Antwon Blake was fine with his role as the headhunter on special teams.

The Steelers, however, gave the third-year cornerback a chance to prove his ability is far more expansive.

With the Steelers in pursuit of the AFC North title, Blake was given an opportunity to showcase his skills in the team's “nickel'' defense the past three games while veteran Ike Taylor sat with an injured forearm. It was the second time this season he had been added to the package. The first came after Cortez Allen's struggles forced him out of the starting lineup.

Blake dazzled everyone during Sunday's 27-17 regular-season finale victory over Cincinnati.

The Steelers secured home-field advantage for the wild-card round with the victory and will host Baltimore on Saturday night at Heinz Field. A victory will send the team to Denver on Jan. 11.

It was Blake that made the big defensive play late in the fourth quarter when he stripped the ball from Cincinnati's Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Green. He then recovered the fumble, stopping the Bengals drive. The Steelers led by three points at the time, and the Bengals were driving for a potential tying field goal or go-ahead touchdown.

“I wanted to stay in pursuit and make a play on the ball,” he said. “I guess instincts took over, so I went for the ball — that's basically it.

“That moment came about because of the mental and physical preparation. You never know when you'll get your opportunity, but I felt I could do something positive.

“I did a lot of film study and listened to everything everyone said. I listened to older players, and I'm still listening and paying attention to how they do things.”

Before Blake turned back the Bengals with his strip and subsequent recovery of Green's fumble, he frustrated Cincinnati's receivers and delivered a couple of thunderous blows to running backs Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard.

For the past several seasons, Steelers cornerbacks haven't tackled particularly well. Blake has 31 solo tackles and seven on special teams since he was inserted into the defensive rotation.

Blake helped turn around the defense, which struggled to stop Cincinnati's ground game in the first half.

In the second half, he stopped Hill dead in his tracks at the Steelers 6 and hammered Bernard out of bounds short of a first down.

“(Defensive coordinator Dick) LeBeau says as long as you run to the ball positive things will happen,” said Blake, who had 22 tackles in his past three games. “I feel you can affect what happens when you get to the ball. I'm about technique and playing hard.

“It excites me to put another man on the ground. Whenever I can show off my physicality it makes me happy. I don't mind throwing my body around and giving it all up for the team.”

Blake, a 5-foot-9 cornerback cut loose by Jacksonville last year, will match up against Baltimore's 6-foot deep threat Torrey Smith, who over the past four years is averaging 16.9 yards-per-catch, which is fifth best in the NFL.

Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco will try to exploit Blake's playoff inexperience. Admittedly, he doesn't know much about Blake, considering he didn't face him in either of the teams' regular-season games this season.

The Ravens' top receiver is Steve Smith Sr., who has 79 catches for 1,065 yards, but Torrey Smith has a team-high 11 touchdown catches and a 15.7 average. Though Steve Smith has an 80-yard touchdown this season, Torrey Smith has tormented the Steelers with his speed.

“They both are vertical threats, especially 82 (Torrey Smith),” Blake said. “We can't let these guys get behind you, because Flacco has confidence in those guys. But I have faith in our guys, too.”

Ralph N. Paulk is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at rpaulk@tribweb.com.

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