PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Ravens’ collapse against the Steelers began with the most unimaginable of plays – a fumble by Ray Rice.
Countless blunders followed, and Baltimore’s season ended under the weight of those mistakes in a 31-24 loss Saturday.
The Ravens led 21-7 in the third quarter before Rice lost his grip on the football – the most alarming and surprising miscue in a dreadful second half that cost Baltimore a chance to advance to the AFC title game for the second time in three years.
It was the third time in three tries Baltimore has lost a playoff game in Pittsburgh, but this one was different than the rest.
Rice had carried the ball 331 times and caught 73 passes this season without fumbling when he slipped out of the backfield to catch a pass from Joe Flacco. Hit in the middle of the field by safety Ryan Clark, Rice lost the ball.
The Steelers scored to make it 21-14, which started a run of 17 straight points by Pittsburgh.
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