Eye on the prize

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

December 15, 2008 Last Updated: December 15, 2008 10:57 AM Professional

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason is hit by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons, right, on an incomplete pass during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, in Baltimore. The Steelers won 13-9. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Steelers taking aim at No. 1 seed in AFC after 92-yard scoring drive clinches division

BALTIMORE — Ben Roethlisberger slipped on a cap proclaiming the Pittsburgh Steelers AFC North champions.

The quarterback savored the moment, then immediately turned his attention toward capitalizing on the momentum created by Sunday's division-clinching 13-9 win over the Baltimore Ravens.

"To get the home field, to get the North, especially as good as Baltimore's been this year ... it feels good to put this hat on," he said. "But I'll tell you what: You won't see any of us wearing this hat come tomorrow or Tuesday because it's time to bear down and finish this thing off."

The Steelers can earn home-field advantage throughout the playoffs by defeating Tennessee next week and disposing of Cleveland in the finale.

"We have another big game," Pittsburgh receiver Hines Ward said. "We would love to have that No. 1 spot."

Santonio Holmes caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Roethlisberger with 43 seconds left, and the Steelers' top-ranked defense sealed the victory with an interception to give Pittsburgh a first-round bye.

Claiming their second straight division title in Baltimore, where the Steelers hadn't won since 2002, only sweetened the moment.

"This is a huge win," offensive tackle Max Starks said. "This is the first time we've won here since I've been on the Steelers. It's really great to rid ourselves of this demon."

Pittsburgh (11-3) limited the Ravens (9-5) to a season-low 202 yards. The Steelers have gone 14 straight games without yielding 300 yards, tying the 1973 Los Angeles Rams for the longest streak to start a season since the NFL merger in 1970.

The Ravens entered with the second-ranked defense and did a credible job — but Pittsburgh was even better.

"We wanted to outplay their defense. That was in our mind," Steelers linebacker Larry Foote said.

Pittsburgh trailed 9-6 before moving 92 yards in 13 plays to score the game's lone touchdown and take the lead for the first time. Roethlisberger went 7-for-11 for 89 yards on the drive.

"All game they didn't make plays," Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said. "One drive, they did."

Pittsburgh has come from behind in the fourth quarter four times this season, including last week against Dallas, when the Steelers scored 17 points in the final eight minutes of a 20-13 win over Dallas."We make the plays when they count," Holmes said. "It doesn't matter how the game goes through the course of three quarters. It always comes down to playing four quarters of football."Matt Stover kicked three field goals for the Ravens, who remain in the wild-card hunt despite being eliminated from the AFC North race."We'll be fine," said rookie quarterback Joe Flacco, who went 11-for-28 for 115 yards with two interceptions.The Steelers began their final drive at their 8 with 3:36 left. Two straight completions to Ward moved the ball to the 34, and a third-and-10 completion to Nate Washington for 16 yards took Pittsburgh to midfield.Washington caught a 24-yarder to the 14, and a 10-yard pass to Ward set up first-and-goal at the 4. After two incompletions, Roethlisberger scrambled left, then found Holmes over the middle for the winner.The play was reviewed because it appeared that while Holmes' feet were in the end zone, the ball was not.Later, referee Walt Coleman said, "He had two feet down. When he gained control of the ball, the ball was breaking the plane."Said Lewis: "That didn't win or lose the game for us."Down 9-3, the Steelers used a 30-yard pass from Roethlisberger to Ward to set up a 30-yard field goal by Jeff Reed with 9:26 to go.Baltimore then moved to the Pittsburgh 27, but a third-down sack forced the Ravens to punt, setting up the dramatic conclusion."They got a big sack when they had to at the end of the game ... then took the ball down the field and scored," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "That's the way they've won games."<B>Notes:</B> The Steelers have seven interceptions in their last three games and at least one in six straight contests. ... Stover has kicked at least three field goals in 63 games, including six against Pittsburgh. ... The Steelers swept the season series for the first time since 2002.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes (10) holds up the ball in front of Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed (20) after catching a touchdown pass during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, in Baltimore. In the back are Ravens defensive tackle Trevor Pryce (90) and Steelers offensive tackle Willie Colon (74). (AP Photo/Rob Carr)