Steelers beat Ravens in OT, secure playoff berth after Jaguars' upset, Raiders' victory

BALTIMORE — The result on the out-of-town scoreboard was favorable for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It was nothing compared to what transpired on a rainy, cold day inside M&T Bank Stadium.

With their postseason aspirations hanging in the balance, the Steelers got a 36-yard field goal from Chris Boswell in overtime Sunday to defeat the Baltimore Ravens, 16-13.

The Las Vegas Raiders edged the Los Angeles Chargers in overtime Sunday night, meaning the Steelers (9-7-1) will enter the AFC playoffs as the No. 7 seed and face No. 2 seed Kansas City (12-5) in a first-round game at 8:15 p.m. next Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs defeated the Steelers, 36-10, two weeks ago, to put their playoff hopes on life support.

“It shows something about this team that you can continue to fight and never give up,” quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said.

A week after winning the final home game of his 18-year career, Roethlisberger directed a fourth-quarter comeback that provided a late lead and then a winning drive in overtime to extend his career to the postseason one last time.

“We knew we had to take care of business first and foremost,” Roethlisberger said. “It took extra time, but we found a way to do it.”

Roethlisberger saved his best for the fourth quarter and overtime. His 6-yard touchdown pass to Chase Claypool with 2 minutes, 54 seconds left gave the Steelers a 13-10 lead. On the Steelers’ only possession of overtime, he led the Steelers on a 15-play, 65-yard drive that ended with Boswell’s third field goal.

Roethlisberger had a pair of third-down completions and a fourth-down conversion on the winning drive.

“It’s up there,” Roethlisberger said of the locker-room celebration. “Part of it is because so many people got involved, so many people helped make this happen.”

The Steelers entered the game not just needing to defeat the Ravens to advance to the playoffs. They also needed the 2-14 Jacksonville Jaguars, a 15-point home underdog, to upset the 9-7 Indianapolis Colts.

The odds of both coming true were pegged at less than 10%, according to several prognosticating websites.

The Jaguars, though, obliged by stunning the Colts, 26-11.

“Dire circumstances,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “A lot of competition in the stadium. Distractions, potentially, outside the stadium. They were able to process all of that and make the necessary plays to secure victory. I’m appreciative of it.”

The Ravens (8-9), who would have remained alive for a playoff berth with a victory, overcame Roethlisberger’s touchdown pass to Claypool and tied the score 13-13 on Justin Tucker’s 46-yard field goal with 1:13 remaining in regulation.

For the second time in the game, Roethlisberger lost the coin toss, and the Ravens received the ball to open the 10-minute overtime. That drive stalled at the Baltimore 47, and the Steelers got the ball at their 17 with 6:24 left.

Najee Harris, who missed nearly two quarters with a rib injury, had an 11-yard reception on a one-handed grab. Diontae Johnson had an 11-yard catch on third-and-9, moving the ball to the Ravens 43. On fourth-and-8, Roethlisberger found Ray-Ray McCloud for a 10-yard completion to the 31.

Harris broke off a 15-yard run around left end, Roethlisberger took a knee, and Boswell trotted onto the field to kick the game-winner.

“If this is his last year, we’re sending him to the playoffs, and this team deserves it,” Boswell said. “We’ve been battling.”

Roethlisberger had just 66 yards passing in the first half and 95 after three quarters. In the fourth quarter and overtime, he completed 19 of 25 attempts for 149 yards and a touchdown.

The winning drive was No. 53 in his career, creating a tie for second on the all-time list with Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Peyton Manning is one ahead with 54.

“He’s the same when everyone else gets funny,” Tomlin said of Roethlisberger. “Everyone else gets a little tight. He’s the same guy.”

Watt etched his name in the record books when he sacked Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley for a 3-yard loss late in the second quarter. It gave him 22.5 sacks, equaling Michael Strahan’s total from 2001.

Watt also had five tackles, three quarterback hits, a pass deflection and a forced fumble on a Huntley bobbled snap that could have been ruled a sack, which would have given him the record.

“We don’t take it for granted,” Tomlin said of his star players. “We know it’s unique, but we’ve been looking at it for some time. We expect it, but it’s appreciated — their efforts, their talents, their will, their competitive spirit, the things that make them who they are.”

Despite allowing a season-high 249 yards rushing — the fourth time in a nine-game span an opponent surpassed 200 — the Steelers forced three turnovers while handing the Ravens their sixth consecutive loss. They also won despite running backs Harris and Benny Snell being held to 50 yards on 23 carries.

“Man, we’ve got some warts,” Tomlin said. “But we’re here.”