Ravens End Two Droughts

The Baltimore Ravens were delighted to finally end a touchdown drought that had lasted an agonizing 12 quarters.

That was nothing compared with the feeling of breaking a four-game losing streak by beating the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“We need a win around here. It’s been a while since we’ve won, and it means a lot, man,” Raven quarterback Kyle Boller said Sunday after Matt Stover kicked a 44-yard field goal with 4:09 left in overtime for a 16-13 victory.

The game-winner came at the end of a 30-yard drive that included a 12-yard pass from Boller to Randy Hymes on a third-and-nine play from the Baltimore 44. Seven plays later, Stover drilled the game-winner.

“What a great finish, what a great game,” said Raven linebacker Terrell Suggs, who had one interception and another wiped out by a penalty.

Boller completed 21 of 36 passes for 163 yards. His three-yard scoring pass to Hymes in the second quarter ended the Ravens’ run of 190 consecutive minutes without a touchdown.

The Ravens (3-7) took advantage of a Pittsburgh offense run by Tommy Maddox, who produced only one touchdown playing in place of the injured Ben Roethlisberger.

Pittsburgh’s leader sat out a third straight game since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. Maddox was 19 for 36 for 230 yards with an interception. He also lost a fumble.

“We didn’t make plays when we needed to. If I make a couple of throws at the end of the game or in overtime, it’s probably a different story,” Maddox said. “It’s tough to lose a game you felt you should have won.”

Pittsburgh (7-3) had an 11-game winning streak on the road since losing in Baltimore in September 2004.

“We have to move forward,” Coach Bill Cowher said. “Right now it’s a six-game season. That’s how we have to look at it.”

The Ravens were just happy to look up at the scoreboard at game’s end and see more points next to their name for a change.

“I’m just happy to be smiling on a Sunday. It’s been a long time,” defensive tackle Anthony Weaver said.

“This is huge for us, something to build on.”