Team first: Coach Mike Tomlin said it best following the Steelers, 27-22, win over the Baltimore on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium.
"Awesome team win," said Tomlin.
And he wasn't wrong.
The game took all three phases, offense, defense and special teams to come together to take over first place in the AFC North.
"I'm just appreciative of the effort of the men in that locker room," said Tomlin. "It's classic Steelers vs. Ravens."
It literally came down to the final play, when on third-and-one linebacker Alex Highsmith sacked Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson for an eight-yard loss as time expired.
And it was a play Highsmith almost wasn't on the field for.
"I thought as the game got thick, you just really felt his presence," said Tomlin of Highsmith. "We were actually coming out of that very last timeout, and he turned around and was walking back to the bench with me.
"I was like, 'Alex, what are you doing? Get back in there.' I'm thankful that I did because obviously he made the play of the day."
The defense held the Ravens to only 38.9% on third down, making plays when they were needed most, especially facing attrition as injuries continued to mount.
"I'm just appreciative," said Tomlin. "When you start having linebackers go down, in that period of time when Patrick Queen was unavailable to us, it was uncomfortable.
"But that's just the component of it. That's why it's the ultimate team game. I'm just appreciative of the collective efforts."
On the other side of the ball, quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 23 passes for 284 yards and a touchdown. Receiver DK Metcalf had seven receptions for 148 yards, including a long of 52 yards on the first offensive play for the Steelers.
"I think we were in an aggressive posture all day," said Tomlin. "I just think that's how we got out of bed this morning. That's what's required when you're playing these guys in their venue.
"I just think that's the way we needed to play. We needed to be aggressive. We've just been in here a lot. We are familiar with them in this environment, and that's what's required."
Feeling good: When the Steelers signed quarterback Aaron Rodgers this offseason, Coach Mike Tomlin knew it was for days like today.
Tomlin felt that Rodgers was in control early on against the Ravens, and that feeling never faltered.
"I did (get a sense of that)," said Tomlin. "But again, we knew what was on the line today. That's why you go do business with a guy like Aaron. Thick days, like today, he's a been there, done that guy.
"Beyond the experience component of it, he relishes it. You can just tell. That's the benefit of having a guy like him."
Rodgers, who brings a fiery enthusiasm that rubs off on others to his play every week, completed 23 passes for 284 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Ravens.
And he started it off with a bang, completing a 52-yard pass to receiver DK Metcalf on the Steelers first offensive play.
Rodgers said he had a good feel for how the offense would be able to come out based on the week of practice.
"I hate to sound like a broken record, but it's all about practice when you're out there and executing in practice like we did this week," said Rodgers. "It gives you confidence to make some of those plays, and I thought it was our most crisp week of prep on the field.
"I think off the field we've already been good. I thought the energy was good, not a big believer in coincidences. So, I've got to think that just Marquez (Valdes-Scantling) and Adam (Thielen) out there made a difference from a professionalism standpoint. Not saying those other guys don't have professionalism. I love Cal (Austin) and Roman (Wilson) all of our other guys, but I just think there was an extra level of focus this week.
"And (offensive coordinator) Art (Smith) wanted to be aggressive on the first play. As you guys (media) were talking about, we hadn't completed a pass over 20 yards in a while. Took a shot, and DK got it. Love that from our guy. I think he even ran down on a punt. So, proud of DK.
"Proud of our defense standing out there at the end and the offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage from a pass game standpoint. We didn't run it very well, but when we had to have some conversions on third down and we made some plays."
Rodgers made a huge play himself, breaking around left end for a one-yard rushing touchdown, showing off his mobility just days after his 42nd birthday.
"I mean some games you feel better than others," said Rodgers. "I was just telling the linemen they will understand when they are 40. Some days you feel better than others. Wake up and there is no specific why, thinking like what did I do last night? Did I sleep wrong?
"But some days, you feel great and other days you feel maybe just good. Today, I felt great.
"But I felt good moving around there and then to be able to run a touchdown, it's been a long time.
"It was actually in no way the play at all. It was a play to Jonnu (Smith) and the whole left side just caved in. I started running and realized I had two larger humans chasing me that I maybe was equal to, or slightly faster than. Always nice to get in the end zone."
Stepping up: Linebacker Patrick Queen went into Sunday's game dealing with a glute injury that limited his practice reps all week, but despite missing a few reps in the win over the Ravens, Queen toughed it out in an incredible manner.
Queen missed six plays late in the game, returning with 2:32 to play.
And his presence was felt.
"I thrived," said Queen. "I had a little hiccup here and there, but I made it through.
"I was just trying to be me and get back in the game. I was trying to get back in the game two, three plays before that, but you can't have both of the headsets on the field at the same time. (Payton Wilson) was in there, and I trust Payton to be able to do his job at a high level, so I was just waiting for the perfect time to be able to get back there.
