Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he never really questioned the decision to go for it on fourth-and-goal late in the fourth quarter of the team's eventual 17-14 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday.
Sitting at Pittsburgh's 2-yard line with 2:44 remaining, the offense's opportunity to reverse a 14-10 deficit was denied when cornerback William Gay broke up quarterback Joe Flacco's pass to wide receiver Anquan Boldin in the left rear corner of the end zone.
The Ravens bailed out offensive coordinator Cam Cameron 2:12 later when Flacco connected with wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh for the game-winning, 18-yard touchdown, but Harbaugh said during his weekly session with the media Monday that he felt good about going for it on the previous possession instead of opting for a field goal.
"There's a thought, but we were on the 2-yard line, and I think we've got a chance to win the game right there," he said. "We have a good football team, and I'm pretty confident in our guys. We didn't get it done there, but we obviously got it done the next time. So it proved that we could score in those situations. But you've got to give your guys a chance to win the game. That's what we did."
Harbaugh also said that he agreed with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin's decision to punt the football from the end zone rather than surrendering a safety, which would have left the Ravens only needing a field goal for the victory.
"I'm pretty sure Mike would tell you that's what he did, gave his defense a chance to win the game, and our offense came up with the plays," Harbaugh said. "That's what happens in football, and I'm proud of our guys for getting it done. There's no way I think he should have taken a safety there. So [if] he kicks it to us and we go down and kick the game-winning field goal, what would they be saying right now?"
After Sunday's win, Harbaugh awarded Cameron with a game ball — a move aimed at affirming the team's faith in Cameron.
"There were some calls that went back and forth," Harbaugh said. "He knows. The third-and-1 where we ran that waggle play, whoo, that was tough. We didn't get the ball in on fourth down, but the thing that I admire so much about Cam is the fact that he is unflappable. He has got ice water in his veins. He's always thinking, and he takes input. If I tell him to do something, he'll do it, but you try to stay away from that as a head coach because that's not the best way to allow your coordinator to do his best work. Cam Cameron is, I think, the best offensive play caller in the game. So for him, the way he kept his poise in that tough environment and came up with those calls down the stretch, I was proud of him, I was happy for him, and I know our players felt the same way."
Kruger battling strained knee
Defensive end Paul Kruger is the team's most serious injury concern as he is dealing with what Harbaugh called a strained left knee.
"He's probably the one guy that has the one injury issue," Harbaugh said. "… He is getting an MRI today. So we'll just have to see how he comes through."
Harbaugh said he didn't have an update on the availability of defensive end Cory Redding, who missed Sunday's game due to aftereffects from a concussion. "I would assume that would be clearing up," Harbaugh said. "You hope, but with a concussion, you just have to wait and see."
Redding said Sunday that he agreed with the coaches' decision to sit out the game against Pittsburgh. "It's a long season, and I want a long life," he said. "I've got to consider my health. You've got to be smart with these things."
Offensive line answers questions
Pittsburgh, which entered Sunday tied with the Tennessee Titans for the fourth-most sacks in the league, finished with a season-low one sack against the Ravens. Flacco was hurried twice, but for the most part, he had time in the pocket.
Left tackle Michael Oher shut out Steelers Pro Bowl outside linebacker James Harrison, and right tackle Marshal Yanda did the same to LaMarr Woodley. Harbaugh praised the game plan aimed at blunting Pittsburgh's tremendous pass rush.
"Pass protection is a group effort, and everybody on the offense is involved with it," he said. "But our offensive line was pretty good. That's probably an understatement. Our tackles did an excellent job against some good players. There wasn't a lot of chipping going on. It wasn't like we were giving them a whole bunch of help. They just held up out there very well, allowed us to get some receivers out, picked up the different pressures, slid the protection in different directions when we had to, did a great job of recognizing where they were coming from and when they were coming."
Multi-player rushing attack returns
At times because of injury and at times because of certain packages, Ray Rice, Willis McGahee and Le'Ron McClain each took turns lining up at tailback Sunday.
