call them free runners. They just... They come in untouched, unblocked. And when they do, they make the most of it. Here comes Ray Lewis across the formation. And just hits -- and he's a big man -- hits him hard. Oh, and he puts his right arm -- just punches the ball out of the back. >> Just knocked it right out. Punched it right out. >> As a running back, you cannot let that happen. You got to have that football tight to your body, elbow -- arm behind it. You see it's loose. And that's why it comes out. >> Ray Lewis, who told us last night he doesn't wear his Super Bowl ring. He says, "I don't wear it. I've said I'm not gonna wear it. I've avowed that I won't until I get a second one." >> [ Chuckles ] Oh, he gave us a lesson last night. >> That's McGahee, with Clayton throwing a block. Stiff-arm on Taylor. And McGahee sprints for about 7. And that's McGahee a yard shy of a first. How about McGahee giving them a late surge here in the season? >> Well, it's so often -- Willie Parker, hurt. And, you know, when they come back -- and the same with Willis McGahee. They come back. They got those fresh legs. They're as fast now as they were in training camp. And I think that's one of the reasons why we'll see McGahee a little more today. >> Unbalanced line. Third down and 1. They go no-huddle. They come out in this short yardage with no one behind Flacco. >> You know it's got to be quarterback sneak. >> Time-out. >> He doesn't like it. Good job. >> Could have been right here when Nakamura hit him from behind. >> Well, he hit him on the right side of his lower back. That shot would have been the one, probably, that caused that discomfort. >> Back to a big play. Third and 1, Ravens. Looking for their first first down. And... Oh! I'll tell you what -- Woodley may not even have realized that his body shielded and stopped the forward progress of McGahee. Foote was in there, Farrior. That linebacking group. They pushed him back, maybe stopped him short. >> Boy, Troy Polamalu, over the top. Lamarr Woodley just... >> Yeah, Woodley just backing him in. >> He is short. And that's it -- throw your body into the running lane. And there's no doubt that, I think, the Baltimore Ravens will go for it on fourth down. And it also makes you understand why Joe Flacco called time-out and said, "I'm not running that quarterback sneak." Because I don't think he would have made it either. >> Got a full yard to go. Adam Terry comes in for reinforcement on the Raven line. >> Unbalanced line to the left. >> Here's the sneak. Flacco. Second chance. Second effort. And it looks like they're gonna mark him short of it. Polamalu was the first to come over the top. >> Quarterbacks, you just got to give the offensive line a chance to make the surge. When you just go in there behind them, you lose all your power and leverage. So let them separate. Joe Flacco goes right with them, there's no power behind this. >> Look at Polamalu over the top. >> Oh, my gosh, he's got him. No surge, and he's stopped way short. But a late surge. And it still looks, from that angle, he's going to be short. >> This is gonna be short by a good bit here. >> Boy, you got McClain, such a big running back, and a big offensive line. >> McClain has not had a carry. >> And everybody is seeing these quarterback sneaks all over the league. And a lot of them don't work. So the Ravens still denied a single first down. >> Yeah, you have to step back. And if he'd have went over the right guard, right off of his block, he's gonna pick up the first down. But Pittsburgh, they said, "It's a quarterback sneak." They send everybody over the center. >> Back on the field, as you see. >> Casey Hampton. Hard to move him out of there no matter what. Especially in a situation like that. >> [ Chuckling ] Polamalu. And look who's in at quarterback. It's Roethlisberger. Final 35 seconds of the first quarter. And it's Parker. Brought down by Ngata after 2. >> What a play. Looked like he was gonna cut it back and get some good yardage that time. >> Parker's lost fumble his first since December 2007. But it does not cost them any points. Baltimore unable to take advantage. Boy, that was a long quarter in a lot of respects. Real time I'm talking about. We're about to start the second quarter here. And first downs -- three to nothing. That's it. None for the Ravens in 13 plays. Each team turned it over once. >> Jim, you know it. We talked to so many people on both teams. We thought -- Both teams were very confident that they were gonna find ways to get some big offensive plays. >> Hines Ward back out there. Takes the catch. Maybe loses a yard. Call it no gain. Trevor Pryce back on that Raven defense. >> It looks like, so far, just the fact that these two teams know each other so well, they've just got more contempt for each other than they had in the past. And it is a very heated rivalry. When you talk about this division, you do everything for your football team during the off-season to beat this opponent. The Steelers, they worry about the Ravens. And the Ravens, well, you find ways to build your football team to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. >> Mike Tomlin said it would be a big game if it was just a scrimmage. That's what they feel about one another. Third down and 9. They're bringing everybody. Stepping away from it. Roethlisberger. Throws off-balance. Has Holmes! Holmes cuts back middle past Walker. Sidesteps another hit. Miller down there leading the charges. Washington's gonna throw a block. And Holmes has taken it in! Touchdown, Pittsburgh! [ Crowd cheering ] Not taking this one away from Holmes. What a couple of nifty moves and some great downfield blocking. >> Yeah, it was a blitz by the Ravens' defense. And Ben Roethlisberger once again getting extra time, moving in the pocket. And when you're blitzing, you've got to spread your guys out, you've got to stay in your lanes. You look like you're covering the receivers. But when you let the quarterback move, that's -- Fabian Washington -- too tough of a job to run all around the field with a wide receiver. >> How about Roethlisberger's throw? Off-balance. Off his back foot. Injured again. Reed adds the extra point. 13-0, Pittsburgh. You know, Roethlisberger had the big play to Ward on the first drive of the game. That was on third and 12. Went for 45 yards. This one on third and 9 goes for the touchdown. The third and longs. They did it last week to San Diego. Doing it to the Ravens. Gets past Figurs. Madison down there on the coverage. And they pin the Ravens back at the 12. >> Well, Jim, let's look at the touchdown. You're the defenders. Watch everybody on the field -- the receivers for the Steelers. Here comes the blitz by the Baltimore Ravens. Nobody close to being open. Roethlisberger moves around. He throws it. And we saw it in the first game -- receivers uncovering while the football is in the air. >> At this point here, it's starting to look like that runback he had last week against the Chargers, isn't it? The last 20 yards? >> Same spot. >> Same spot. Same pylon. Down that same sideline. >> And look at that coverage by Fabian Washington. Terrific. You got to blame that on the defensive front for allowing the quarterback to have that much time. >> It's McGahee. And Ravens may have their first first down. Their first four possessions. An uninspired punt, pick, punt, and turning it over on downs after Lewis forced a fumble and set them up on the Pittsburgh side of the field. >> Of course, there's no reason to panic if you're the Baltimore Ravens. Your defense has gotten itself in some pretty good positions. Just not making the plays. Your offense has just got to quit making mistakes. >> Gaither moving early. So they were inches shy of a first. >> False start. Number 71, offense. 5-yard penalty. Second down. >> All of us at CBS Sports sending along our best wishes to our great friend, great man, Dr. Myles Brand. Now here's McGahee. Fighting. And the pile is pushed back. It'll be third and about 2. >> Well, I've said it a few times today. The Baltimore Ravens -- everybody kind of has the same way of playing this offense. They all get up there worried about the run. They try to stop it. And then they let Joe Flacco throw one-on-one passes to Derrick Mason, and they hit them at a very high percentage in those situations. Today, the Steelers not coming up, taking away those first-down throws, and making it very difficult on this Baltimore offense. >> Let's see what Cam Cameron sends in. You saw him, the coordinator. McGahee. And the delay, stutter-step move by McGahee allows him to find a seam and allows Baltimore to move the chains for the first time. >> Yeah. Not a surprising call at all. Play it safe and conservative. And just keep waiting this game out. James Farrior. Nice tackle that time. But you don't want to put the football in Joe Flacco's hand against a blitzing defense that's fast, that can create confusion. And if you throw it inside, there's a good chance you're gonna get in trouble. >> Ray Rice is flanking Flacco. They come out of the gun now. On first down. It's Rice. He is decked by Woodley. >> They played them twice, and they're in the same division. They know how fast this defense is, how good it is. >> There's Dick LeBeau. The much-heralded defensive coordinator for the Steelers. The oldest coach in the NFL at 71. There is a flag. Carollo's gonna back them up 5. >> Illegal formation. Number 79 was at the end of the line of scrimmage. 