Reaching a Stopping Point

Ravens Beat Pittsburgh to End the Season, and a Nine-Game Losing Streak: Ravens 27, Steelers 21

BALTIMORE, Dec. 30 -- There was nothing that could have happened Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium that would have completely made up for all that the Baltimore Ravens had done -- or not done -- during a dismal 2007 season. But their 27-21 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers at least gave them a chance to smile as the year ended.

The victory, which came during a steady rain in front of an announced crowd of 71,353, snapped a franchise-long nine-game losing streak for the Ravens (5-11). It ensured that Baltimore would not finish winless in division play for the first time. And it allowed Pro Bowl tackle Jonathan Ogden, who is contemplating retirement, to finally experience a victory on the field this season.

"It's so weird, we're . . . 5-11, a nine-game losing streak, and to get one finally just feels good. It's been a while," linebacker Jarret Johnson said. "It's good to go out with a win, and it's good to go out with a win over our rival. But that doesn't excuse what happened this year, with the poor play and the turnovers."

Indeed, one victory couldn't erase the disappointment of a season that included two blowout defeats on national television, an embarrassing emotional meltdown in the final moments of a near-upset of undefeated New England, and a loss to previously winless Miami. Baltimore's last win came Oct. 14 against St. Louis.

This game had the feeling of a preseason contest, with a crowd that left early -- many of those who remained to the end seemed to be waving yellow Terrible Towels -- and reserve players in key positions.

The Steelers (10-6) had already secured the AFC North title, so Ben Roethlisberger was designated the third quarterback, and wide receiver Hines Ward and safety Troy Polamalu were also held out. Baltimore was starting its third-string quarterback (rookie Troy Smith), had its third-down running back (Musa Smith) as its featured runner and used a tackle (Adam Terry) as a tight end.

But Coach Brian Billick, who was given a contract extension in February and has heard criticism all season long, said this was not a meaningless game.

"To go out there and physically have to do what you have to do under those circumstances, they showed their professionalism until the end," Billick said. "That's all you can ever ask a group. It was an outstanding win."

And it could very well be the final game for Ogden, one of the cornerstones of the franchise. He said earlier in the week that he will take some time after the season to figure out if he will return next season, which would be his 13th. Ogden, 33, has battled injuries throughout the season -- Baltimore's first four victories all came during a five-game stretch in which he was inactive with an injured toe -- and said that his health will play a major factor in his decision.

But Ogden acted as if this were his final game. He savored his pre-game introduction; he, safety Ed Reed and linebacker Ray Lewis -- the team's three Pro Bowl honorees -- were the only players introduced to the crowd. In the game's final minutes, he made sure his young son, Jayden, was brought down to the sideline, so the two could have their picture taken together with the field in the background.

During timeouts "you tend to look anyway, but you don't know, this might be the last time you're looking around on the field, so you just kind of enjoy it," Ogden said. "I might have been smiling a little bit more, I don't know if anyone saw it, but I was just trying to enjoy it."

Injuries decimated the Ravens this season, and there were several games in which their young backups let them down. But that wasn't the case Sunday.