I can’t believe it took me this long–literally until the eve of their 2024 campaign–to talk about my favorite Steelers game of the 2023 season.

I do this every offseason, but it slipped my mind this year (probably because I spent too much time writing about Rowdy Tellez).

Anyway, maybe it’s a coincidence. Maybe it’s not. But my favorite Steelers game every year is always a win over the Ravens. Thankfully, there have been many to choose from in recent seasons.

The 2023 regular season was no exception, as there were two wins over Baltimore to pick from. I know what you’re probably thinking; you’re likely assuming that the Week 18 win at M&T Bank Stadium, led by the man, himself, Mason Rudolph, was my most cherished game from 2023. I can just hear the comments now: “Why do you keep riding his ****!” “Why do you keep trolling us by openly rooting for a Steeler to do well?” “Why don’t you get off his ****!”

Believe it or not, my favorite Steelers game of 2023 may have featured Baltimore but it did not include Rudolph. No, it occurred on October 8 at Acriruse Stadium. The Ravens were in town for a Week 5 matchup. Pittsburgh entered the day with a 2-2 record. The Steelers’ two victories were kinda meh, while their two losses were total shellackings at the hands of the 49ers and Texans.

Here were the big, bad Ravens, led by John Harbaugh, the head coach who came into the day with the reputation of someone who did more with less. In stark contrast, Pittsburgh’s head coach was still Mike Tomlin, who always did less with more (except when he won that Super Bowl with COWHER’S PLAYERS).

Kenny Pickett was still the Steelers quarterback of the future, and Matt Canada was still fulfilling his assignment as the worst offensive coordinator in team history.

If you know anything about these modern Steelers and their habit of falling behind by two scores or more, then you’re likely not surprised when I remind you that Baltimore jumped out to a 10-0 lead thanks to a 14-yard touchdown by running back Justice Hill with 6:15 left in the first quarter and a 23-yard field goal by Justin Tucker early in the second.

As for Pittsburgh’s offense, it drove 16 yards before punting. Then, it advanced the football four yards before punting again. The third time it had the ball, however, the Steelers’ offense marched 43 yards down the field…before punting.

The Ravens were driving and looked poised to take control of the game with five minutes and change left in the second quarter. Fortunately, defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi gave Pittsburgh some momentum when he stripped Hill of the football following a short pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson and safety Damontae Kazee recovered it near midfield.

The Steelers’ struggling offense took advantage of this break by parlaying this turnover into a…wait for it…43-yard field goal by Chris Boswell to make it 10-3, them.

Baltimore took advantage of Pickett/Canada’s failure to take advantage by driving into Pittsburgh territory on its ensuing possession. The drive stalled, and the Ravens faced a fourth and two from the Steelers 23 with just 13 seconds remaining before the half. Logic called for a field goal try by Tucker. I mean, a two-score lead against that pathetic Pittsburgh offense? Fans may have emptied Acrisure Stadium at halftime. Instead, Harbaugh, who is always playing chess while the rest of us are playing checkers, decided to go for it, but not really (it was a ploy to draw the defense offsides). Sadly for Harbaugh, his center was also playing checkers and decided to hike the ball to Jackson, who was forced to scramble around for a bit before throwing an incomplete pass. The expression on Harbaugh’s face following the play–one that was a combination of confusion and contempt–made watching the previous 30 minutes of lifeless Steelers offense worth it.

Before I continue, I’d like to use this halftime break to let you know that I was watching this particular game at my uncle’s house. Two of my cousins were also there, and that made for a fun day. It’s always special watching Steelers games with my family because it brings back memories of when I was younger and would pace back and forth in front of the television set as everyone laughed at me. While I may have mellowed over the years, my cousins–especially Erin–are just as crazy as ever during Steelers games.

October 8, 2023, was no exception.

Back to that lifeless offense. Canada’s halftime adjustments failed to give it any life, as Pittsburgh did nothing but punt the football away in the third period. Thankfully, Baltimore spent the entire quarter punting the football back to the Steelers.

