Hall of Famer Joe Greene had his number retired Sunday night at Heinz Field and the Pittsburgh Steelers made him proud as they beat the Baltimore Ravens 43-23.
For a second straight week, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw six touchdown passes and he finished the game with 340 yards passing on 25 completions. He is now the first quarterback in NFL history to throw 12 touchdown passes in a two-game span.
Rookie wide receiver Martavis Bryant caught two more touchdown passes in the game and he now has five in his first three games.
The Steelers defense also came to play Sunday night and they were led by veteran linebacker James Harrison, who had two sacks in the game. Harrison now has four in the last two games and he harassed Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco most of the night.
Linebackers Lawrence Timmons and Arthur Moats also chipped in a sack each in the win and linebacker Jason Worilds also recorded an interception in the first half that led to a Steelers touchdown.
The Steelers trailed 7-0 at the end of the first quarter as their offense struggled to move the football early. That all changed, however, after cornerback Brice McCain recovered a Lorenzo Taliaferro fumble that was forced by Moats with 9:25 left in the second quarter.
Following the turnover, the Steelers needed just five plays to score their first touchdown of the game as Roethlisberger his running back Le’Veon Bell with a five-yard pass on the left side.
On the Ravens next offensive possession, Worilds intercepted a pass intended for Ravens tight end Crockett Gillmore and the Steelers offense was back in business once again. Roethlisberger capped that drive with his first of two touchdown passes in the game to Bryant from 19 yards out.
The win moves the Steelers to 6-3 on the season and they will next play the 1-8 New York Jets on the road. The loss drops the Ravens to 5-4 on the season and they now have three divisional loses to boot.
As for Greene, who’s number 75 was officially retired at halftime, he delivered the pre game speech to the team Sunday night. Head coach Mike Tomlin, however, would not reveal after the game what it was that the legendary defensive tackle said to the team. Whatever Greene did say, sure seemed to inspire the group and they made his night extra special.
