Steelers rally past Baltimore for first place

BALTIMORE - Troy Polamalu gave Ben Roethlisberger another chance to beat the Ravens, and Pittsburgh's battered quarterback did just that.

After Polamalu forced a fumble with a sack of Joe Flacco, Roethlisberger threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Redman with 2:51 left as the Steelers beat the Ravens, 13-10, last night for sole possession of first place in the AFC North. Pittsburgh is 9-3 and Baltimore is 8-4.

A fierce defensive battle turned when Polamalu hit Flacco's arm on a safety blitz. The loose ball was taken 19 yards by Lamarr Woodley to the Baltimore 9, setting up Pittsburgh's lone touchdown.

"It was an all-out blitz. They brought everybody," Flacco said. "I took three steps and raised my arm and was getting hit. It was pretty shocking."

Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs, who had 1 1/2 sacks, said, "We gave it to them. We can't give [Polamalu] a chance to make plays, and we did. You see 43 at the line, and you know he's coming."

After throwing two incomplete passes, Roethlisberger - who had his nose bloodied on an earlier sack - dumped a short toss over the middle to Redman, who broke tackles by Dawan Landry and Jarret Johnson on his way to the end zone.

Baltimore's ensuing drive ended at the Pittsburgh 30 when Flacco bounced a fourth-down pass to Ed Dickson with 33 seconds remaining.

Baltimore blew a fourth-quarter lead for the sixth time this season and had its home winning streak end at eight games.

Playing with a sprained right foot and overcoming a fierce pass rush, Roethlisberger was 22-for-38 for 253 yards. He has won six straight starts against Baltimore and is 8-2 lifetime against the Ravens.