PITTSBURGH — There was a scary moment late in the game when Ravens running back Willis McGahee lay motionless on the field after getting tackled in a head-to-head collision with Steelers free safety Ryan Clark. McGahee was strapped to a backboard and taken by ambulance to a hospital where a Ravens spokesman said he was “neurologically intact.”
“I said a prayer for Willis McGahee because that by far had to be the most deadly hit I’ve ever seen,” Steelers receiver Hines Ward said. “When Ryan Clark hit him, I thought he was dead. And that’s the type of matchup that it’s always going to be. You never know with Baltimore and Pittsburgh who the guy is going to be.”
Exclusive club for Ward.
Ward has 1,021 career postseason receiving yards. Only Hall of Famer John Stallworth (1,054) has more.
Ward surpassed the 1,000- yard milestone with a 45-yard catch-and-run in the first quarter that set up the first score. He left the game later in the first half with a right knee injury and didn’t return.
He said it.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, when asked if he was impressed with how well rookie receiver Limas Sweed responded from dropping a sure touchdown pass late in the first half by later delivering a vicious downfield block and making a first-down catch: “I like the response. I wish he would just catch the football so he wouldn’t have to respond.”
Flacco struggles.
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco said rookie fatigue wasn’t a factor, even though he played 19 games for the first time in his career, and even though in three postseason games he was a woeful 33-of-75 (44.0 percent) with one touchdown, three interceptions and averaged only 145.7 yards passing per game.
“I’m not blaming it on the rookie wall,” he said. “I don’t believe in that stuff. I’ve said that all year: The Steelers are a good defense.”
Mike Klis, The Denver Post; Denver Post wire services