5-yard penalty. We'll replay the down. >> Saw a glimpse of Dick LeBeau. This is his 50th year in the NFL as a coach or a player. And what a player he was, with 62 career interceptions. >> Tremendous player. And we heard Troy Polamalu talking about him, that he puts -- of course, he's the one who designs this defense. And he puts all those statistics up for them every week. And "Let's keep putting up good numbers. That means we're playing well. And that's how you win games." And of course, he reminds them all the time that he was a very good player himself. >> [ Chuckles ] >> And he has a lot of fun with the players. And I saw him before the game, and for 71, it looks like he can still get out there and run around a little if he wanted to. >> Yeah, I said to him last week, inside The Bubble, their practice facility, I said, "Coach, how do you stay in such good shape? Give me a little advice here. What kind of diet are you on?" He said, "It's all about stress, Jim." >> Stress will keep it off of you. Well, being inside that Bubble Friday afternoon. It's minus-4. So it wasn't... That'll keep the weight off of you, too, trying to stay warm. >> It's gonna be a first and 15 for Baltimore. So they take away that last play. Boy, it took a while to sort that out, didn't it? So... They erase the Rice run. And Flacco... Hit when he throws it. That was Woodley again in on him. Pass in the area of Clayton. >> Took longer than usual. Usually... Had what he wanted. Just take the football, get rid of it. When he has to hold it just a little bit, it allows... Boy, look at Woodley coming over top of the blocker. That's why, when you're a running back against these really talented outside linebackers, when you try to go down low and cut 'em, they just jump over the top of you and make plays. >> Woodley making plays like he did last week. Two sacks on San Diego. In on a lot of plays in the first half here. Second and 15. That's to Rice. Good stiff-arm by the rookie. Picks up the first and barrels ahead. Ray Rice, the rookie out of Rutgers. >> Yeah, Ray Rice, Willis McGahee. Get them in the game. Nobody to block, so he just sneaks out. Nobody's open down the field. And a good job that time by Joe Flacco. And another running back, Jim, fresh legs and strong. What a straight-arm -- stiff-arm -- to James Farrior. >> Good for 22. They had only 33 yards total offense before that play. On first down. It's McGahee. And Farrior, just after being stiff-armed, comes back. Puts a little force into that one for his side. >> Yeah, you know, guys we just don't talk enough about -- when you talk about this front, we're always talking about the linebackers for the Steelers. But Aaron Smith. You know, Casey Hampton. Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel. Just terrific up front, helping those linebackers to run around and do what they need to do. And the Ravens know it. The defensive linemen for the Steelers -- very tough to move them around. That's why you got to find different ways to run the football. >> Larry Foote sits out a play. It's second down, 10. Heap scoops that one right off the turf. Now they rule it incomplete. Third and 10 coming up. And for Joe Flacco, you can't call it a shaky start, but he has been picked already. And he's just had very little time to operate with. You can see that one hops in to Heap and is ruled incomplete. Flacco turned 24 on Friday. >> You know what it is, Jim? He practiced all week. They said he was terrific in practice. Then you come out in the game, and you get nothing -- no looks, the receivers that you threw to all week are not open. And it's hard for a young quarterback to adjust to that. >> Has not completed a throw to a wide receiver to this point. Third and 10. Now he does. And that's good for the first. That moves the football to the Steelers' side of the field. Mark Clayton for 15. >> This is what they excel at. Just watch, as you see Clayton come all the way across the field. And watch the drop by Joe Flacco, how deep he is. He's 10 yards deep, drifts about 12, and then throws it about 35 yards down the field. Right on a line. And this is what they excel at. When you give him time and let him get his feet set, Joe Flacco can deliver it down the field with just about anybody in the NFL. >> Ryan Clark with the hit. They go unbalanced line here. You notice that a lot, don't you, with Baltimore, Phil? >> Yeah, they do. They either run to that unbalanced side, but sometimes it's about throwing it to Todd Heap. >> They're gonna go back to the right side with McGahee. This drive started back at the Baltimore 12. And now they're near the Pittsburgh 40. >> You know, Jim, when they go unbalanced line, what happens is that they put it to the left side. The defense, they go, "They're gonna run towards the big guys." That just makes sense. So the run does start that way. But everybody pursues so hard towards it, the running back -- just like that time -- they cut it back, and they get good gains. And 3 yards is a good run against the Steelers. >> Sets up second and 7. That's McGahee. Into three Steelers. And Nick Eason, a fourth, jumps into the pile, as well. 1 yard. We've met with Flacco a number of times this year. Did you see any extra tension on the face of the rookie last night, Phil. >> Uh, no. >> No. [ Chuckles ] >> He's always... >> The only tension I saw was when I talked to him after seeing him in training camp. >> Injury time-out. That was James Harrison who was hurt. He was hit by one of his own guys as they piled up McGahee. Watch 92. He's at the bottom here. Woodley's on him, then Eason comes on top. I think his left foot got a little bit stuck in there. Eason landed on it, but he was able to walk off without much of a limp. Flacco. Everyone around him. And he goes down for the sack. Aaron Smith. And a loss of 7. >> Well, they're trying to throw the football to the right. And because of the pressure, it makes Joe Flacco come off the three receivers to the right. They had what they wanted to get the first down. Hard to stand in there. James Harrison pretty excited about the sack. >> Yes, he was. And he runs out onto the field. They force them to punt. Koch. That's Moore. Fielding it. And brought down by Nick Greisen. First and 10 for Pittsburgh. And they go with Parker for a couple. He's had two completions of 40-plus yards. Second and 8 here. At the 13, with Parker. He's been well contained so far. Another 2. >> Yeah, that's a little wrinkle they got in for this game. Trying to change formations up. And it was kind of the old Redskins counter trey, where they had people all on the left side pulling to the right. But what happens -- it's just too slow. The Ravens' defense just overreacts and can overpower you. And that's what Rex Ryan wants, and it stopped the run. And the Ravens -- and this is a young franchise, of course -- back in the late '90s, they've had 10 career playoff games and only lost one road playoff game. Got a time-out here. Coming out of a Pittsburgh time-out. Jim Nantz and Phil Simms in the second quarter, trying to sort it out on the AFC side, with Arizona the champions of the National Football Conference. Congratulations to the Cardinals and head coach Ken Whisenhunt, former offensive coordinator here at Pittsburgh. He'll be taking his team to Tampa. Third and 6 for the Steelers. >> Ah, he hesitated on the count. He knows it's gonna be a blitz now. They pick it up. And they get the completion to Nate Washington for the first. >> Really good job by the Steelers' offense. First thing they do -- Ben Roethlisberger does a little, like, fake snap count. Uh-oh. Here they all come. It allows the offensive line to see the blitzers. They pick it up. And then something that Ben Roethlisberger is very good at -- catching the football, throwing in rhythm. And what location he puts to Nate Washington -- low where he can body-catch it and not take a big hit. >> Big field-position play right there, and hold on a minute. There's a flag. They're gonna challenge over on the Ravens' side whether Washington made the catch. Saw a little bobble on that replay. >> Well, it's a big play. And if John Harbaugh thinks there's any chance this is incomplete... >> Baltimore is challenging the ruling on the field that it was a catch. We'll review the play. >> You do it because it would be a punting situation and tremendous field position. >> Oh-ho! >> How 'bout that? How 'bout that? >> Won't take long to sort this one out. >> There was a bobble. >> Put the squeeze on it right here. >> He really did. >> [ Laughs ] >> And does it at any time -- nope, it doesn't come out. Play is over. >> Know what happened -- they got the call from up top. They already made one great call when they challenged the pass to Holmes in the first quarter and they got it the way they wanted it. But they had one quick look at that replay with Washington. You could see there was a bobble, but it wasn't in tight enough to determine whether or not it touched the ground, but they went ahead. Like you said, probably worth the risk because it's such a big field-position changer. >> At this time of the game, yes, and you know what, Jim? Yes, there was a bobble, they saw that, and then the player jumped up and said, "No." They recognized it and saw it, too. Of course, they didn't realize that, as you said, he put the squeeze on it with his legs. This'll put the Ravens out of challenges for the rest of the game. >> Let's go down to Steve Tasker. What's the latest on Hines Ward, Steve? >> Hines Ward's got a coat over his shoulders. He's walking along next to Mike Tomlin. It does not look like he's going to be back. His return is still questionable, and it looks probably like he -- You can see it on his face, guys. It looks like he's done for the night. >> Wow, okay. >> Well, we've watched him, Steve, as he's come back into the game a few times. I've watched him run down the field, and he is definitely not even close to full speed. Like I said, that changes the Ravens. They looked like they were going to put a lot of double coverage on him during the game. Of course, now they don't have to worry about that. They haven't taken advantage of the situation as much as you would think -- or I thought they would have. >> Hines Ward, who comes up with so many big catches for them, probably done. >> After reviewing the play, it's