New York Giants fans can undoubtedly empathize with fans of the Baltimore Ravens right about now. The Ravens watched the Pittsburgh Steelers overcome a 21-7 halftime deficit Saturday evening and defeat the Ravens, 31-24, to advance to the AFC Championship Game. The Steelers now await the winner of Sunday’s meeting between the New York Jets and New England Patriots.
Rashard Mendenhall scored on a two-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. The go-ahead touchdown was set up by Antonio Brown’s artful 58-yard catch down the right sideline on a 3rd-and-19 play.
Ben Roethlisberger spotted Brown behind two defenders, and the receiver secured the ball by holding it against his helmet with his right hand as he ran out of bounds.
The game really was decided by turnovers.
Baltimore scored 14 straight points off turnovers in the first half, taking a 21-7 lead into the locker room, while Pittsburgh scored 17 points off three turnovers in the second half to move in front.
After Mendenhall’s touchdown, Ravens receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh dropped a pass behind the first-down marker on 4th-and-18, effectively ending the game.
The Ravens lost a fourth-quarter touchdown when a 65-yard punt return for a score by Lardarius Webb was wiped out by a holding penalty. The Ravens settled for a field goal, their only points of the second half.
(Sports Network contributed to this report)