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          NFL Nation

          In age of offense, Ravens defense dancing to different tune

          • Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterOct 1, 2018, 03:36 AM
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              Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
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          PITTSBURGH -- The Baltimore Ravens did more than shut out the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second half.

          The Ravens’ 26-14 win Sunday night officially moved past two years of heartbreaking losses at Heinz Field and showed why this defense is the best in the NFL.

          How satisfying was this win? Free safety Eric Weddle danced in excitement at his postgame press conference, pumping his arms and stomping his feet while moving in a circle.

          "What did I say last week? This ain’t the same Ravens!" Weddle said. "Gosh-dangit! What a freakin’ win!"

          These definitely aren’t the same Ravens. Their last two trips ended with Pittsburgh scoring in the last minute to beat Baltimore.

          On Sunday, the NFL’s top-ranked defense held quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the league’s No. 2 offense to a total of 47 yards after halftime.

          In today's game in which offenses light up the scoreboard, Baltimore's defense can still roll up its sleeves and play old-school football. Ravens coach John Harbaugh gave a game ball to first-year defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale.

          Asked whether this game has more meaning based on the past two games in Pittsburgh, Harbaugh paused and laughed before saying, "Okay, yes. Yes it does. In some ways this could be the end, but it’s also the beginning in terms of where we’re going from here. So, yeah, it’s a pretty special win."

          In 2016, Antonio Brown scored a touchdown with nine seconds left in a 31-27 win for Pittsburgh. In 2017, Chris Boswell kicked a 46-yard field goal with 42 seconds remaining in a 39-28 victory for the Steelers.

          When it came to the fourth quarter this time, defensive back Anthony Levine came up with the interception with 3 minutes, 15 seconds left in the game.

          The Ravens’ dominance -- one touchdown allowed and two turnovers forced -- can be traced back to Tuesday in the first defensive meeting of the week.

          Martindale told the players that they had kind of laid back and let Roethlisberger run around in the past. This time, the Ravens were going to be more aggressive.

          "They’re going to have worry about what we do instead of us worrying about what they do," linebacker C.J. Mosley said. "I think that was our mindset the whole game."

          The Ravens are the first team since 2006 not to allow a second-half touchdown in each of their first four games, according to ESPN Stats & Information. This season, Baltimore has given up a total of nine points after halftime.

          In six second-half series against the Steelers, the Ravens' defense produced: punt (three-and-out), punt, punt (another three-and-out), punt, an interception and a turnover on downs. Baltimore limited Roethlisberger to 8-of-17 passing for 50 yards in the second half.

          "Yeah, you don't expect that," quarterback Joe Flacco said. "You know every time Ben drops back and the weapons they have, the capability they have to make plays and get the momentum in their favor. The fact they were able to rally at halftime and come out and play the way they did in the second half was why we won the game for sure."