been determined the receiver caught the ball, maintained control of the ball. The ball never hit the ground. It's a catch. First down. Baltimore will be charged with their second time-out. Also their second challenge. And they will have no more challenges the rest of the half. >> Yeah, that's right. So, Jim, when you challenge, if you win them both, you get a third. The fact that they didn't win it, now that eliminates any more challenges for them. >> 151 yards passing for Roethlisberger here in the first half. They have 5 minutes to go. And leading it at 13-0. Mike Tomlin. We were talking to Mike about, you know, just taking on this responsibility with this storied franchise that went from Noll to Cowher to Tomlin. How young he is, and his family -- his mother, specifically, back there in Newport News, Virginia. His mother says she gets pretty excited about this. "I'm dreaming about him winning a Super Bowl" and all that. He says, "The minute I took the job, I stopped dreaming and started living it." >> Started living it. >> "I'm a flatliner," he said. A competitor, but he's pretty unfazed, you know? >> Yes, he is. And I think you said it too -- the fact that they're playing Baltimore just settled this whole team down this week. Instead of thinking, "The AFC Championship Game," they said, "It's the Ravens once again." >> Gave them a sense of normalcy. As Parker manages to find a tiny little opening. And rides Douglas and Lewis with him for 5. >> I'll just say this about Mike Tomlin. You know, your family enjoys it so much when you're having success as a coach or a player. He goes, "My mom, she watches the press conferences. I mean, who watches that stuff?" And what does she -- calls him up and says, "I tell him, 'You got to sit up. You're slouching.'" >> Slouching a little bit. He says, "Come on, Mom. Nobody cares about that." >> So, lot of fun when you have success in this league. >> Moms can do that, though. Second down and 5. 4:29 to go in the half. And right in on him is Ngata. As Parker -- Oh, we got a flag on the back end of it. >> Boy, Ngata he is just -- they can't block him. He's so big and athletic and strong. Everything you want to say. We talked about it. You remember we saw the film of him playing rugby in high school. He was about this size in high school, playing rugby. So you can imagine what they were trying to tackle. >> After the play was over -- personal foul. Unnecessary roughness, number 68. Half the distance to the goal. The down will count. Third down. >> Kemoeatu. >> That's a big play. You know, the Pittsburgh Steelers trying to just control the -- Oh, hands to the face. >> It's going to get it for the retaliation. >> Yes, that's what it is. Marques Douglas with the hands to the face. And the Ravens talk about it, not committing those type of penalties. They didn't last week against the Tennessee Titans. It was a big factor in the game. >> They've got to get all the way out to the 33 for the first. They run it with Moore. Bounced out by Walker. Well, that penalty certainly was -- again, back to that old chess-match, field-position issue. >> Absolutely. That's a team that's up 13-0. And also a team that knows they're playing the Baltimore Ravens. >> And Mitch Berger out to punt. They had Sepulveda handling the duties at the start of the year. Then it was Berger, then Ernster, then back to Berger. Leonhard's got a chance to run this one. Gets passed the wave. Leonhard inside the 40! Got to beat the punter. And Berger knocks the ball out and Leonhard down. But still a big return and the jolt that the Ravens needed. >> Boy, it is. You've talked about it. We've seen him on the defensive side already today a couple times. And we said he is an excellent returner. Immediately recognizes right up the middle. No hesitation. And then I like this, too -- don't wait for the blocker. Just try to take it. But Berger -- what a job attacking Leonhard and knocking him out of bounds. >> 45-yard return. Jim Leonhard, who had three punt returns for the Badgers of Wisconsin. He had a big return, if you remember, in that second matchup against Pittsburgh. The game at Baltimore. >> And that penalty, personal foul by the Pittsburgh Steelers, changed a little bit. Helped Baltimore get the football back. >> Flacco coming out, looking for the end zone for Mason. Over his head. And this is the deepest they've been all game long. You saw Harrison back onto the field for Pittsburgh. >> Something they've been -- I've talked about it. They just are so used to getting these easy throws outside, and that time there was single coverage. But they're playing up on the receivers, trying to throw the timing off, and it's really worked very well for this Pittsburgh defense. >> On first down they go to Mason, who had an 80-catch year but has not had a single snag so far tonight. They go with the delay. The give -- McGahee. Stuffed at the line by James Farrior, the pro bowler. >> So far this -- Mike Tomlin said, "If we don't gamble -- if we don't have to gamble to stop the run, they're gonna have a very tough time moving the football on us." >> Five trips into the red zone this postseason. Couple of touchdowns, three field goals. They've got third and 10. Flacco. Incomplete. Flag. Was going for Mason. McFadden on the coverage. Boy, did the Ravens pick up the blitz. >> Yeah, they did. Joe Flacco just shook off a blitzer and stood in there and made the throw. >> Pass interference. Number 20, defense. Automatic first down. >> McFadden the one flagged for it. They're gonna put the football at the 3. >> And the timing of the blitz was perfect by the Steelers on the outside. Oh, look at McGahee, comes across the formation. What a block. >> That's McGahee picking up Timmons. >> Look at the arm, the contact before the football gets there. That's why they called it on McFadden. >> Time-out called by Baltimore. Called by Pittsburgh. Hold on -- Steelers call a time-out. [ Crowd booing ] Crowd reacting to the replay. >> Well, as you watch this game... >> And you see Frank Walker going in. Now, Walker, the replacement starter for Samari Rolle. And this puts them in a pinch when you start shifting guys around. Daren Stone, one of the backups, was hurt on the opening kickoff. This will put, probably, Corey Ivy into play. >> Yeah, well, it'll change what they do. Gonna be, of course, almost impossible now for them to play some man-to-man coverage. So they'll have to find some different ways -- When they blitz, they'll play zone behind it and not put pressure on all the backups. >> I see Ngata right there in the huddle. >> I would think he's going to be a lead blocker, Jim. He's done this in the -- They're going to bring the tight end position this time to the left. >> McGahee, the back. First and goal. Got Ngata lined up over there against Harrison. They go McGahee. He's in for the touchdown. Baltimore's on the board. >> Well, what a turnaround. The shifting, the motion. And they just overloaded the left side. Hard for the Pittsburgh Steelers to make that adjustment, and that's why they walk into the end zone with a touchdown. Unbalanced line to the left. Look at that blocking. Pushing the Steelers back into the end zone. >> It all sets it up. It adds up to this -- 7 for Baltimore. Matt Stover has now made 410 consecutive point afters. >> Look from behind, Jim, how many linemen they have to one side -- you got four. The Steelers -- only three defenders and a linebacker. They get them outnumbered, and McGahee walks into the end zone. >> Ray Lewis elects to watch it off the big screen. [ Laughs ] Turns away from the real action. >> Well, he said to us last night, "We've had them on the ropes twice, and we let them get away. And it's our fault. We didn't come through in the clutch." You talked to much, and I know Jim Leonhard's caught your attention. How he came in and tried out for the Baltimore Ravens. And they actually talked about -- we talked a little bit about it a couple weeks ago -- releasing him. >> Yeah, they thought, "Let's cut him." He was out there with the first unit. >> And Rex Ryan said, "I think we better slow down there. You know, he's starting right now." So he came in and learned a defense which is very complex, and they do a lot of stuff. I think, if you're a fan, you can tell that by watching it on TV. And he picked it up right away. Then they just found out how good of an athlete he is. He's a great leader. Talked about the return skills. Intercepted a lot of passes in college. And he's brought all those skills to the NFL and made it work. >> "Flat out an athlete," that's what John Harbaugh said to us last night. He's got a fumble recovery, as well, in this game. That's Hauschka sending it down to the 2. Carey Davis... ...meets Marcus Smith. But how about Arizona? Here's a team that, during the regular season, gave up 56 to the Jets, 48 to the Eagles on Thanksgiving, 47 at New England, and then they time it -- they gel at the right time. Of course, they clinched that division so early out there. And now they're going to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history. The second 9-7 team to ever advance to a Super Bowl, joining the Rams of '79. As that pass is over the head of Mewelde Moore. Roethlisberger hit on the arm when he threw it. >> Yeah, you look at this game. The Baltimore Ravens just withstood everything going wrong for them, and they've got it turned around. And now they're forcing the Steelers -- "Can you find a way to get it moving in your direction?" The offense trying to protect a 13-0 lead. And Ben Roethlisberger's arm was hit as he threw the football. Trying to shake it off. >> Evan Oglesby is one of the extra defensive backs. He's at the bottom of the screen. Second down and 10. Again, they're without Walker. Corey Ivy, as we said, would be out there, too. And there is the pass to Sweed. And that's the aforementioned Oglesby who twists him down, but it