PITTSBURGH -- Sidelined for six consecutive games with a painful right turf toe, Baltimore Ravens left offensive guard Ben Grubbs made a successful return Sunday night.

And the veteran blocker doesn't think he aggravated the injury.

Grubbs took a pain-killing shot prior to the Ravens' 23-20 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field, starting and making it through the entire game.

"It did all right," Grubbs said. "It was sore a little bit, but with the pain shots I took I was able to play. I guess you can call it pushing off. I did all right. Yeah, I don't think it's any worse, but the shots haven't worn off. Talk to me Wednesday."

Grubbs said that the injury was extremely difficult to deal with over the past several weeks after straining ligaments in his toe against the Steelers in a 35-7 win to launch the season.

Five-time Pro Bowl center Andre Gurode had been starting in Grubbs' place.

"It was the first actual injury where I couldn't go even if I wanted to," Grubbs said. "I didn't know what the future held for me. I prayed and my family prayed.

"With the help of our trainers and the help of time, the No. 1 healer, I was able to go this week. I really wasn't sure how I was going to make it through this game."

The Ravens are now 2-0 against the Steelers with Grubbs in the lineup this year.

"It's a lot of responsibility to put on one person," Grubbs said. "We got the win. I'm 2-0 right now, both against Pittsburgh. It's a great win. It was a collective effort.

"My teammates came through. No man was too small or too big. Everybody did their jobs."

THIRD-DOWN STANDOUT: As the Ravens converted a franchise-record 14 of 21 third-down opportunities, tight end Dennis Pitta emerged as a key figure in that success.

Pitta caught five passes for 46 yards from quarterback Joe Flacco with each one moving the chains on third down.

"It's all about making money on third down," Pitta said. "Those are critical plays." Joe did a great job of seeing the field and delivering the ball right on the money. We were able to take advantage of some mismatches out there."

Pitta's longest reception was a 23-yarder on the Ravens' opening drive on 3rd-and-6.

"Dennis is great," Flacco said. "Both those young tight ends are going to be a huge asset for us. It's like putting three wide receivers out there. They know how to run routes. They know how to get open. And he was big on a couple third downs tonight."

INJURY UPDATES: All-Pro defensive tackle Haloti Ngata started and registered two tackles, one for loss, despite a quadriceps injury that limited him last week in practice.

"Just good enough to get the job done," Ngata said of the injury, which was heavily wrapped.

Ngata said he was running on adrenaline.

"It's just the excitement of the game," he said. "You don't feel it until the last second. It all comes rushing back."

Meanwhile, Pro Bowl special-teams ace and reserve linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo suffered a mild concussion.

Ayanbadejo seemed alert after the game.

"I think my brain should be all right," Ayanbadejo said. "I don't think I did too much damage."

Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward left the game with a stinger after absorbing a punishing helmet-to-helmet hit from All-Pro middle linebacker Ray Lewis in the first half. Ward didn't return, and Lewis could draw a fine for the collision.

Steelers safety Ryan Clark might be fined for his hit on Ravens tight end Ed Dickson.

BEATING BIG BEN: The Ravens accomplished a weighty task by defeating Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

It wasn't easy as the former Super Bowl Most Valuable Player completed 20 of 37 passes for 330 yards, one touchdown and an interception for an 82.0 passer rating.

"That's what's so tough about him," outside linebacker Jarret Johnson said. "You got to pressure him, you can't let him sit there. When you do pressure him and don't get to him, it's worse than letting him throw the ball.

"He got out a few times We know that about him. It's still tough to play him. I'm happy the offense did what they did. We had a tough time with him in the second half. They were mixing up stuff on us really well."

Roethlisberger completed five passes to wide receiver Antonio Brown for a game-high 109 yards.

He found tight end Heath Miller five times for 73 yards and wide receiver Mike Wallace for four passes for 68 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to briefly put the Steelers ahead.

"He's good, but it's not just him," free safety Ed Reed said. "It's their team. It's their offense. It's not just one guy out there making plays. He's got some good receivers. Ben is a hell of a player, but he's got a team."

Cornerback Lardarius Webb, who praised Brown last week and said he was the superior player to Wallace, said the philosophy wasn't a case of a bend-but-don't break approach.

"No, the strategy was to lock those guys down," Webb said. "They got open."

LINEUP LOOP: The Ravens deactivated wide receiver Lee Evans (left ankle), as he missed his sixth game in a row.

The Ravens also scratched linebackers Sergio Kindle and Dannell Ellerbe (hamstring, groin), tight end Kris Wilson, running back Anthony Allen (hamstring), wide receiver Tandon Doss and cornerback Chykie Brown (knee).

It's another negative sign for Kindle's status that he's constantly inactive even with the Ravens shorthanded for linebacker depth.

Now, undrafted rookie linebacker Chavis Williams was active ahead of Kindle after being promoted from the practice squad Saturday when the Ravens cut cornerback Bryan McCann.

A former Alabama player, Williams played on special teams as he made his NFL debut.

"It feels good, it feels real good," he said. "It makes you want to go out and work hard the next week."

The Steelers deactivated starting linebackers LaMarr Woodley (strained hamstring) and James Farrior (torn calf), center Doug Legursky (toe), nose guard Chris Hoke, wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (knee, mother's funeral), quarterback Dennis Dixon and offensive tackle Jamon Meredith.

Former NFL Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison returned from a broken orbital bone and wore a protective visor on his helmet. He recorded three sacks and a forced fumble.

Larry Foote started for Farrior at inside linebacker, and Jason Worilds started in place of Woodley.

The Steelers placed punter Daniel Sepulveda on injured reserve with a knee injury on Saturday and signed punter Jeremy Kapinos.

CUNDIFF COMEBACK: Pro Bowl kicker Billy Cundiff connected on three of four field goals, booting a 51-yard kick through the uprights before halftime after a miss from 40 yards wide right in the first quarter.

All of Cundiff's misses this season have been wide right with previous errant kicks from 52, 51 and 51 yards.

Cundiff had hit 32 field goals in a row from under 50 yards prior to Sunday night.

For the season, Cundiff has made 20 of 24 attempts

QUICK HITS: Ravens coach John Harbaugh won his sixth of seven instant-replay challenges this year when a reception by Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward was overturned. ... The Ravens' game captains were Flacco, middle linebacker Ray Lewis and Ayanbadejo. ... Defensive ends Paul Kruger and Pernell McPhee split a sack of Ben Roethlisberger. Kruger also recovered a fumble at the end of the game. ... David Reed returned four kickoffs for 129 yards, averaging 32.3 yards. His long return was a 45-yard effort. ... Steelers wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery, who was on the Ravens' radar briefly after he was cut by the Jets, caught three passes for 44 yards. ... Strong safety Bernard Pollard led the Ravens with seven tackles followed by six from Webb and five apiece from Johnson and Lewis.