Simply Put, All Big Ben Does Is Win
PITTSBURGH - After lackluster games against Miami and the New York Jets, many were beginning to question just how good the Steelers are.
They aren't in New England's league - though they'll get a chance to prove it one way or another next week - but, thus far, nobody else is, either.
What the Steelers are, however, is the soon-to-be champions of the AFC North.
Cleveland's loss at Arizona coupled with the Steelers' victory Sunday night over the Cincinnati Bengals left Pittsburgh two games up in the AFC North with four games remaining. And the Steelers' season sweep of Cleveland leaves Pittsburgh's magic number to clinch the division at one. Another win by the Steelers, or a loss by the Browns, will clinch the title for Pittsburgh.
The Steelers (9-3) are assured that they will better last season's 8-8 record with basically the same players.
The biggest difference? Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
It used to be that when people talked about the top quarterbacks in the NFL, Roethlisberger wasn't even in the conversation. This despite having everything on his resume a quarterback is supposed to have.
Super Bowl championship? Check.
Winning record as a starter? Check.
Solid passing numbers? Check.
But Roethlisberger was considered a product of the system in his first two seasons. His injury-plagued 2006 campaign, in which he threw 23 interceptions, was pointed to as the reason why he isn't among the elite.
If you polled NFL general managers today about a short-list of quarterbacks they'd like to build their team around, you wouldn't have to look too long to find Roethlisberger's name.
If you polled NFL general managers today about a short-list of quarterbacks they'd like to build their team around, you wouldn't have to look too long to find Roethlisberger's name.
After New England's Tom Brady and Indianapolis' Peyton Manning, Roethlisberger might be next on the list. And, at just 25 years old, Roethlisberger might be favored by a few, given Brady and Manning are both on the wrong side of 30.
Roethlisberger again outdueled Cincinnati's Carson Palmer, another of the league's high-profile passers. Roethlisberger outperformed Palmer in every phase.
Roethlisberger completed 21 of 32 passes for 184 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also contributed a six-yard touchdown run. Palmer, meanwhile, was only 17 of 44 for 183 yards and no touchdowns.
Roethlisberger was missing Santonio Holmes - one of his main targets - while this was supposed to be a game in which the Bengals showed that an October loss to Pittsburgh was largely because of wide receiver Chris Henry and running back Rudi Johnson not playing. Both played Sunday and it didn't matter.
What Roethlisberger does on the field isn't always pretty. He doesn't throw tight spirals like Palmer, read defenses like Manning or throw the ball perfectly like Brady.
But what he does do is win.
And that, after all, is what really matters.