Long Passes Get Ravens Over Hump

Ten years of frustration in Pittsburgh for Art Modell’s team ended with 10 terrific minutes by Qadry Ismail.

Tony Banks shook off an awful first half to connect with Ismail on three long touchdown pass plays in the third quarter and the Baltimore Ravens finally won at Three Rivers Stadium, 31-24, Sunday.

“He had a monster third quarter,” said Banks, who threw for 268 yards despite going three for 17 in the first half and eight for 26 overall. “We were communicating real well and I knew exactly what he was doing.”

Mostly, that was beating cornerback Dewayne Washington and rookie safety Scott Shields on scoring plays of 54, 59 and 76 yards.

Ismail is the Ravens’ only healthy fast receiver. Jermaine Lewis and Patrick Johnson are injured.

The Ravens (6-7) were 0-3 at Three Rivers Stadium, and when they were the Cleveland Browns they hadn’t won there since a 51-0 victory in 1989.

The Steelers (5-8) have lost five in a row--their second such streak in two seasons--and are a franchise-worst 1-5 at Three Rivers, including losses to division rivals Baltimore, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Jacksonville. They beat all but Jacksonville on the road.

“It’s the most disappointing defensive effort since I’ve been here,” said Coach Bill Cowher, whose team has lost 13 of 18. “I’ll make changes if I have to make them. Something is going to have to give.”

This time, it was his secondary.

Ismail had two touchdown catches in 12 games before topping that in a single quarter in which he made four catches for 210 yards. He finished with six receptions for 258 yards. He had all but 10 of Banks’ yards passing.