gains 6. Gonna go for another snap here before the 2-minute warning. And it's a third and 4. Pass knocked down by Corey Ivy, who was blitzing. >> Yeah, this Ravens defense, they've got their rhythm. They know -- Okay, all the defenders are lined up straight across the field. That's a sure sign to the quarterback that here comes a blitz. And they're running short routes. When they see the Ravens put pressure on them, all the receivers are changing their routes, and the Ravens are driving on them. That time the pass just got knocked down, though. >> 5'9" Corey Ivy making the play. Don't forget Leonhard's back there awaiting another return. Berger sends it over to the sideline area. It's Leonhard. No operating room this time, as Davis... Well, the momentum certainly has shifted here. 1:51 to go in the half. Jim Nantz and Phil Simms with you from the Steel City. What's happened here, Phil? >> I'd say that Hines Ward went out for the Pittsburgh Steelers on the offensive side. They can't sustain anything. The crowd's been out of this game for quite a while. Finally they're getting a little energy going, but... the Ravens got this game exactly where they want it. Slow and methodical. >> It's McGahee. And Aaron Smith grabs ahold of him. Holds him to a 2-yard run. They have, in many ways, sucked the energy right out of the place. No Hines Ward. No running game to speak of for the Steelers so far. >> And you think about it -- the Ravens, they came out and tried to catch the Steelers by surprise. If they wouldn't have done that, there's a good chance they might have been ahead because all they did was dig a hole for themselves. >> That was Timmons getting picked up on the blitz. Pass tipped! And incomplete. James Farrior batted that ball into the air. >> Inside the numbers. That's where trouble comes for young quarterbacks. We've talked about it. James Farrior reads the eyes of the quarterback. He drifts and gets his hand up there. Any time a football is tipped in the middle of the field, it's almost always intercepted. Very lucky, Joe Flacco, that time it's not picked off. >> That's William Gay, who had the pick of Flacco at the end of the game in December, was the closest to grabbing hold of that one. Third down and 8. They blitz again. It's Carter coming in on him! Incomplete. Over the head of, first, Clayton and then William gay of Pittsburgh. >> Trying to get it down the field. Good timing by Carter on the blitz. He comes from this side. There's two blitzers coming. Willis McGahee can't get them both. And what they were hoping to do, the Ravens' offense -- throw it down the field along the sidelines. Joe Flacco has no idea this blitzer's coming free. Very fortunate to get rid of the football. He's trying to throw it over one defender, in front of the other. >> The Steelers will have a chance for a little business before the half. Koch punts it. 25-yard line. Holmes. Uh-oh! Holmes is free again! And Edgar Jones decks him at the 50. Holmes making a couple of big plays. Anthony Madison had a pivotal block. Madison's had three special-teams tackles and a good block here to help free Holmes. Watch 37. >> Boy, what a turnaround at the end of the first half. >> He was clapping as the punt was in the air, looking over at the sideline. "Hello?! Wake-up call, Santonio!" >> You talked about it last week, Jim -- we talked about it. When they think there's a chance for a return, and they're not too backed up, the returner -- they put Santonio Holmes in there to do just what he did. He's the home-run hitter when it comes to returning punts. >> Clapping toward the Ravens' bench. If somebody could have engaged him in a conversation, he may never have seen the punt at all. Here's Roethlisberger. He's got a man wide open! And it's dropped for a touchdown! Limas Sweed, who had a drop last week. >> Yes, he did. Top of your screen. He dropped one last week. Little double move. What a good hesitation by Limas Sweed. And he gets Oglesby to bite for it. Remember, he's a backup. And look at the Ravens' sideline. Oh, I'll tell you what. He took his eyes off the football. That's why he dropped it. At the last second, you can see he's looking inside -- "Where's the safety?" And I think that's what causes him to drop it. >> Sweed is still down in the end zone. We know he's suffering from a bruised ego and a little embarrassment after that. But my goodness. That was a perfectly thrown ball, maybe just a half a yard long, but certainly very catchable. >> No, no, no. No, it was perfect. >> Perfect. >> It was perfect. [ Crowd booing ] Inside 2 minutes, an injury, that will be a time-out charged to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But last week, the Tennessee Titans had some move goes on the outside. They worked against this Raven defense. Of course, we were watching practice. They had quite a few of these looks, trying to get down the field. When you get those opportunities, oh, I mean, you just... You don't take advantage of them, a lot of times, they come back to get you. >> Hines Ward, who probably will not return. Look at the coach over here of the Ravens on the left of your screen. He's just incredulous! >> Look at the eyes of Limas Sweed. He looks up. Well, it's -- It doesn't look like he quite follows -- Second time I look at it, it's not as bad as -- Maybe I overreacted the first time. >> Is it possible he was looking up at the giant screen? I mean, I think, actually, he was looking in that direction a little bit. So Mike Tomlin stares him down. He costs them a touchdown and a time-out. Second down, 10. No time-outs remaining for the Steelers with 53 seconds. Jarret Johnson in on Roethlisberger. Flips it incomplete, dangerously, in the area of Matt Spaeth. And again, Trevor Pryce has been in that backfield a bunch. >> Yeah, they got to fix that. The right side of the Steelers' line. Watch the game on the outside. They're coming around to the inside, and they're just not picking it up. The last two times they've run it, the rusher has come completely free at Ben Roethlisberger. >> So now third down. 47 seconds. >> Getting a lot of action and getting a lot of results. >> Here comes Ed Reed. Ball intended for Holmes. Washington in the area. Fabian Washington. >> It is good recognition again by the receiver, by Ben Roethlisberger. Watch. Everybody on the blitz. Threw too fast. But look at the pickup by the Steelers. Oh, my gosh, if he throws that in front -- it could have been 6. Fabian Washington a little late in reacting. >> Now Berger in to punt. >> Two big opportunities, Jim. >> Oh, the big one -- the biggest of all -- sure touchdown. Is there gonna be a flag? Yes, there is. Edgar Jones ran into Berger. So they come crashing into the punter. It was fourth and 10. >> Personal foul. Roughing the kicker. Sliding into the plant leg. 15-yard penalty from the previous spot. First down. >> That'll set up the Steelers at the 35. >> Jim, does he get hit? >> Well, actually, did he get hit? Was there contact? Yes, he landed his back foot on Edgar Jones. >> That's right. There's nothing that Edgar Jones does to cause Mitch Berger to fall down. Yeah, he's mad, he knows it. It was a good acting job. Call upon your defense one more time. >> John Harbaugh, who has a trained eye for special-teams play. Was the long-time special-teams coach of the Eagles. Came over just a year ago today. Head coach of the Ravens. Big penalty, though. Roethlisberger looking around. Goes with the short option to Miller. And Limas Sweed comes in and throws a devastating block on Corey Ivy, which the crowd reacts to. Picks up 14. Sweed takes out a little of his frustration on Ivy, who is still down. >> Opportunities lost by both teams. The hitting. >> Tell you, Baltimore's running out of defensive backs. They're already without Rolle. Walker's been taken in. Now Ivy's hurt. Daren Stone hurt on the opening kickoff. Nakamura is on the field right now. Let's see how Pittsburgh uses the clock here. Roethlisberger throws. And that is out of bounds. That was Oglesby who caught it but was out. >> Well, 16 seconds left in the first half. If you're Baltimore's defense, you concede the field goal. You back up and just make sure you don't give the touchdown. >> There is Edgar Jones, who got flagged for the roughing the punter. He's the backup tight end, and he's been brought in, emergency work here for a couple of occasions, on the defensive line, as well. So playing offense, defense, and special teams. >> Yeah, we saw him last week play some defensive line for them down in Tennessee. >> Watch out. This is dangerous. Will they get the field-goal unit out here? >> Got to spike the ball. It's gonna be close. They're not gonna make it. >> Will they have a chance to get the field-goal unit on the field? I don't think so. Harbaugh says, "Guys, let's go in. Let's just go in, keep moving." Tomlin makes an appeal for 1 second. >> That's the end of the first half. >> That's it. >> Yeah, Jim, I didn't think they made it. >> No, I didn't either. >> Watch the clock. Of course, they knew if they threw it in the middle of the field to hurry. He did not make it. >> Nope. >> Boy, that's a big 3 points. >> Yes, it is. We'll be seeing Flacco and the Ravens shortly. They have Ray Rice back deep to return. So you go in at halftime. If you're John Harbaugh and Cam Cameron, what do you do to try to settle down a rookie quarterback who to this point, all season long, has been unfazed about virtually anything? >> You go in at halftime, and you say, "We're doing great. Everything's fine. Let's just keep playing our style of football." And again, remember, we've seen it -- Joe Flacco, all he needs is one throw. >> This is Rice. From the goal line. He absorbs a couple of hits. Fails to make it to the 20. Let's go down to Steve Tasker. Steve? >> Well, Jim, I spoke to John Harbaugh on his way off the field, and I asked him what he was going to tell his men. He