It started long before the game, during warm-ups, in the chill of the December night. James Harrison came onto the lawn at Heinz Field wearing no top, his massive upper body there for all to see. It was his personal tribute to his fallen teammate, Ryan Shazier.
It continued in the locker room in those tense minutes before kickoff. Mike Tomlin gathered his players, as he does before every game, to deliver a special message. “Let’s get this [AFC North Division champions] hat and shirt for Shazier,” Ramon Foster said, recalling Tomlin’s words. “Setting a goal and getting it done for him. That’s what it was simply about. Making it happen for him.”
It continued on the field before kickoff after the Steelers were introduced. Cam Heyward and Bud Dupree walked to the bench, holding up Shazier’s No. 50 jersey, exhorting the crowd every step of the way.
It stretched into the opening kickoff. Rosie Nix blasted Baltimore Ravens return man Chris Moore with a big hit and immediately jumped up and lifted his jersey to reveal a shirt with 50 on it. “I already had it in my head that when I made a play, it was going to be dedicated to him,” Nix said after the game. “His injury touched me kind of different. I had to miss a lot of time last season with a back injury. I just wanted him to know he had my support and my prayers.”
It was all over NBC’s “Football Night in America” broadcast. “It’s amazing to see the love for Ryan Shazier that is in the league right now,” Cris Collinsworth said. “Not just these two teams, but everywhere I go it is all anybody wants to talk about. Not only a great, great player, but a great guy. We are all thinking about you right now.”
It was in the Twitter world after Ben Roethlisberger threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Le’Veon Bell for an early 7-0 lead. “#26 Shalieving!!!” Pastor Vernon Shazier tweeted, presumably watching the game with his son in a UPMC hospital room after his son’s horrific spinal-cord injury in the game a week ago at Cincinnati.
It was on the feet of many of the players, Steelers and Ravens alike. Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown were among those who wore “Shalieve” cleats.
It was on the stadium’s giant scoreboard when “Renegade” blared in in the fourth quarter. Shazier wasn’t the only star of the video, but he was a huge part of it, drawing roars and gasps and, yes, prayers, from all who watched it.
It was on a banner that hung across from the Steelers bench throughout the game. #Prayfor50.
Best of all, perhaps, it was in the Steelers locker room after their 39-38 win, which clinched that division championship that Tomlin referenced. “We were FaceTiming with him,” Roethlisberger said of Shazier. “There was a lot of hollering. We gave him the game ball.”
That moment touched each teammate, coach and front-office type in a different. All will remember it the rest of their life.
“To see that smile on Shay’s face,” Foster said, beaming.
“We are riding with that guy,” Tomlin said. “He is strong. He strengthens us.”
Roethlisberger said he visited Shazier in the hospital Thursday after practice. “It was like a weight lifted off my back. I told the guys. A lot went to see him. We were all able to breathe a little easier. We wanted to get this win for him.”
The defense, without Shazier in the middle, was far from perfect. It was lousy at times, actually. At one point, the Ravens scored on five consecutive possessions. They rushed for 152 yards, including 120 by Alex Collins, who averaged 6.7 yards per carry.
“We’ve got to find a way to replace Ryan Shazier’s play-making because he’s a monster,” Vince Williams said.
Joe Haden, out for the fourth consecutive game with a fractured fibula, also was badly missed. Joe Flacco threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns. Sean Davis was penalized twice for unnecessary roughness penalties. Artie Burns was called for a big pass interference penalty.
It was enough to make you wonder what Tom Brady and the New England Patriots were thinking as they watched. They will play Sunday afternoon at Heinz Field with the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC playoffs at stake.
But Roethlisberger, Brown, Bell and the others on the Steelers offense were just as inspired to play well for Shazier. They dug the team out of a 31-20 and 38-29 holes in the fourth quarter. Roethlisberger threw for 506 yards and two touchdowns. Brown had 11 catches for 213 yards. Bell had 125 scrimmage yards. Chris Boswell kicked four field goals, including the game-winner from 46 yards with 28 seconds left.
The Patriots must have had some interesting thoughts as they watched the Steelers offense, as well.
Shazier certainly did.
Ask any of the Steelers.
They will tell you this night — this terrific win — was for him.
Williams added a prediction.
“There will be a lot more FaceTiming with Ryan.”
Ron Cook: rcook@post-gazette.com and Twitter@RonCookPG. Ron Cook can be heard on the “Cook and Poni” show weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 93.7 The Fan.
First Published: December 11, 2017, 9:00 a.m.