The Baltimore Ravens hit rock bottom on Monday night in front of the entire country.
The Ravens were steamrolled by the Pittsburgh Steelers, 38-7, before 63,457 fans at Heinz Field and a national television audience in the second-most lopsided defeat in franchise history. The loss was an exclamation point to a horrific first half of the season for the Ravens (4-4), complete with the turnovers that have nagged the team?s offense all fall. Stars like Steve McNair, Ed Reed and Willis McGahee fumbled in the first quarter, giving the Steelers (6-2) ample opportunity to take control of the game.
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Meantime, the Ravens? once-vaunted defense was demolished by Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who connected on a career-high and franchise-record tying five touchdown passes, all in the first half. He completed 13-of-16 passes for 209 yards before leaving the contest with an injury in the third quarter.
The Ravens looked woefully inept in the rain-soaked affair, as Roethlisberger picked on an injury-depleted defense with deep bombs that exposed the absences of Pro Bowl cornerbacks Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle. Pittsburgh receivers Santonio Holmes, Heath Miller, Hines Ward and Nate Washington abused their outmatched defenders ? David Pittman, Corey Ivy and Derrick Martin ? for scores.
A year after losing by a combined score of 58-7 in two games to the Ravens, the Steelers pummeled their AFC North Division rival into submission, leaving no doubt they are the best team in the division. It was the Ravens? most lopsided defeat since a 37-0 loss at Pittsburgh on Nov. 9, 1997.
Throughout the years, Ravens fans often have talked about “the one that got away.”
They can now add linebacker James Harrison to a list of names that includes Priest Holmes and Derek Anderson.
Harrison recorded 3.5 sacks, an interception and three forced fumbles ? two of which were turnovers ? to punish the Ravens, a team that once had him under contract.
The Ravens signed Harrison in 2004 and allocated him to the NFL Europe?s Rhein Fire before cutting him in June of that year. He proved Monday it was a bad decision.
Harrison constantly pursued McNair, whose 63 yards on 13 completions were the fewest yards by a quarterback with that many completions in a game in NFL history. Once the very definition of poise, McNair is now one of the league?s worst quarterbacks, as his five lost fumbles in four games lead the league.
Since guiding the Ravens to a win over the Buffalo Bills to close out the regular season in 2006, McNair has thrown just two touchdown passes against 11 turnovers.
In the two Monday Night Football games this season, McNair has committed five fumbles and two interceptions. Monday was the 13-year veteran?s first start since guiding the Ravens to a 9-3 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 7.
The only bright spot came when running back Willis McGahee ran 33 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter to cut the Steelers? lead to 35-7. That was a mere tease, though, as McGahee was only able to accumulate six more yards on seven total carries in the first half.
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