"I didn't want to have no confusion going on. I didn't want us to waste a timeout or anything. It was just me waiting on the situation for me to be able to go back in there. That's all that was."
After holding the Ravens to a field goal on their opening drive, Queen said he wasn't expecting the offense to come out firing like they did, with a 52-yard completion to DK Metcalf to kick things off.
He said it got their blood pumping.
"Yeah, that first play, I was not expecting that at all, so that definitely got us fired up," said Queen. "We really trust our offense. I was talking about it earlier in the year, we let them down a couple of times and stuff. We know we've got an offense; we've just got to get them the ball, get it to them in good field position.
"We trust every single guy on that offense to go out there and do their job and do it at a high level. So, it comes back to us on defense to be able to do our job at a high level and get the ball back to them."
The win put the Steelers in sole possession of first place in the AFC North.
"I think we've just got to stack them," said Queen. "I don't think it's a confidence booster. I think it's just the fact that we are going to go out there and do it again.
"It's more of us being consistent. There were flashes in this game. We still weren't as consistent as we need to be, but it's just the whole thing. I think it's more momentum than confidence, if anything.
"I think we just need to take it one day at a time. Stack that day, stack the next day, rep after rep, meeting after meeting, whatever it is, be locked in because the season flies by. To me, everything flies by, so every single day I wake up I try to be present in the moment, that's how I take it.
"I think that's how we should take it as a team. Just live in the moment, day by day, play by play, meeting by meeting, whatever it is, just stack it."
Have a day, DK: Receiver DK Metcalf had his best game in black and gold, with seven receptions and a season-high 148 yards against the Ravens, including a 52-yard reception to start the game.
Metcalf said the team knew what was on the line this week, especially after losing to Buffalo a week earlier, and wanted to come out and get the job done, while taking over first place in the AFC North.
"I think we just knew what was at stake, first place in the division," said Metcalf. "We knew we were coming in facing a good team that had just come off a loss as well. We knew we were going (to get) their best shot. We had great practices all week. We were locked in on all the details, and throughout the weekend, everything came to fruition.
"I just felt it. Everybody was talking about the rivalry between the Steelers and the Ravens, and that's all that needed to be said. We were shown old clips from the previous years, how the games came down to the last second, plays made by our team, but I think we just knew what was at stake, and that's why it happened."
A week ago quarterback Aaron Rodgers talked about not having a good week of practice.
This week, it was a different story.
"I think us just connecting in practice on Wednesday and Thursday and even on Friday," said Metcalf. "The defensive scout team gave us great looks. We were competing all week at practice, and then we were on all the details, the checks. All the looks.
"We were communicating all week, so I think it was a perfect storm for everything to just come together and for us to play like we did today."
While Metcalf's presence was mostly felt on offense, late in the game he found himself on special teams.
And he had an impact.
Metcalf was in at the gunner position when the Steelers were forced to punt with 2:08 to play in the game. With him in the game, he drew additional attention from two Ravens defenders, and the Ravens were called for holding, pushing them back to their own 26-yard line to start their final drive.
But how did WR1 end up as the gunner?
"Skow (Ben Skowronek) was on the sideline saying his finger hurt, so I said, I got you," said Metcalf. "When I saw him running on the field, I went to the other side. I got one gunner rep in college, but I'm trying to win."
Cornerback James Pierre when asked about it said he should have gone out there, but it all worked out.
"He wasn't supposed to be out there," said Pierre. "I should've taken it, but I'll take the rap for it."
Family affair: Cornerback James Pierre can have family bragging rights for now after intercepting his cousin, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, with a one-handed grab.
But don't expect him to say too much.
That's not his style.
"Not necessarily, no," said Pierre if he won the bragging rights. "It's just my mom will be talking about it a lot."
Pierre said it was the first time that he intercepted his cousin.
"We've always been on the same team," said Pierre, of the two growing up and playing football together as kids.
The interception came in the second quarter with the Steelers holding a 10-3 lead and the Ravens trying to tie the game. The Steelers offense took advantage, turning it into a Kenneth Gainwell touchdown.
"Just listening to my coach and keeping my eyes on the quarterback," said Pierre of the play.
The defense had their challenges against the Ravens, but stood strong throughout, especially when it mattered most.
"It was huge for the organization, for this team," said Pierre. "The mentality that this defense has is we're just trying to get off the field in three plays or however we can.
"Each week we're going out trying to do our best, trying to get the win."
Bringing you the action: For fans who don't want to miss any of the action, NFL+ is here, which means you can now watch the Steelers live and on the go! Watch live local and primetime regular season games on mobile, plus NFL RedZone, NFL Network, live audio and more - all in one place.
