1 down, 2 to go

By Sean Wallace
Posted: January 12, 2009

The Ravens and Steelers meet for the third time this year on Sunday and the winner goes to the Super Bowl.

There was no Music City Miracle this year.

The Ravens Revenge Tour ‘09 rolls into Pittsburgh on Sunday, fresh off the heels of what they might believe is a little karmic justice. Thanks to a fortunate non-call on a blatant delay of game, the Ravens used a 23-yard pass from Joe Flacco to Todd Heap on a third-and-2 to move the ball into Tennessee territory, ultimately leading to a 43-yard Matt Stover field goal with 57 seconds remaining for a 13-10 Baltimore win.

Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher was not happy with the call and all but said it cost the No. 1-seeded Titans the game, but backed off from going there. Whiners don’t look good on TV. He didn’t become the league’s longest-tenured coach without knowing when to pick his spots. Maybe in the back of his mind, he knew he got away with one the last time these two teams played, a 13-10 Titans victory in Baltimore in Week 5. Terrell Suggs’ so-called hit to Kerry Collins helmet gave Tennessee a huge break in their final game-winning drive. The Ravens got their boost with the non-call. Karma, they say, is a … well, you know.

They Ravens won’t spend too much time counting their blessings, though: A trip to the Super Bowl rides on Sunday’s meeting with the No. 2-seeded Steelers. Baltimore is hoping the third time is the charm this season, having dropped both regular-season meetings with Pittsburgh, the second one ending with a controversial call on a final game-winning drive.

Sound familiar?

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