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Notebook: Washington saves best for last
Steelers defensive back DeShea Townsend celebrates
Philip G. Pavely/Tribune-Review
The Steelers cornerback struggled much of the day, at one point being beaten for a 31-yard touchdown catch by Todd Heap despite Washington interfering with him. But it also was Washington who picked off a Jeff Blake pass in the end zone with 14 seconds remaining to preserve a 34-31 Steelers win.
"It was like Chad Scott last year in Tennessee. Gave up a touchdown and he turned around and made an interception that won the game," Steelers coach Bill Cowher said. "He (Washington) made the play at the end that you needed to make to win the game. That, to me, is what life as a corner is."
Washington seconded that emotion.
"That's how it goes," Washington said. "Nobody says a defensive back, or a cornerback especially, is going to be perfect."
Washington was not alone among Steelers defenders in struggling yesterday. The Ravens piled up 422 yards of total offense, with Blake throwing for a net of 308. The Steelers had given up just 455 yards combined to their previous three opponents: Tampa Bay, Carolina and Houston.
TAKING THE BLAME
Ravens coach Brian Billick took full blame for the decision to try for the go-ahead touchdown instead of kicking a field goal to tie the score while trailing the Steelers by three points with 18 seconds remaining.
“I’m not going to second-guess Jeff for how and when he threw it,” Billick said. “It was my decision. We could’ve taken the field goal and gone into overtime and whatever happened in overtime would have happened in overtime. When you’re where we’re at and how it ended, you take a shot.”
Billick elected to pass the ball even after Blake took a shot under the chin from Joey Porter the play before. Porter was penalized for roughing the passer, and Blake conceded that he was still a bit woozy from the hit.
“I had to take my time getting up,” Blake said. “I had a quick head rush there for a second. I was laying there and thinking about it, saying, ‘If I don’t get up, they’re going to run 10 seconds off the clock. I had to force myself to get up.”
Billick was defensive about the call in anticipation that the Ravens will get ripped by Baltimore radio talk shows for choosing to go for a touchdown instead of playing for a tie and going into overtime.
“Don’t rip Jeff (Blake). Don’t rip (offensive coordinator) Matt Cavanaugh. That was my call,” Billick said. “You rip me for a taking a shot on a 7-8 football team instead of (wimping out) and saying, ‘Whoa, baby, I’m going to kick a field goal and hope things work out.’”
INJURY UPDATE
The Steelers lost inside linebacker Kendrell Bell to a sprained left ankle in the third quarter. He did not return after hobbling off the field for X-rays, which did not indicate a serious injury.
Coach Bill Cowher said Bell is expected to be available for the first playoff game.
"I think Kendrell is going to be fine," Cowher said. "We certainly were erring on the side of caution. I think he's going to be ready to go next week."
Cowher also expects inside linebacker James Farrrior (sternum), running back Jerome Bettis (knee) and cornerback Chad Scott (broken hand), who didn't play against the Ravens, to be available for the playoff game.
Backup running back Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, who rushed eight times for 49 yards yesterday, said he has "some nagging stuff, but it's not the time to be hurt."
2003 FOES
The list of the Steelers's 2003 opponents — minus dates — is official now. The formula was predetermined by the NFL, with the AFC North champions (the Steelers) visiting the AFC East champions (Jets) and playing the AFC South champions (Tennessee Titans) at home.
The Steelers will travel to Denver, Kansas City, San Francisco, Seattle and East Rutherford, N.J., to play the Jets. They will be hosts to the Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams and Titans. There is also the annual home-and-home series with the AFC North rivals in Baltimore, Cincinnati and Cleveland.
LATE HITS
Wide receiver Hines Ward reached some additional milestones. His touchdown reception was his 12th this season, tying a Steelers record shared by Louis Lipps (1985) and Buddy Dial (1961). With 330 career receptions, Ward passed Elbie Nickel (329) to move into fourth place on the team's all-time list. He is only six behind Hall of Famer Lynn Swann, who is third. … Ward's 1,329 receiving yards is the third-highest, single-season total in team history. Plaxico Burress finished with 1,325. … Quarterback Tommy Maddox broke a team record, set by Kordell Stewart last year, by completing 62.1 percent of his passes. … Antwaan Randle El had the game-winning touchdown catch and 45- and 30-yard kickoff returns in the third quarter. … Strong safety Lee Flowers recorded his fourth sack this season, second-most in his career. … Outside linebacker Jason Gildon had a sack to tie Porter for the team lead with nine. … Punter Tom Rouen recorded a 50-yard punt from his end zone late in the second quarter that led to a fumble recovery by Aaron Smith and a 48-yard field goal by Jeff Reed. … Cornerbacks Deshea Townsend Washington intercepted passes in the end zone.
— Staff writers Jerry DiPaola, Kevin Gorman and Sam Ross Jr. contributed to this story.
