Tastes Like Chicken: Steelers chew up Ravens.

Remember last year when the Ravens were claiming to be the best Defense the NFL had ever seen, but everyone kept telling them they couldn�t make that claim unless they sustained that dominance over a period of time. Well folks, the jury is in � They were one year wonders, and they got it handed to them. Want proof? How�s this �The Steelers� offense had 21 first downs, while the Ravens� offense had just 7. You tell me who has the better Defense. Want more proof? Just look at the scoreboard or watch your TV next week and tell me who is playing.

For third time this year the Steelers physically dominated the Ravens. For the Second time this year, the Steelers walked away with the win. This time it sent the loud-mouthed Ravens home for the year. Here�s some of the highlights:

It all started early, when Joey Porter summersaulted over a Raven defender and hit Grbac as he threw. That pass ended up in Chad Scott�s hands for the Ravens� first turn-over. The Steeler O drove down into the red-zone and then the play calling got conservative. Three runs up the middle were all stuffed. (We sure could have used the Bus then.) The Raven�s D made the goal line stand and Kris Brown kicked his first FG of the game.

The Ravens� O came out, but Mike Jones came up with a big third down sack that earned his entire pay check for the year. After the Ravens punted. The Steelers drove down the short field. A Ravens� facemask penalty set up Amos� first TD. The Steelers were up 10-0 early and Steelers� nation was feeling good.

The TD was followed up by another Steelers� dominating defensive series and a Ravens� punt. Then Stewart & Co. took the field. Short thereafter, Raven CB Chris McCallister makes an excellent play on a poorly thrown ball resulting in a interception. Cowher challenges what was obviously a good pick, wasting a time-out. The momentum begins to shift. Then Grbac takes the field against the NFL�s #1 defense, and after a couple of snaps Brent Alexander gets his mitts on a Grbac pass in the end-zone.

Stewart & Co. take the field again. Unlike Grbac, Kordell isn�t shaken by his INT, instead the Steelers run the now famous, walk away from the center Fake, and Edwards rumbles for big yards. (Of course Edwards fumbles and Ward recovers. Man if he doesn�t stop holding that ball out in the air, I�m going to glue his arms to his side.) In the same series, #10 avoids what would have been a huge sack, but Kris Brown misses the FG. Black & Gold fans everywhere have a flash back to the last time the Ravens visited Heinz field.

Never fear though because the Steelers� D holds the Ravens� O to another 3 and out � awaking fans from the haze of that missed FG. Edwards� has a nice return of the Ravens� punt and Amos ends up leaping the pile for his 2^nd TD.

On the next series, Ravens� RB #29, Terry Allen, is stripped by Earl Holmes. That fumble ultimately results in a Kris Brown FG.

In what I�ll call the Shannon Sharpe drive (but could also be called the Earl Holmesless drive because he left with an injury), The birds pick up their first 1^st down with 3:03 remaining in the 2^nd quarter. (Who�s D is dominate again?) The Ravens manage a FG to end the half 20-3.

After the half, the Steeler O came out flat and end up in a 4^th and 26. Miller�s punt to Jermian Lewis is returned for a TD. The Steeler O goes 3 and out, and the momentum seems to be with the Ravens. Once again though the Steelers� D comes up big with another 3 and out that included Porter dropping what should have been an INT and the Steelers are pumped again as the Black & Gold O takes the field. After a couple of snaps it looks like the 2^nd half offensive struggles will continue, but a 3^rd down pitch to FU gets the first down and a Stewart scramble ends the 3^rd quarter with the Steelers having possessed the ball for 32 minutes and 56 seconds out of a possible 45 minutes. (Nevertheless CBS�s announcers continue to gush about the Ravens� D.)

Starting the 4^th quarter, Burress finally shuts up the boys with the microphones with a 32 yard catch and run for a TD. The Steeler D wraps up the next few series and the game with a Smith/Gildon sack, another Alexander INT in the end zone, a Porter Sack and Mike Jones batting down a pass.

Bill Cowher runs off the field holding up to fingers and saying �2 more..� The Scoreboard reads Steelers 27, Ravens 10, and the sign one of the fans is holding which reads �the goose stops here� proves to be prophetic. One less loud mouth in league.