didn't seem flustered at all. He said, "I'm going to tell them to keep battling, just keep battling, and we're going to figure out a way to win this." On the other side of the field, the Pittsburgh Steelers did not stay in the locker room very long at all. They were out well before the Baltimore Ravens hit the field, and they've been out on the field, ready to play, for about 5 minutes of a 12-minute halftime. >> Okay, here comes Flacco. Rookie from Delaware. School that produced Rich Gannon, Scott Brunner, and now Joe Flacco. First Division I-AA quarterback taken in the first round since Steve McNair. And he hands it off. To McGahee for a couple, as Harrison and Foote combining on the tackle. And you see such a difference here in the passing category. >> Difference in the first half, Jim, is just the passing yards. Two big plays by Ben Roethlisberger in the passing game -- that's been the difference. But I talked about Joe Flacco, one play, because we said it to start this game -- he is a home-run hitter. He looks down the field. He's capable of making very dynamic throws. So that's what has to worry you if you're the Steelers. "We've done a lot of good stuff. But if he makes one terrific play, we're behind." >> A second and 8, and they're gonna get flagged here. Yeah. Well... Starting to look like that Tennessee game last week -- was it gonna be picked up in time? Last week, of course, it worked for the advantage of the Ravens. >> Time-out, Baltimore. That's the team's first charged time-out. >> Oh, they take a time-out. >> The coach called a time-out before the expiration of the time. >> Second half, save those time-outs. >> Flurries abound. Wind chill at 15. Would you have rather had the 5 yards taken, the 5-yard penalty? >> Yes, I would. The second half -- I've always believed, the second half of a game -- especially in one that you know is gonna be close like this -- don't use those time-outs unless it's about scoring. >> Second and 8. And Flacco hits Mason. Second catch by a receiver today. And that goes for 16. >> Boy, really good job. Joe Flacco just following Derrick Mason across the field this time. And what's the key for a quarterback when you're throwing down the middle of the field? See in front of the receiver. You know he's coming across. Look for the open zone where you can lay the football into. >> First catch by Mason. 10,000-yard-career man. Flacco has the football. Polamalu knows that! And he makes him pay. >> They ran that play because a couple times in the first half, I know Joe Flacco was saying, "If I would have kept it, I could have gone and got some extra yards." But we've seen it with both teams. On the perimeter, these defenders attack the line of scrimmage once somebody gets outside. You see it with the linebackers of the Ravens. And what a play by Troy Polamalu. That calf injury didn't look like it slowed him down that time. >> I don't think so. Second and 18. That stirs the crowd. It's over to Rice. Timmons runs him down. Still be third and long after a 7-yard hookup to Rice. Third and 11. Flacco. And that ball was tipped by Polamalu. >> He read the quarterback once again. You've got to use your eyes as a quarterback. And Joe Flacco... In the middle of the field, Troy Polamalu -- look at him. You could see he was reacting strictly to the quarterback, and he's able to outrun the football. >> Flacco trying to fling it in there to Derrick Mason. So the opening drive, second half, gets bogged down. Sam Koch is called on. Doesn't catch this one. Two-hopper and out of bounds. Baltimore's defensive unit on the field. There is Frank Walker. We never expected him to return. Shoulder injury, first half. Willie Parker. Not finding the open lanes that were there a week ago. Bart Scott is the one to meet him. There is Hines Ward, who has been sidelined since the first quarter. Had a big catch, though, in the early stages here. Set up a field goal. This was on a third-down play. Made the catch. >> Boy, you can see the right leg being bent. And believe me -- Hines Ward, so much of this offense evolves around him. He blocks for the runners. He takes two defenders away from other guys. That's gone now. Nobody's gonna get double-teamed on this Pittsburgh offense. >> Miller shifts to the right. That's painful to look at that right knee twisting like that for Hines Ward. And Washington. Ball's out at the end! They're gonna count that as a catch. >> Yes, they are. Catch and a fumble. >> That's Justin Hartwig, the man who started the play by snapping it to Roethlisberger, then falls on it to preserve it for Pittsburgh. >> This defense -- watch the play -- everybody watching the quarterback. >> The ruling on the field is down by contact. >> Down by contact. But when they watch the quarterback -- when you do that, Jim -- I say it every game -- it allows more defenders to attack once the football is thrown. That's how you get turnovers. One guy grab him, the second guy go for the football. >> So no fumble. And it's third and 3. Roethlisberger. Twisting around twice! And sandwiched by Ngata and Douglas. >> Boy, Ngata is having one terrific game. He is a difference maker so far for the Baltimore Ravens. Not really noted as a pass rusher but chases Roethlisberger out of the pocket. And stays with it. Caused him to turn around. And the coverage down the field -- I'm watching them. I didn't see anybody open initially. And the replay confirms it. >> Ray Lewis also in on that. Berger. His best punt of the night. Makes Leonhard retreat to the 28. He's able to scoot ahead. Jim Nantz with Phil Simms at the AFC Championship Game. The winner to take on Arizona. Super Bowl XLIII. It's Flacco. Gets time to plant the feet and airs it out. Over the head of Clayton. They're not doing what they had been doing much of the late season -- that's run the football with Le'Ron McClain, who was banged up last week against Tennessee. >> Well, the difference is -- You're right, Jim. The difference is they're trying for these big shots. But as I've said a few times, no cheating by the Steeler defense. So they're hoping that the Steelers are thinking we're gonna run it on first down. That's why they went down the field. But two defenders, once again, on the receiver. >> You saw it -- 29 points allowed by Pittsburgh in the third quarter all season. Fewest in any quarter by any team all season. Now, just when you call on it, it's McClain finally getting a carry. Into the arms of James Harrison. Harrison shaken up for a play or two in the first half but back out there, as is Larry Foote. >> This was what they wanted to do, the Baltimore Ravens. James Harrison coming from the outside, where he's gonna help in pass coverage. Reacts to the run. How's that for reacting to the run? And what a hit. But they wanted to run the football with Ray Rice and Willis McGahee and kind of get the game moving before they brought McClain in. >> That was McClain's first carry. And it went for 3. Third and 7. From the 42. Almost intercepted. Thrown at Todd Heap. Bryant McFadden over there to break it up. >> Make a quarterback throw it before he's ready, and turnovers happen. Blitzer comes free. James Harrison. And Flacco trying to anticipate. Throwing right into the coverage. Anytime you got to throw before you're ready, you're gonna be off target. >> Todd Heap without a catch tonight. Koch this time delivers it to the 20. Mewelde Moore. Pittsburgh -- this series commencing at the 20. Since the long pass play for the touchdown to Santonio Holmes, they've only picked up 53 yards total offense. >> 'Cause it's hard to protect yourself against a defense when they come at times and places where you're not used to it. >> Fakes to Parker. Wants to go screen. Jams it in there. And Bart Scott bangs him back. How 'bout the play that really closed out the first half when they squandered a chance for 3, the Steelers? We've got a flag. >> Screen took too long. The linemen, they know how to time it. That's why you get an illegal man down the field. Well, at the end of the first half, Jim -- usually when you work on -- everybody works on it. I know the Steelers talked about it in the huddle, to make sure you get down and spike the football. >> Number 62, illegally downfield on the pass. Offense. That penalty is declined. Third down. >> What happens is it always takes longer in a game than it does in practice. Because in practice, they throw the ball back to them, and they spot it real quick, where the officials in the game got to pick it up, throw it, respot it, get everybody set, then get out of the way. And it's three or four seconds extra. It proved to be the difference in the Steelers getting an easy field-goal try. >> They would have been better served with an incompletion. >> Changes everything in this game right now. We're one play away from either team...being in front. >> Pryce jumped across early. >> Encroachment. 98, defense. 5-yard penalty. Third down. >> Here's the stick on Parker by Bart Scott. Another one to add to the collection. Corey Ivy's back on the field for that Baltimore defense. So both Ivy and Walker returned after taking their lumps in the first half. Third and 6. Got Jarret Johnson lined up over the center. That's a new wrinkle. Roethlisberger looks for a second option. And he picks out the right man. It's Davis for the first down. The fullback. Has the first after 19. >> It's just a good job by Ben Roethlisberger. He doesn't panic. He stays in the pocket. And as he looks to his left, finally sees his outlet receiver, and that's what you work on all week. It's the two receivers to the left -- if they're not open, throw it short over the middle to the running back, which is Davis. Nice job. Big first down for the Pittsburgh Steelers. >> Just don't have that many first downs in this game. >> You get a first down, it's, like, exciting. >> It's like a touchdown. Generates the most energy, of course, we've heard all night, other than the Holmes breakaway. And look at this. No chance. There is Suggs, who was questionable coming into the game, making a play, making the sack. And losing 14 yards, the Steelers. >> Well, Suggs -- we thought maybe he wouldn't play in this game, but there was no doubt. If you talked to the -- Oh, what a nice move. To the inside and able to close. And you can tell -- not able to do a lot with that right arm and shoulder. But it was good enough. He laughed at us when we said, "Is he gonna play?" >> [ Laughs ] Yeah. >> "What, are you kidding?" There was a never a doubt. >> "It's the AFC Championship. Come on, guys." >> Everybody's playing. >> "I'm sorry. I take that question back." Second and 24. He's looking long. And has Miller. And he shakes off Reed. And there's Lewis bringing him down. But we do have a flag. Another big strike by the Steelers, but will it stand? It went for 30. Illegal contact. It will hold up. >> Prior to the pass, illegal contact. 