1st half of the Pittsburgh Steelers against the bookies favorites Baltimore Ravens in week 11?

Tonight’s matchup in the AFC North between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens may well be an exciting game. The books are favoring the Ravens, but the more I am looking at this the more I think that quarterback Byron Leftwich may surprise a number of people including the bookies.

He is actually in his 10th season and has the experience to win football games. And like I mentioned in an article earlier today here with running back Rashard Mendenhall back in the game the Steelers have a returning weapon in their running game that is explosive and can make things happen on the ground.

On their very first possession from mid field, Leftwich scrambles and runs it in for a touchdown. The Steelers put points on the board in less than one minute with a great start.

The Pittsburgh defense does their job during their first time on the field and stop the Ravens and they must punt providing Leftwich another opportunity to take the field and also to extend their lead early in the game.

The Ravens defense makes a big play and force a turnover. Flacco and the offense comes out on the field for the Ravens second offensive drive. Pittsburgh does the defense job again and force Baltimore to a field goal. This takes the score Ravens 3 to Steelers 7.

The Ravens stop the Steelers just about mid field so they must punt giving Baltimore another shot at points. But once again Pittsburgh stops them so their offense will get the ball back with minutes left in the 1st quarter.

A 3 and out for the Steelers on this drive and they punt the ball, and Jacoby Jones has a great kick return, breaks a tackle in mid field and takes it in for a touchdown. Baltimore now has the lead for the first time in the game and the score is Ravens 10 to Steelers 7.

After a trade of possessions and the Ravens have the ball again and are approaching the red zone just as the 1st quarter comes to an end.

Forced to attempt another field goal due to Pittsburgh breaking up their third down they miss an turn the ball over to the Steelers with decent field position. Unable to convert on the 3rd down the Ravens get the ball back.

The Steelers defense has been doing their job well tonight and force another punt by the Ravens. They have certainly shown why they are rated #1. Ironically the Ravens stop the Steelers on this drive and must punt again as well.

Stopped again the Ravens punt again giving the Steelers one more shot before the end of the first half. They are unable to convert it and punt with 27 seconds left on the clock. The Ravens take a knee and that ends the first half.

The half time score is Baltimore 10 to Pittsburgh 7.