In light of a highly back-and-forth game (and the UCB Comedy Imrovisation Manual my Mom got me for my birthday) I decided to play a little “Fortunately/Unfortunately” with the Steelers’ 20-19 victory over the Ravens.
Fortunately, the Steelers defense showed up to play, tallying 4 sacks and 6 TFL’s in the first half while allowing only 7 points.
Unfortunately, when the Ravens punted the ball away just after the two-minute warning, the Steelers had totaled 10 offensive plays and one first down in three drives.
Fortunately, QB Ben Roethlisberger cracked off five straight completions for 52 yards, and dropped a sixth throw right in the bucket to WR Diontae Johnson running free into the end zone.
Unfortunately, Johnson couldn’t corral the pass and it bounced off his helmet before falling to the ground, harmlessly incomplete.
Fortunately, Pittsburgh was able to rally for a FG to put points back on the board before the break. HALFTIME SCORE: 7-3 BAL
The “fortunately” train kept rolling in the second half. The defense saw their stat line tick up to 7 sacks and 9 TFL’s, and only 19 points allowed. At the two-minute warning the defense had not allowed more than a TD in either half, which was a major W for that depleted unit.
Unfortunately, there were a number of maddening officiating decisions, going both ways. At least two hits on Ben could have been called roughing, there were a couple phantom holding calls, and a nonsensical overrule of a 32-yard completion to WR Ray Ray McCloud after a Harbaugh challenge.
Fortunately, Diontae Johnson is on a mission to prove he’s a true #1 NFL WR. He had eight catches for 105 yards and two TD’s on the day, including this one:
Unfortunately, K Chris Boswell missed the PAT that would have tied the game. Then the Ravens were gifted a 41-yard pass interference that set up a second Tucker FG, expanding the lead to 13-9.
Fortunately, Boswell redeemed himself with a 43-yard FG that brought the Steelers within one point. As it turns out, that point would prove to be huge.
Unfortunately, after getting another stop and driving down nearly into Baltimore’s red zone, Ben threw a pass directly to MLB Patrick Queen covering in the right flat for an interception.
Fortunately, the play was overruled due to defensive pass interference. Four plays later this happened:
Unfortunately, Pittsburgh allowed Baltimore to drive down the field and put up six more points with less than :20 left. 20-19 PIT
Fortunately, John Harbaugh elected to try to win the game in regulation rather than kicking to send the game to overtime. LB TJ Watt – who amassed 6 tackles, 6 QB hits, 3.5 sacks, 3 TFL’s and a forced fumble – hurried QB Lamar Jackson into a nervous throw that sailed out of reach for TE Mark Andrews. An unsuccessful on-side kick attempt later and Pittsburgh sent their Victory Formation onto the field.
Steely Cam 