3 reasons Baltimore Ravens beat the Steelers on Sunday Night Football

3. Don Martindale called a phenomenal game as defensive coordinator:

The Steelers had just tied the ball game up at 14. It looked like the Steelers were about to get on a roll, a roll that would change the game. The Steelers passing game had found a rhythm and Ben Roethlisberger looked unstoppable. The second half came and the Ravens changed the story. It wasn’t the same movie you’ve seen before. It was the Ravens turn to humble Roethlisberger.

Martindale made key adjustments that took away the short completions over the middle of the field. Martindale figured out what was working and he stuck with it. In a game where Roethlisberger was only sacked once, the Ravens defense walked away with a dominant victory. That is something that never would have happened under the leadership of Dean Pees. Martindale deserves a game ball as much as some of the players do.

The Ravens defense had a chance to seal the deal and they got the job done. Anthony Levine Sr. picked off a Roethlisberger pass and that was really all she wrote for this game. The defense had all the answers for the Steelers attack. Martindale won this chess match.