35, defense. That penalty is declined. Result of the play -- first down. >> So much for second and 24. >> Heath Miller. He's gonna go across the field. In the middle of your screen. And he just runs through the zone in the coverage. His initial pass route, he's covered. But the extra time Ben Roethlisberger had, he saw the open space, he saw in front of the receiver and made a -- that was a very good throw. >> His fourth completion of at least 20 yards. Parker. Has some room. And chopped out by Fabian Washington after 5. Ben Roethlisberger. A captain this year. We talked to him about that, Phil. He was unaccustomed to being the in role of a leader on this team because there were always elder statesmen around. >> Right. >> Guys like Bettis. >> There's no doubt who's in charge of this football team now. >> It's Parker. Cuts inside to pick up the first. Good for 5. >> Small openings when you're a running back against this Baltimore defense. We've talked about Willie Parker, how fresh and the rest and the week off. And look what you're getting. And you can only make these kind of cuts if those legs are fresh and there's nothing wrong with you. Hard for running backs, Jim. We see it all the time. Hard to have success if there's anything wrong with you, because such a demanding, physical position. Can't execute unless you've got your health. >> Now at the 29 of the Ravens. And Parker. For about a yard. Again, back to this whole leadership thing -- Mike Tomlin said he is the legitimate leader of the unit. The team looks up to him. He's not the young kid behind a veteran offensive line anymore. >> Yeah, that's right. You know, Mike Tomlin gives him great compliments. Says, "He's at his best in crunch time. And we've made him the captain and we gave him the contract for this game." And so far, he's been the difference in the game. He's made some tremendous plays, and that's why the Steelers are ahead. Gonna block left. I heard him yell, "lucky!" >> Second and 9. Standing in the pocket. Now flings it out of bounds. Roethlisberger 6-2 in the postseason as a starter. Fastest to 50 ever for a five-year player in the league. In fact, the only one with over 50 wins in five years. First five seasons, though, most playoff wins by a quarterback -- Brady heads the list. Roethlisberger tied with Aikman for second. >> That's unbelievable. Troy Aikman, he didn't even win a game his first year. >> First year, when Jimmy Johnson was putting the pieces together, a 1-15 team. Super Bowls were on the way, though. From the 28. Third down and 9. Now he's going for the big one. Here's Sweed getting another chance. And this time Sweed does a good job of breaking up a pick. Would have been intercepted by Frank Walker. >> Yes, you're right. Underthrown. Inside instead of high. Maybe he should have thrown it behind the receiver. And Limas Sweed does a good job -- another double move -- of realizing it and then getting in there and breaking it up. >> Oh. And John Harbaugh thought perhaps they had created another takeaway. This is gonna be long here. 46 yards for Jeff Reed, who bleached his hair blond, as he told his teammates he would if they made the playoffs. Shocking blond. I'm talking platinum blond. From 46. It's good as gold. An 11-play drive that leads to a field goal -- 46 yards by Jeff Reed, his third of the game. >> Yeah, it was a tremendous drive. And an encroachment penalty that gave the Pittsburgh Steelers a third and 6 instead of third and 11 I thought was a big, big penalty by the Ravens. >> They converted it on third and 6 with a pass to Davis. Then they got the big conversion on second and 24 with the 30-yard play to Miller. Well, this kick doesn't go very far. Picked up by Daniel Wilcox, the backup tight end. Gives the Ravens a good starting point at the 37. 94 yards total offense for the Ravens. McGahee, though, is picking up some chunks. Gets out to the 50. Running behind Lorenzo Neal for 14. >> That's where you run against this Steelers defense. You either go inside around the center or you go outside. You go against the defensive tackles -- very hard to get them blocked. But Lorenzo Neal gets James Harrison occupied. And Willis McGahee looking quick. Breaks it out and gets a good gain. Longest run of the game for the Ravens. What did Coach Harbaugh say to us last night? "It could be a Willis game." Seen some explosion out of him the last month now with that knee, which hampered him even back in training camp, on the mend. Got the ball in his hands again. This time he was chased out by James Harrison. James Harrison, the only award winner who was not bounced in his first playoff game this year. You had MVP Peyton Manning lost in his first game. Mike Smith, the coach of the Falcons -- they lost to Arizona. Chad Pennington, comeback player of the year. Rookie of the year, Matt Ryan. James Harrison still standing. >> Yeah, he saw this. He goes, "Okay." Lorenzo Neal can't make the block. And it looked like it was gonna be a good running play. But the speed of the Steeler defense, they get two defenders up there to make the tackle. >> Second down, 10. That's Woodley. Woodley getting the sack. >> You spend so much time worrying about number 92 to your left, then you can't block Woodley to the right. And what happens is the offensive line goes here, and then you get Woodley to the right against Lorenzo Neal. So when you get one of these outside linebackers against a tight end or a running back, they make it happen. Woodley has become every bit the pass rusher that James Harrison is. >> Well, you've seen it the last two weeks. Flacco. Given time this time. That's Heap's first catch. But not much there because Polamalu puts an end to it. >> When you have all the defensive numbers that the Pittsburgh Steelers have, there's one thing you know -- you got to be a terrific-tackling defense to hold teams to under 300 yards, which they've done all year long. And Troy Polamalu just runs through it. Get 'em low. Hard to get through that. >> A minute to go in the third. Only a field goal generated here in the quarter -- by Pittsburgh -- as again their defense -- that Steeler defense in the third quarter just doesn't give anything up. 40-yard punt, and fair catch by Holmes. Let's go down to Steve Tasker. >> Baltimore defense comes off the field. There's always a lot of conversation going on. They talk about defensive adjustments, looks, they talk about the communication of certain plays that happened on the last drive. But after that last Pittsburgh Steeler field goal, they walked off the field, and they were silent. They came over, sat down, got a drink, and the coaches did all the talking. Jim? >> There's Ed Reed. We haven't called Reed's name as often as we normally do in a game. >> Yeah, they've done -- well, number-one key. Throw the football -- do not give Ed Reed a chance. Except for the one time that we saw in the first drive, he's had a hard time getting near the football. And that's interesting -- body language. Like Steve Tasker said, this Ravens team, they are talkers, communicators. They all know the defense. All 11 guys. >> It's back to Parker again. >> But they've seemed to overcome it. >> Justin Bannan. I'd say they do. Douglas also. >> Name you don't -- don't give him enough credit -- Justin Bannan. Down lineman. Another terrific guy, a lineman against the run. But just like the Steelers, it's so much about the linebackers and Ed Reed. The Ravens defense, we've already talked about all of them. >> That's an end around with Washington. >> There's Ed Reed. >> Yeah. And Ray Lewis, too. >> In the middle of the field, diagnose it, and shut it down quick. >> Tampa beckons for one of these teams. Which one will be facing Arizona in two weeks? Third and 8 to start the fourth quarter. Jim Nantz and Phil Simms here at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger. Gets the first-down target. It's Sweed with the catch. Roethlisberger was knocked down after the throw. He was hit by Bart Scott. >> A lot of moving. You got four blitzers from the right. Three to the left. Seven guys coming. They only had six blockers, but they pushed it to the outside. So Ben Roethlisberger was able to stand in there and throw to the one-on-one coverage down the field. Nice throw again. There's Bart Scott. But he's too late. Good disguise on the blitz. >> And a little redemption for Limas Sweed, who picks up the first with his second catch of the game. It's Parker. First hit by Lewis. >> Jim, go back to -- We did, I think, it was the third game of the year. The Pittsburgh Steelers -- this offensive line had been shuffled around during the off-season. The Philadelphia Eagles sacked Ben Roethlisberger eight times. We thought, "Boy, that's gonna be the kind of year it is. They can't pick up the blitzes. The offensive line's just not what we're used to seeing with the Steelers." But they've gotten better as the year's gone along. As Mike Tomlin