Pittsburgh Stealers; Steelers Take Defensive Slugfest From Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens' perfect mark in AFC North play came to an end in heartbreaking fashion on Sunday afternoon against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A game defined by defense was decided by a single offensive play.

The latest edition of the Baltimore Ravens' long-standing rivalry with the Pittsburgh Steelers fell in the latter's favor thanks primarily to a deep toss from Kenny Pickett to George Pickens, which led to the deciding score of a 17-10 decision at Acrisure Stadium. Pickett's 41-yard strike to Pickens gave the Steelers (3-2) their first lead of the contest with 49 seconds remaining.

Baltimore (3-2) had slim control throughout Sunday's game thanks to another standout defensive effort over the first half-hour of action. The primary offense in that came from a 14-yard tally from Justice Hill in the opening period while Justin Tucker and Chris Boswell traded triples en route to a 10-3 halftime advantage 

But missed purple opportunities came to define the rest of the afternoon, as an ill-fated decision to earn two yards on a fourth down with 13 seconds remaining at the Pittsburgh 23 was a harbinger of dreary things to come in the latter 30. 

Justice Hill's first quarter touchdown was the Ravens' primary offensive sustenance  / USA TODAY SPORTS

The last of six consecutive punts between the two teams eventually yielded a two-point safety for the Steelers when Mike Killebrew blocked a Jordan Stout punt in the back of the end zone to narrow the gap to 10-5. Baltimore then limited the damage to a field goal on the next drive but a Lamar Jackson interception to Joey Porter Jr. afforded the Pickett-to-Pickens combo their chance to change the course of the game and the course of the Ravens-Steelers rivalry with it.

Jackson had two more chances to get back in the good graces of the scoreboard but an Alex Highsmith strip-and-sack set up another Boswell field before one final flawed drive ended with a TJ Watt sacked and the ignition of a Pittsburgh party that commemorated victories in six of the last seven meetings against the purple and black.

The Ravens will study abroad next weekend as they face the Tennessee Titans in London next Sunday morning.