Rashard Mendenhall scored on a two-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter, lifting Pittsburgh to a 31-24 win over Baltimore and sending the Steelers to another AFC Championship game.
The go-ahead touchdown was set up by Antonio Brown’s artful 58-yard catch down the right sideline on a 3rd-and-19 play.
Ben Roethlisberger spotted his receiver behind two defenders, and Brown secured the ball by holding it against his helmet with his right hand as he ran out of bounds.
It was a highlight-worthy moment, but the game really was decided by turnovers.
Baltimore scored 14 straight points off turnovers in the first half, taking a 21-7 lead into the locker room, while Pittsburgh scored 17 points off three turnovers in the second half to move in front.
After Mendenhall’s touchdown, Ravens receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh dropped a pass behind the first-down marker on 4th-and-18, ending the game.
Pittsburgh, which has won two of the last five Super Bowls, moved on to face the winner of the game between the New England Patriots and New York Jets.