Even though this loss really hurts, 3-1 without Ben is still pretty good

I sit here with a very sick feeling in my stomach. It's the kind of feeling one gets when their favorite football team loses a heartbreaking contest to their most bitter rival in the final moments of the game.

The Steelers lost today, 17-14, when Joe Flacco hit TJ Houshmandzadeh with an 18 yard touchdown pass with 32 seconds left. This all coming after an awesome goalline stand just moments earlier that looked like it would be good enough to give the team the win, but Baltimore got one last shot and took advantage of it.

The Steelers failed on a last-ditch effort to march down the field to tie the game when Charlie Batch was intercepted by Ray Lewis to preserve the game for Baltimore.

Baltimore and their fans will brag and thump their chests over this one, but the bottomline is Pittsburgh had many chances to control things but just couldn't do it. The defense caused two turnovers in Ravens' territory in the 3rd quarter (including a pick from Ike Taylor of all people) but came away with no points after Jeff Reed missed two field goals.

Pittsburgh had 11 penalties today, none more costly than the holding penalty on Fox during the Sepulveda punt that gave Baltimore the ball at the Steeler 40 yardline with 1:15 left. And from there, Flacco seemed to lead the offense down the field with ease before hitting Houshmandzadeh with the game-winner.

This game was very hard hitting and reminded me a lot of the Steelers/Giants game from two-seasons ago. The Steelers had a great goalline stand that day, too, and also had many chances to put New York away, but were their own worst enemies with many crucial mistakes and just couldn't do it.

I know this is going to sound like sour grapes, but I thought the Ravens got away with two or three false-start penalties by their left tackle in the 2nd half, and for the life of me, I can't figure out why they weren't called.

Nevertheless, the Steelers lost, but if you look at the big picture, you have to be happy with what Pittsburgh did in the 4 games without Ben. If I had my choice, I would have given up the overtime game against Atlanta, and taken today's game against Baltimore because of the divisional and conference implications, but the Steelers will have their best player coming back in two-weeks and I like their chances the rest of the way.

A Benless 3-1 start is not bad at all.