TORONTO, 2 November 2005 — Jeff Reed’s 37-yard field goal with 1:36 left gave the Pittsburgh Steelers a 20-19 win over the Baltimore Ravens in the National Football League’s Monday night game in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers led 17-10 entering the fourth quarter but three straight field goals by Matt Stover put the Ravens ahead, setting the stage for Reed’s game-winning kick.
Ben Roethlisberger directed the game-winning drive and tossed two touchdown passes, going 18-for-30 for 177 yards despite an injured knee.
“We did a good job tonight,” Roethlisberger said.
“The O (offensive) line did a great job and it made my job a whole lot easier.” Heath Miller caught a pair of short touchdown passes for the Steelers and Hines Ward had eight catches for 75 yards.
“It was sort of fun tonight, it was a little exciting on Halloween,” Hines said.
Pittsburgh improved to 5-2 with the win and stayed right in the thick of the race in the AFC, while the costly loss for the Ravens dropped their record to 2-5.
Chester Taylor scored Baltimore’s lone TD on a 13-yard pass from Anthony Wright, as Wright went 25-for 44 for 252 yards.
Stover kicked four field goals for the Ravens, while Derrick Mason caught seven passes for 91 yards.
Baltimore had one more chance to win the game after the final field goal, but Anthony Wright’s fourth-and-6 pass from his own 47 to Chester Taylor fell short and the Steelers ran out the clock.
The Steelers improved to 11-0 in Monday night home games under coach Bill Cowher and Roethlisberger ran his record to 18-1 as a regular-season starter.
Patriots’ Bruschi Returns to Action After Stroke
In Salvo, North Carolina, New England Patriots All-Pro linebacker Tedy Bruschi became the first known NFL player to return to the playing field after a stroke when he appeared against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
“I’m back to doing what I love,” said an emotional Bruschi after he helped the Super Bowl champions to a 21-16 victory.
“Getting this game under my belt meant a lot to me,” Bruschi, who suffered the stroke in February, added. “There was so much going into this. I didn’t just jump into this. I physically prepared myself the best I could.”
Fans greeted him with cheers as he ran on to the field and former team mate Lawyer Milloy of the Buffalo Bills bear-hugged him during the pre-game coin toss. There were hugs and handshakes from team mates, too.
The 32-year-old Bruschi quickly made an impact, wrestling the Bills’ Willis McGahee to the ground for the third tackle of the night. He figured in seven tackles for the game.
“I was ready mentally and physically and emotionally,” said Bruschi. “Sometimes you just got to pick yourself up off the ground and get back to living your life, and that is all I am trying to do.” He had not expected to play this season but changed his mind after his doctors assured him it was safe to continue. “There was a time in my recuperation and healing where I just had to tell myself it is just time to get up and live your life the way you want to live,” Bruschi said. “I am a football player by trade, it is what I do, so I did everything I could to make myself a football player again.”
