Baltimore Ravens' Bart Scott Recalls 'Beautiful' Sack of Ben Roethlisberger

Bart Scott wrote one of the most memorabe ... and painful ... moments of the Baltimore Ravens' lasting rivalry with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Jan 18, 2009; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Baltimore Ravens linebacker Bart Scott (57) chases down
Jan 18, 2009; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Baltimore Ravens linebacker Bart Scott (57) chases down / Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Whereas most NFL rivalries, namely those of the high-scoring variety, offer mental attacks on fans, a select few are defined by their physicality and pressure.

The Baltimore Ravens' lasting divisional animosity with the Pittsburgh Steelers is no doubt part of the latter group, as some of the greatest defensive minds of the new century (i.e. Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, James Harrison) have purple or black/yellow ... and in some cases, like the upcoming business of Patrick Queen, both.

Former Ravens linebacker Bart Scott recalled his lasting contribution to the rivalry in a video released on Baltimore's social channels, namely a punishing hit on then-rising Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, perhaps the coup de grace of a Baltimore blowout over the defending champions.

"I couldn’t wait to knock that smile off his smug face," Scott recalled, sharing a video of the moment with his son. "All I could see was that chest, that number, better yet, that chin, got a chin like Jay Leno ... No one has taken more from the Ravens than Ben Roethlisberger. It was our time to get some get-back.”

“It was the most beautiful play that you could ever think of."

If Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is still looking for someone to chew out for the lack of pass blocking, it's Willie Parker: Scott labeled the Steelers rusher as the one who "didn't study," as his missed assignment offered him a clear path to the Super Bowl champ.

Jan 18, 2009; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Baltimore Ravens linebacker Bart Scott (57) chases down
Jan 18, 2009; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Baltimore Ravens linebacker Bart Scott (57) chases down / Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

"They did have it picked up if Willie would’ve went the right way," Scott declared. "I’m coming and saying, ‘I can’t believe this.’ This dude has his chest wide open. I’m thinking, they’re going to see this as a hot route and the ball’s going to be out and he burped the baby (tapped the ball in preparation to throw), and when he burped the baby, I knew Ben was trying to make a play downfield.”

Scott's stifling sack got the third-year man Roethlisberger right in the chest and the takedown briefly forced him out of the game. It was part of a rare one-sided match between the two sides: to date, the 27-0 victory Baltimore took that afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium is the last time a matchup between the Ravens and Steelers ended in a shutout.

That November victory over the Steelers might go down as one of Scott's finest professional hours: he shared another sack with fellow front-seven man Jarret Johnson earlier in the afternoon and later victimized Roethlisberger with an interception. Roethlisberger wound up getting sacked nine times that afternoon, the most he ever endured in a single game.


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Geoff Maggliocchetti

GEOFF MAGGLIOCCHETTI