Teresa Varley

With the 2025 season on the horizon, Steelers.com is bringing you Looking Back, where a game against each of our opponents is highlighted. In this edition, it's the Baltimore Ravens.

Steelers 13, Baltimore Ravens 9

December 14, 2008

M &T Bank Stadium

The Steelers clinched the AFC North in 2008 in a place where the battle for the division is always a bitter one, Baltimore.

"We fought all the way through, and it's great to win here in Baltimore," said receiver Hines Ward following the game. "It's great to be the division champions after the tough schedule that we've played and the way we've had to battle to win games all season."

The Ravens took an early lead on a Matt Stover field goal, and the Steelers answered when kicker Jeff Reed hit one of his own.

For almost four whole quarters neither team would reach the end zone, with Stover and Reed accounting for all scoring and Baltimore leading, 9-6.

But receiver Santonio Holmes came through in the end, catching a four-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger with a mere 43 seconds left in the game.

Holmes caught the ball in the end zone, but it appeared the ball didn't cross the goal line, so he was ruled down at the one-yard line.

"I thought I got the ball in the end zone," said Holmes. "I caught it out in front of me but then I brought it into a tuck position. In my mind, that meant the ball was in the end zone."

After an official review, it was ruled a touchdown.

"He had two feet down," said referee Walt Coleman postgame. "When he gained control of the ball, the ball was breaking the plane."

The Steelers walked away with a 13-9 win, AFC North title, and a first-round playoff bye.

The defense got to Ravens' rookie quarterback Joe Flacco, who completed 11 of 28 passes for 115 yards, was sacked twice and threw two interceptions for a quarterback rating of 22.2.

"When we play the Ravens, it's always a physical, hard-hitting game that comes down to the end," said James Harrison. "These are two teams that don't like each other, but we do respect them, and I know that they respect us."