Steelers 6, Ravens 0

15:00: It didn't take long for the first huge hit. Carey Davis lit up Daren Stone on a block on the opening kickoff, and Stone got up, wobbled, and began walking toward the Steelers sideline. One play, one concussion? That's Ravens-Steelers.

13:43: Nate Washington nearly comes up with a great catch on second-and-12, but Ed Reed swoops in and knocks it away.

13:27: Ben Roethlisberger has lots of time early, and he hits Hines Ward for a 45-yard gain to the Ravens 23. Reed and Jim Leonhard collided, allowing Ward to get about 20 extra yards.

11:41 (running): Parker carries twice for six yards, bringing up the game's first key third down. Third-and-4 from the Baltimore 16.

11:26: Roethlisberger misses Heath Miller on the Ravens sideline. The Ravens make the game's first defensive stand -- sort of -- holding the Steelers to a 34-yard field goal by Jeff Reed. Steelers, 3-0 at 11:22.

Ward now has 1,011 in his career in the postseason, joining Hall of Famer John Stalloworth (1,054) as the only Steelers to do so.

Press box announcement: Stone has a concussion. And an imprint of Carey's jersey on his chest.

11:09: Rookie Joe Flacco's first pass goes to Willis McGahee for a short gain. Flacco already is feeling the pressure.

10:35: Flacco gets flushed from the pocket and tries to hit Derrick Mason, who lets the ball through his hands along the Steelers sideline for what would have been first down.

10:28: Flacco goes deep for Clayton, but Ike Taylor and Troy Polamalu are there with tight coverage. Taylor breaks up the throw near the Steelers 25. The Steelers force the game's first punt, and Sam Cook's kick goes out of bounds at the Steelers 36.

The Steelers got pressure on the first two throws by Flacco. A little surprising that Baltimore came out throwing on all three downs on their first series with a rookie quarterback. Maybe this is John Harbaugh saying, "Take your rookie quarterback comments and stick them in a river. I think there are three of them here. Take your pick."

9:13 (running): Parker is off to his customary start against the Ravens. Three carries for seven yards so far. He's never had more than 63 yards against Baltimore.

8:45 (running): Ravens DT Haloti Ngata just ran over Roethlisberger for an eight-yard sack. We're settling in for a nice defensive struggle.

8:16: Big gasp from the crowd as Leonhard mishandles the punt but recovers.

7:30: The rookie makes his first big mistake, trying to force a throw to Mason on third down. The ball sticks right in Deshea Townsend's gut for an interception. Steelers get the ball at the Baltimore 37.

7:22: Roethlisberger floats a perfect pass to Parker on a wheel route in the flat, but Parker has the ball go right off his hands. It would have been first-and-goal, maybe a touchdown if he breaks a tackle.

7:17: Roethlisberger is getting no help from his receivers. Washington just missed one, the third pass to go off of a receiver's hands.

7:02: Ward doesn't drop many, and he doesn't drop an 11-yard throw from Roethlisberger on third down. Trevor Pryce limps off for the Ravens, who already have a gimpy Terrell Suggs. Mental note: This Ravens defense could crumble soon.

Meanwhile, Ward is limping along the Steelers sideline. Could we be about to see Limas Sweed?

6:16: Roethlisberger to Santonio Holmes to the Ravens 1 for 23 yards. Holmes has five touchdowns in his four games against Baltimore. But he is ruled down just short. Baltimore challenges the catch. Replays show Holmes appeared to catch the ball and stretch out, with the ball touching the goal line before it was jarred out by the ground. What is it with Holmes and catches at the goal line against the Ravens?

Ward just left for the locker room.

After the replay, the ball is ruled incomplete because it came out as Holmes hit the ground, according to referee Bill Carollo. Second-and-10 from the 25.

6:24: Tight coverage by Frank Walker on Holmes on a pass to the end zone. Walker is the answer to the trivia question: Who started for the injured Samari Rolle in the 2009 AFC championship game?

6:16: Another incompletion, another field goal by Reed, this one from 42 yards to make it 6-0.

The Ravens' defense is hanging tough, but how long can it keep this up?

Ward is back out on the Steelers' sideline.

5:43 (running): McGahee for four, and the Ravens are in the no-huddle.

5:26: More pressure on Flacco, who heaves it out of bounds along the Baltimore sideline.

5:18: Flacco throws a duck incomplete on third down. This quarter is dragging on. We should have seen this coming after Martina McBride took what seemed like 15 minutes to sing the National Anthem.

Ward has an injured left knee, according to an announcement in the press box. He is not taking the field with the offense after Baltimore's latest punt.

Flacco is 1-of-7 for 2 yards. Roethlisberger is 3-of-10 for 61 yards. Combined, they are having a so-so drive by Kurt Warner.

3:38 (running): Big throw by Roethlisberger and big catch by Miller for 18 yards on third-and-5 inside the Steelers 20.

2:15: Parker fumbles -- guess who on the hit? Yep, Ray Lewis -- and Leonhard recovers for the Ravens at the Steelers 43. The Ravens could actually take the lead with a big drive in a game dominated so far by the Steelers.

Parker has 11 yards on seven carries.

1:20: The Ravens burn a time out on third-and-1 from the Steelers 35. With this already feeling like the longest quarter in championship game history, this stoppage better produce something good.

4th-and-1 coming after the Steelers stuff McGahee for no gain.

Byron Leftwich warming up on the Steeler sideline. Roethlisberger is nowhere in sight.

Measurement, and it's short. And Leftwich is in. Nope, Roethlisberger runs in from the locker room. Maybe these guys are just cold and going inside to warm up.

Parker for a short gain, and that's...your...first...quarter.

-- John Dudley