With the 2025 season approaching, Steelers.com is revisiting past games against their opponents in a series called Looking Back. This edition focuses on the Baltimore Ravens.
On December 14, 2008, at M&T Bank Stadium, the Pittsburgh Steelers secured the AFC North title with a victory over the Ravens. The game ended with a score of 13-9 in favor of the Steelers.
“We fought all the way through, and it’s great to win here in Baltimore,” said receiver Hines Ward after the game. “It’s great to be the division champions after the tough schedule that we’ve played and the way we’ve had to battle to win games all season.”
The game was tightly contested. The Ravens initially took a lead with a field goal by Matt Stover. Jeff Reed responded with a field goal for Pittsburgh, leaving both teams struggling to reach the end zone for most of the match. As time dwindled down, Baltimore led 9-6 thanks to field goals from both sides.
In a dramatic turn of events, receiver Santonio Holmes caught a four-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger with only 43 seconds remaining. Initially ruled down at the one-yard line, Holmes believed he had scored.
“I thought I got the ball in the end zone,” Holmes explained. “I caught it out in front of me but then I brought it into a tuck position. In my mind, that meant the ball was in the end zone.”
Referee Walt Coleman confirmed after an official review that it was indeed a touchdown: “He had two feet down,” Coleman stated. “When he gained control of the ball, the ball was breaking the plane.”
The win not only clinched their division but also granted them a first-round bye in playoffs.
Defensively, Pittsburgh pressured rookie quarterback Joe Flacco effectively. Flacco completed just 11 out of 28 passes for 115 yards and endured two sacks alongside two interceptions resulting in a quarterback rating of 22.2.
“When we play against them it’s always physical and hard-hitting,” remarked James Harrison regarding their rivalry with Baltimore. “These are two teams that don’t like each other but we do respect them—and I know they respect us.”
