Ben Roethlisberger’s career may continue for at least one more week. In a vintage Roethlisberger performance, the 18-year-old gunslinger delivered the 53rd game-winning drive in his career to lift the Steelers to a 16-13 overtime win over the Ravens. The Steelers won the game on Chris Boswell’s 36-yard field goal with 1:59 left in overtime on a kick that was set up by Roethlisberger’s fourth-down completion to Ray-Ray McCloud four plays earlier.
At 9-7-1, the Steelers will clinch a playoff berth as long as the Raiders-Chargers game does not end in a tie. Along with taking care of business in Baltimore, Pittsburgh received outside help by virtue of the Jaguars’ upset win over the Colts. The loss officially knocked Baltimore (8-9) out of playoff contention.
The Steelers took a 13-10 lead on Roethlisberger’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Chase Claypool with 2:56 left in regulation. But the Ravens were able to force overtime on Justin Tucker’s 46-yard field goal with 1:16 left in the fourth quarter. In overtime, Pittsburgh’s defense forced a Baltimore punt to set up the Steelers’ 15-play, 65-yard drive that included three third-down conversions by Roethlisberger as well as his crucial fourth-down throw to McCloud. Najee Harris’ 15-yard run two plays later set up Boswell’s game-winning field goal.
Pittsburgh won despite playing most of the game without Harris, who suffered an elbow injury on the Steelers’ opening possession. In what was likely the final regular season game of his career, Roethlisberger engineered his seventh game-winning drive of the season, an NFL best. He finished with 244 yards with a touchdown and an interception on 30 of 44 passing.
We’ll have a deeper breakdown of Sunday’s game in a moment, but in the meantime, check out our live blow blog for in-game updates, highlights and analysis.