The punting bled into the fourth quarter, as the Ravens were set to punt from their own 14 with just over 11 minutes remaining in the game. Miles Killebrew, Pittsburgh’s special teams ace, was having none of it and decided to block that punt through the back of the end zone to close the gap to 10-5, them.

Gunner Olszewski, Pittsburgh’s special teams dunce, took the ensuing free kick and managed to return it to the Pittsburgh 44. The Steelers had great field position and momentum. This would quickly turn into the Jalen Warren possession; the lightning to Najee Harris’s thunder started things off by taking a short pass from Pickett and running like a man possessed until he was stopped at the Baltimore 31. One play later, Warren reeled off a 10-yard run to the Ravens 21. Seconds later, he gashed the middle of Baltimore’s defense for 16 yards down to the five.

First and goal from the five, baby! Let’s gooooooo!!!!!!!….to the field goal team. After losing two yards over the next three plays, Boswell was called on to kick a 25-yard field goal to make it 10-8, them, midway through the final period.

The Steelers’ defense then forced a three-and-out, and Pittsburgh would be getting the ball back with a chance to win it late. Pickett had that “it” factor, the clutch gene, and he was going to shine once again…but that damn special teams dunce–Mr. Fumble At Acrisure Stadium–Olszewski, burped the ball back to the Ravens, who then returned it to the Pittsburgh seven.

There was only 5:33 remaining in the game, and a touchdown here would likely be curtains for the Steel Curtain. On third and goal from the five, Jackson tried to hit veteran receiver Odell Beckham with a quick fade in the end zone, but rookie corner Joey Porter Jr. had other plans and intercepted the pass. This moment was my favorite of the entire 2023 campaign, as I jumped up and shouted, “Yeah, Peezy Jr!”

Would Pickett’s “it” factor be unlocked over the final 4:06 of regulation? Yes. The second-year man from Pitt spent the next three minutes driving the offense to the Baltimore 41. On second and nine, Pickett took the snap, rolled to his right and found George Pickens down the right sideline. Pickens avoided his defender as well as the sideline and raced into the end zone for a 41-yard touchdown to give the Steelers a 14-10 lead with 1:17 left in the game.

The Steelers went for two and failed, but it didn’t matter much since Baltimore needed a touchdown to win regardless.

Instead of allowing a touchdown, the Steelers’ defense quickly regained possession when Alex Highsmith stripped Jackson of the football and Watt picked it up and returned it to the Ravens 18. Game over, no?

No.

The Ravens still had two timeouts and used them, while Pittsburgh rightfully played it safe. The goal on third down was to have Pickett kneel and then run as much time off the clock as possible before sending Boswell out to kick a field goal. But this was the Steelers and Ravens. An illegal formation penalty on Chuks Okorafor, one that was declined by the Ravens, stopped the clock, and Boswell had to kick a 42-yard field goal with 49 seconds remaining that made it 17-10, us.

You mean to tell me we were going to have to sweat out another Steelers/Ravens finish?

Thankfully, no.

Watt mercifully ended things by sacking Jackson on fourth down.

Final score: Steelers 17, Ravens 10, as my family and I celebrated in my uncle’s living room.

That game had everything: Great defense. Weird coaching decisions, particularly by Harbaugh. Timely takeaways. A blocked punt by Miles. An untimely fumble by Gunner. A Peezy Jr. pick in the end zone. An untimely penalty by Chuks.

Also, you can’t forget Harbaugh’s confused expression at the end of the first half that quickly became the profile pic of several Steelers fans by the end of the game.

Oh, yes, it even had a conspiracy. Remember that game-winning touchdown? The CBS crew immediately cut to a shot of Canada who failed to celebrate. In the moment, one might have assumed that Canada was quickly trying to figure out a call for the two-point try. But the Steelerverse spent the next several days insisting that Canada was probably angry because Pickett called his own play on the touchdown.

Most importantly, it was a day I’ll never forget because it also featured my family.

Go Steelers, and here’s to many more great moments in 2024!