says, "The offensive line's taken so much heat, it's brought them closer together." >> Yeah, it's really... They've played off that adversity. Made them better, he says. And Parker, running behind them, may have slid for the first. They give him 7. We'll check the spot. Looks like he's a yard short. >> Coach Tomlin said, "Keep on talking about that line." >> Yeah. "You guys are doing us a favor." >> That's right. What did he say when -- "Did you have any kind words for Ben Roethlisberger when he didn't make the Pro Bowl?" He goes, "No. I didn't say a word. I just might throw it out there every once in a while that these other guys are better than you, Ben, and that's why they're going." So he tries to use it all. And this offensive line for the Steelers -- it's tough to be spectacular against the Ravens, but they have played very well down the stretch and been the difference in this team -- one of the differences. >> Send Parker to the sideline on third and 1. They go wide. And almost intercepted by Lewis. And they didn't go for that hard 1 yard with the run. They emptied it out. >> Ray Lewis to the right. He knows that inside receiver -- one of the most popular things they like to do is run down the field and make that little quick breakout. Never did anything but look at that route. And that's why he broke it up. >> Mitch Berger, who punted in two NFC Championship Games as a member of the Vikings -- Oh! He shanks this one. >> Wow, that was almost a miss. >> Yeah. Watch the right foot of Mitch Berger. Oh, boy. Don't know if he replaced his divot. >> Well, he's very fortunate he didn't miss the football completely. >> Baltimore from the 42. Double reverse. With Clayton cutting back middle. And Ryan Clark was able to knock him down at the 42 of the Steelers. Gained 16. >> Yeah, nice decision because, to the outside, there's nowhere to go. Lamarr Woodley's out there. So Clayton says, "Let me turn it up tight inside." And big yards on first down. >> Deepest penetration of the half for the Ravens. Cam Cameron. He's been a difference maker in Baltimore this year. Mentoring the rookie quarterback. Catch made by Clayton. But a flag down. Now it's ruled incomplete by one official. Yep, they're calling it incomplete, and it was a hold call against the Ravens anyway. >> Holding. 71, offense. 10-yard penalty. Replay first down. >> Gaither, the left tackle. Number 71. He's had a terrific year. He's against James Harrison. And Harrison gets to the inside. Oh, and he grabs him and pulls him down. That's an easy call. And another good pass rush. You're worried about the speed to the outside with Woodley and James Harrison. So when they make those moves inside, just hard to relocate that big body and get in the way. >> Gaither, who took over the position for the retired Jonathan Ogden. Second year out of Maryland. To Clayton. Trying to get the ball in his hands. And that is Polamalu coming down low to finish him off. Second and 17. Timmons is rushing in. McGahee picks up the blitz. And that's Mason out of bounds. That is the third time I've seen McGahee pick up Timmons on a blitz. >> Yeah, Willis McGahee. You've said it many times -- or a couple times today. Watch 23 in the backfield. Another good timing by the blitzers. That's what it's all about. >> So third and 3, Phil. >> Yeah, create confusion, and time the snap count. four-down territory here, pal? >> I'm looking to see. They made field goals from here during warm-ups. Matt Stover was kicking them from 54. Flacco. Well, incidental now because Mason has the grab and a first down. Bobbled it for a moment but holds on for 11. >> I was gonna say, Jim, if anything, I would have probably tried a long field goal. But a good -- the extra time afforded that time. And Joe Flacco very calm. Waited and let the receiver uncover, and fired it in there. >> Four straight completions. This is the best stretch of the playoffs for Flacco. And it's McGahee. With Farrior pushing him back. Timmons, as well. >> Let's look at what the quarterbacks have done today against each other. Or not against each other -- against the opposing defense. Ben Roethlisberger, terrific day. And Joe Flacco getting better as the game goes along. And I -- The Ravens thought that this was gonna be Joe Flacco's best game of the year. That's how confident they were in their game plan and the opportunities they were gonna present to him. As we've seen, it hasn't worked out that way. >> Second and 7. Flacco. And a flag against the Steelers' Ike Taylor. >> Yeah, he shielded. Never turned to find the football, and put his hands up in front of the receiver. That is a flag. >> McGahee picked up another blitzer. This time it was Ryan Clark. And Ike Taylor's interference call is gonna set up the Ravens at the 1. Were going for Marcus Smith. >> Pass interference. 24, defense. The foul occurred in the end zone. The ball will be placed at the 1-yard line. First down. >> Well, he jumps into the receiver. Jumps into him. Never turns and finds the football. Boy, you're right, Jim. Look at the blocking. >> Knows that's a huge moment for his side. It's a 20-yard penalty. Just a yard away. First and goal. McGahee's going in. Touchdown, Baltimore. >> McGahee, 1 yard on the Ravens' touchdown. >> Well, the Ravens and Steelers, their other two games came down to the wire. Now it's starting to look like this one will, too. >> Yeah, it was a good job. Boy, what a job by Willis McGahee, being quick and sharp enough to get away from the penetration. Grabbed by Troy Polamalu in the backfield. Recognized what was coming. Able to step outside and get the touchdown. >> Stover out for the point after. Along with ray Lewis, an original Raven. That scoring drive for the Ravens was all set up by the poor punt by Mitch Berger. They traveled the 58 yards in only six plays, with the big pass-interference call to boot. >> Yeah, and a good drive starter -- running the reverse. That's always key just to -- Can you get it going? Can you get a drive going? Get that first down. Gets you in rhythm and gets the defense thinking. >> Hauschka's kick bounces at the 25. That's Gary Russell running over to scoop it up. And he's still churning. Churning across the 40. Zbikowski mixing it up with a couple of Steelers, including Nick Eason. >> Already, the Steelers, 41-yard line. They've changed field position. Even if they don't get a first down, they're going to back the Ravens up. >> That's Parker. Shaking off a couple of hits. And fighting back to the line of scrimmage. Without Hines Ward, injuring a knee early in the game. >> But you've got to say, too, though, Jim, even though he's out, they had opportunities. We saw the long throw to Limas Sweed that was dropped. They've gotten some receivers open. >> That's Parker. Just 2 yards. >> I think that question -- you and I started the game out when we talked about it in the pregame -- are the Ravens too beat up, too worn out to compete today? I think they've answered that question, too. >> Crowd was groaning about that last hand-off to Parker, who's had very little running room throughout this game today, Parker. It's third and 8. Parker has 48 yards on the ground. [ Whistles blowing ] Whistle first. >> Well, they flinched. The Ravens caught them. They timed the blitz. >> False start. Number 74, offense. 5-yard penalty. Third down. >> Sense people are getting a little restless, do you, Phil? >> Yeah, you know -- Yes, the stands definitely getting restless. But it's a blitz. Watch Ed Reed. He's sneaking up at the last second. Ben Roethlisberger tries to delay the snap count just a little bit. And Willie Colon, 74, did move before the snap of the ball. >> Steelers have lost their last three home AFC Championship Games. Two in this building. Third and 13. Running away from the hit. No! Suggs chases him down. >> Wow, how 'bout Suggs? >> Two sacks now, Phil. Both in this half. >> He's had a couple very good run stops along with Ray Lewis. A three-man rush. Oh, and Starks very late getting off with the snap of the football. Watch 78. Max Starks. Oh, it's so late from the snap of the football. Not even able to really get his hands on Suggs. >> Suggs, who was out, then they had the penalty call, and he was shuttled back in. Comes up with another hit on Roethlisberger. Here's Berger. Not a pretty one this time either. That's Leonhard. Tiptoeing along the sideline. Bill Carollo informed us there was a personal-foul penalty. And it's an obvious one. It's a dumb one. Daren Stone, you're hurting your football team. >> Wow, did you see the coaches of the Ravens, like, going, "What are you doing?" They're raising their arms, because it happened on the Ravens' bench. >> That penalty costs his team 25 yards. Instead of being near the 40 -- instead they'll start this drive at the 13. >> And I was just saying the Steelers return it to the 40, and they basically got just 20 yards out of the whole situation with the punt, but we didn't see the personal foul. >> 6:50 to go. And now the penalty backs up the Baltimore offense and the rookie quarterback. And incites the crowd. It's McGahee. Gonna lose a couple. Ryan Clark with the hit. >> Yeah, we talked so much about Troy Polamalu, we forget about Ryan Clark and what he does. And makes the perfect -- As Troy Polamalu, he says, "He's back there to correct some of my mistakes. When I over-commit, he covers for me." >> McGahee unable to get to his feet right away. >> Look at the pursuit. Look at the angles. Everybody in good position. >> And he's had knee issues, McGahee. >> And you can see Clark fell on that leg. >> You're right about Polamalu talking about Ryan Clark. Said, "It's not good to have two Ed Reeds back here. We compliment each other really well." >> Yeah, that's right. You can't have two people leaving their position, trying to make plays as they read the quarterback. Exactly right, Jim. [ Crowd chanting "Here we go, Steelers, here we