New York (AFP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers kept their playoff hopes alive with a 17-10 win over a Baltimore Ravens team resting their star quarterback Lamar Jackson.
The Ravens secured top seed in the AFC playoffs last week and handed back-up Tyler Huntley a rare start as they opted to protect MVP frontrunner Jackson.
The win for Pittsburgh (10-7) means that they can make it into the post-season with some help from other teams in Sunday’s games.
The Steelers will advance if Buffalo lose at Miami or Jacksonville lose or tie their game at Tennessee.
Heavy rain in Baltimore made for tricky handling conditions and both teams adapted with the Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph making ample use of running back Najee Harris.
Harris, who put up 112 yards on 26 carries, put the Steelers ahead in the first quarter with a powerful six-yard rush at the end of a 12-play, 76-yard drive.
The Ravens (13-4), who also rested some other key starters including wide-receiver Odell Beckham Jr, responded in the second quarter with Huntley finding tight-end Isaiah Likely who bustled past two defenders for a 27-yard touchdown.
Rudolph abandoned his cautious approach on the first play in the fourth to zip a pinpoint pass to Diontae Johnson who collected and ran home for a career-high 71-yard score.
A field goal from Chris Boswell with just over three minutes left put Pittsburgh ten points up and the Ravens could only manage a field goal from Justin Tucker in response.
“Diontae is a great playmaker and he split them right there and it was quite the view from behind (seeing them) chasing down the field,” said Rudolph.
“I’m proud of our guys, we got the big win on the road and hopefully we get some help (on Sunday) and get into the tournament,” he added.
The win means that the Steelers reached ten wins in a season for the tenth straight year under head coach Mike Tomlin.
Tomlin’s team could also reach the playoffs in the unlikely event that Saturday’s other game between Houston and Indianapolis ends in a tie.
There was some concern for the Steelers though with top linebacker T.J.Watt, who sacked Huntley twice, going off with a knee injury.
