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Monday, January 19, 2009
Troy Polamalu returns a fourth-quarter interception 40 yards for a touchdown to clinch the Steelers' 23-14 win over the Ravens in Sunday's AFC championship game.(Getty Images)
I'd be remiss in not making the Steelers' defense the lead of this column following the team's biggest win since the last game of the 2005 season.
By virtue of Sunday night's brutal, hard-hitting, 23-14, Rembrandt-quality win over the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game at Heinz Field, the Steelers will make their second trip to the Super Bowl in three years. They have the unique opportunity to become the first team to win six Super Bowls when they face the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII on Feb. 1 at Tampa, Fla.
If they've done it once, the Steelers defense has done it at least a dozen times this season.
Once again, the defense held down the fort until the offense finally got its act together.
Actually, the offense never really got its act together against the Ravens, unless you include postseason star Santonio Holmes' 65-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown on the second play of the second quarter.
Make no mistake, this is the No. 1 defense in the NFL we're talking about. That's the real reason why the Steelers are playing in Super Bowl XLIII.
You may fool the Steelers once, as Baltimore did on a short touchdown drive following Jim Leonhard's long punt return in the first half.
Twice, even.
Do it three times, and the Steelers probably lose.
That's the beauty of the Steelers' defense. They bend, but they don't break.
Baltimore made it hairy at 16-14 on Willis McGahee's touchdown run at the 9:29 mark of the fourth quarter.
It was the first time that Baltimore put together an extended drive against the Steelers. The Ravens pulled out all the stops, including a tricky double-reverse that the Steelers saw for the first time.
Baltimore's chicanery worked once. But for the Ravens to knock off the Steelers and make it to the Super Bowl, they had to do it again.
Following another Steelers drive that went nowhere, Baltimore regained possession at its 14 with 6:50 to play.
If the Steelers stopped the Ravens deep in their end of the field, they would likely go to the Super Bowl.
On first down, McGahee was tripped up by safety Ryan Clark for a 2-yard loss. So much for running the ball against the Steelers.
On second down, quarterback Joe Flacco hit tight end Todd Heap for a 20-yard gain.
Another run yielded a 2-yard gain, and LaMarr Woodley's sack set up third-and-13.
Time for the defense to win another game.
All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu intercepted a Flacco pass intended for Derrick Mason. Doing his best Ed Reed impression, Polamalu cut all the way across the field and followed a convoy of blockers to complete a highlight-reel, 40-yard touchdown for a 23-14 lead.
The next time Baltimore had the ball, Clark leveled McGahee following a reception. McGahee fumbled, and the Steelers recovered.
The game lost, Baltimore's players turned their concern to McGahee, who was taken off the field on a stretcher and was reported to have movement in his hands and arms but significant neck pain.
How good is this Steelers defense?
Baltimore didn't commit a turnover in its first two playoff games. The Ravens turned the ball over four times against the Steelers, including three Flacco interceptions.
Things like this happen all the time against the Steelers' top-ranked defense.
Excuse me, make that the Steelers' Super Bowl defense.
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