go!" ] Well, that penalty, that play. Crowd noise might be a factor for Joe Flacco as he tries to call them out now. >> You think Coach Harbaugh's used that familiar motivational phrase to Flacco anytime in this game -- "Let it rip"? Flacco says he's good for at least one of those a game. >> Yeah, no matter what, yes. "Joe, you just got to just let it rip, let it go." In other words, what he's saying, "Don't think too much, be instinctive, and show us that talent that you have to throw the football down the field." >> They've replaced McGahee with Ray Rice. They fake to Rice. Flacco throws from the goal line. And it's Heap snagging it. And riding out of bounds with Farrior. Big play. First down, Baltimore. Gains 20. >> Boy, is it ever. It's, again, down the field. And Joe Flacco does a tremendous job of seeing in front of Todd Heap. He came across the formation. The defenders are running off. And another good -- a really good throw by Joe Flacco. >> Now from the 32, it's Rice. And it's Hampton with a hit down low. Holds him to a yard. Joe Flacco had a little life here in Pittsburgh, a brief one for the University of Pittsburgh, where they shared the facility, as they still do -- the Panthers with the Pittsburgh Steelers -- and he would observe Ben Roethlisberger. He'd see him hanging around the cafeteria, hanging around the weight room. Never went up and said hello and made an introduction. >> No, it's not his style. He just probably looked at him but never would even think about going up and saying hi and introducing himself. Looks like they're gonna use another time-out, too. >> They have to, they're down to 3 seconds on the play clock. The AFC Championship Game coming down to the last 5 minutes. It's been since 2001 when Pittsburgh lost a 13-point lead. Never in the postseason. This is their 49th postseason game. They led here 13-0. Ravens hanging around. Were down 16-7. Scored earlier in this quarter. Farrior was coming in! And the Steelers still get the sack. It is Lamarr Woodley again! >> What are you about? You're about pressure. That's the Pittsburgh Steelers defense. So, what do you do in crunch time? Well, you don't sit back and hope to win a game. You force the issue. And James Farrior comes to the outside, makes Joe Flacco step up. And that's what causes the sack. >> Woodley's second sack. Coming off two last week. Third and 13. Got to make it to the 42 for the first. Picked off, Polamalu! Polamalu going right. The field is open. Aaron Smith shields Flacco! Polamalu takes it home! Super Bowl XLIII -- Pittsburgh might be bound for that thanks to number 43. >> We started this game -- you have to look off and be careful when you look at receivers when you have great safety play. And Troy Polamalu came across the field because he saw Joe Flacco under pressure and looking to his right, to Polamalu's left. >> Dan Rooney was looking on -- the chairman. Polamalu. Questions about, was he at full speed? He's made enough plays to put that to rest. Including one that might be the clincher. We asked Troy on Friday about the difference between this team and the Super Bowl champions of the 2005 season. He said, "Back in '05, it was always us against the world. We were always the underdog." Of course, they were the number-six seed, just like Baltimore is here today. "But this team doesn't care what anybody thinks." >> Well, you know, Jim, too, they have played about as consistent terrific defense from the start of the season to the end as I've seen. There's been some good ones over the years, but they rank right up there with them. >> Rice. Pushed out by Taylor. >> You got to have faith in a player, as a coach, to give them the freedom that they give Troy Polamalu. Same for the Ravens with Ed Reed. And they pay you back for it. >> Over to Heap. Deshea Townsend. Restricts that to 4. >> Now, still 4:06. You're just two scores down. You got one time-out. There's no question there's a sense of urgency. And they're in four-down territory wherever they are on the field now. >> Second and 6. Oh, what a hit. Ball's out. Recovered by Timmons. Ryan Clark is still down. So, too, is Willis McGahee. And they say fumble recovery, Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh offense now about to snap it at the 38. And Parker right into Ed Reed. >> Well, for the Pittsburgh Steelers, being up two scores and knowing that the Baltimore Ravens only have one time-out left... Now they're gonna take Willis McGahee... in the x-ray room to... ...try to answer some questions. >> Hopefully we'll get some good news here to pass along to you as soon as we can. And that's Justin Bannan crashing in quickly on Parker. And it's a loss of 3. I've got to ask you now about the Arizona side of the equation for the Super Bowl. The Cardinals going there for the first time. >> I don't know what to say. It's an unbelievable story, Jim, for what they've done this year. And, you know, today, Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald -- you know, I heard somebody talk about it early -- "When you're playing a really good quarterback, you don't blitz him, you try to play coverage." Well, the Philadelphia Eagles blitzed him, but Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald, they won that battle. >> A time-out called. There was about a half-second differential. No, they got down to the 2-minute warning. >> That's the team's first 30-second time-out. >> I think they called that time-out at 2:01. That's what they were trying to time. It's a time-out, Pittsburgh. That's what Carollo says. The Ravens are telling us now -- this is directly from the Ravens now, right into our headset here -- that McGahee is speaking. He has considerable movement in his limbs. Arms and legs. He is talking. But he has... significant neck pain. And that's coming from the Ravens right now. So, yeah, they put the second back on the clock. By the way, with the Cardinals advancing to the Super Bowl, there are now only five franchises who have never made it to the Super Bowl. >> I don't know the five. >> Can you name any of them? >> Oh... >> [ Laughs ] >> I can start off with the Detroit Lions. The Lions are one of them. New Orleans on the NFC side. The Lions and the Saints. Three on the AFC side. You got Houston. >> Houston, yes. >> Jacksonville's not been to the Super Bowl. >> And the Cleveland Browns. >> Wow. >> Just five. Third and 11. Careful now, as Roethlisberger throws that one out of bounds. Now we have the 2-minute warning. There's the championship flag for the 2005 world champions. And barring any unbelievable comeback here, Pittsburgh's going back to the Super Bowl to take on Arizona. Ken Whisenhunt against his old team here, too. That's kind of an interesting matchup. What's been the difference here today, you think? >> There's no question, today's game -- both defenses really had some big moments, but it's the quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger. Just the veteran quarterback. Made better decisions and made a couple of spectacular plays. And that was the difference. >> It's Leonhard. And only to the 21. That's Rice underneath. Timmons. Drags him down -- 34. Baltimore has one time-out. Flacco throws. Another good lick, but incomplete, in fact. Knocking it loose was McFadden. Intended for Clayton. >> Left foot's out of bounds. That's one of the reasons. >> Yeah, he did hold on. Second and 10. Might be getting word they want to review it up top. >> We'll review the previous play. >> Pretty evident. Catches the football. Left foot out of bounds. >> The previous play is confirmed -- incomplete. >> That was quick. So incomplete holds. >> Well, when you talk about defenses -- and we've talked a lot about the Steelers. They're good at all three levels. Defensive linemen, linebackers, the secondary. We've seen all day the secondary is as rough and tough as the front seven. >> Flacco -- ball in the air. And intercepted by Carter. That will do it. Steelers are going to the Super Bowl. 1:11 to go. Flacco throws his second interception of the quarter. Third of the game. >> Well, the pressure on the defense, that it puts on Joe Flacco. Off target with another throw. Football tipped in the air. And when you're playing a prevent defense, lot of guys in position to make the interception. >> ♪ Hey hey hey, good-bye ♪ ♪ Na na na na, na na na na ♪ ♪ Hey hey hey, good-bye ♪ ♪ Na na na na, na na na na ♪ ♪ Hey hey hey, good-bye ♪ >> We did it, boy! We did it, boy! [ Cheering ] >> Mike Tomlin's gonna be the youngest coach ever to take a team to the Super Bowl. >> Thank you, man. >> On a week when the man who brought him into the league retired -- Tony Dungy. Tomlin's gonna go back to Tampa, where he got into the league as an assistant with the Bucs. It is official. Super Bowl XLIII will match up Arizona against Pittsburgh.
08-14 Ravens-Steelers is easily one of the best rivalries stretches of all time.
Amazing game if youve never seen it
All 3 Steelers/Ravens from this year were great. Two top 10 defenses of all time DVOA
This is the best game in the Ravens/Steelers rivalry. Both teams put every ounce of everything they had into this game, and what resulted is one of the most brutal, beautiful, games ever played.
Legends say that you can still hear Ryan Clark’s hit on McGahee echoing
One of the best Rivalries in the NFL for the past decade, each of the games are just so damn good.
I was rooting for the Ravens so hard during this game. They still had Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, and Prime Suggs. Not to mention McClain tearing up the league that year and it was Flacco's rookie career, I kinda wanted to see a rookie start in the Super Bowl.
This was basically the last game for the Old NFL. Before the concussion and QB rules came in in 2010. Yes this was 2008 but there were no games near as brutal as this one in the 09 playoffs
Pass.
Good old Bruce "7-step-drop-and-see-if-Ben-survives" Arians