Travis Taylor was a late scratch with tightness in his back. However, he could
have played, according to the team.
It was basically a coaches' decision to give Randy Hymes an opportunity against
the Steelers, although veteran Kevin Johnson started.
Taylor has continued to have inconsistent hands. His contract expires after this
season.
Hymes caught a team-high four passes for 55 yards on Sunday. Heap was held to
three catches for 34 yards.
LOOKING AHEAD: Inside linebacker Ed Hartwell, the Ravens' second-leading
tackler, is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season along with
Taylor, Anderson, defensive end Marques Douglas, Ricard and center Casey Rabach.
Ideally, Hartwell would like to return, but is uncertain if that will happen.
"I would love to be back in Baltimore, because it's my home now," Hartwell said.
"But it's a business, and I don't know if they want me back. You never know in
this business until you have a signed contract.
"Why wouldn't I want to be back? This is my family."
SURPRISED: Like many other players, Lewis was surprised to see the Ravens' once
promising season be derailed by injuries and an inability to close strongly.
They have lost four of their last five games.
"I didn't think it would be like this," Lewis said. "I'm tired of taking the
hard route as far as having to depend on the last couple of games, whether we're
going to go to the playoffs.
"Hopefully, next year we can get this thing rolling to a great start and keep it
going, set the tempo early and not have to fight so hard, make it a little
easier on ourselves."
NOT A CHEAP SHOT: When Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs drove Roethlisberger into
the turf and was assessed a roughing the passer penalty, he injured the prize
rookie's ribs. Roethlisberger briefly continued, but winced after each
completion and was replaced by Tommy Maddox.
Steelers coach Bill Cowher downplayed any notion of Suggs attempting to injure
Roethlisberger.
"I don't think so," Cowher said. "I have a lot of respect for the Baltimore Ravens. They have some class people there. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are maybe two
of the classiest people in the league.
"I know that this is a rivalry. There is a dislike that takes place on the
field, but when that game is over there is a lot of respect that exists between
these two teams."
HOMECOMING: Backup quarterback Kordell Stewart, who started for the Steelers and
made the Pro Bowl in 2001, wasn't in a mood for reminiscing afterward.
"Time moves on, everything changes," Stewart said. "That was a chapter in my
life, and now that's over. I'm doing new things."
Ravens tight end Darnell Dinkins, who played at the University of Pittsburgh and
for the semi-pro Pittsburgh Colts, caught one pass for 5 yards.
STANDOUT: Former Ravens linebacker James Harrison, who was cut this summer when
Baltimore signed tight end Daniel Wilcox and signed by Pittsburgh only because
Clark Haggans was injured, had a disruptive game.
He pressured Boller throughout the game and leapt over a blocker to spike a pass
attempt on a fourth-down try. He ran past offensive tackle Orlando Brown a few
times, too.
"The first couple of times, he punched me in the face," Harrison said. "After
the refs told him he couldn't do that, that was basically the end of any type of
blocking he could really do."
INACTIVES: The Ravens deactivated kicker Wade Richey, linebacker Bart Scott
(knee), offensive guard Brian Rimpf, offensive tackle Tony Pashos, Taylor,
defensive end Aubrayo Franklin, defensive end Dwan Edwards and quarterback
Anthony Wright.
The Steelers' inactives included running back Duce Staley, cornerback Chad Scott, linebackers Kendrell Bell and Clark Haggans, offensive tackle Barrett Brooks, offensive guard Jim Jones, receiver Chris Doering and tight end Matt Kranchick.
QUICK HITS: Bettis surpassed Eric Dickerson for fourth on the all-time rushing
list with 13,294 yards. "To pass Eric Dickerson is amazing," Bettis said. "It
pales in comparison to what this meant to the team." ... Antwaan Randle El made
a terrific one-handed catch in the second quarter. ... The Ravens have scored
only eight touchdowns in going 3-5 in road games in 2004.
As well as a being a long time contributor to RavensInsider, Aaron Wilson writes for the Carroll County Times in Westminster Maryland.
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