Unconventional Roethlisberger becoming Favre-like playmaker
CINCINNATI - Following a loss a week ago to the Denver Broncos, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said that when you live by the sword, you sometimes die by the sword.
The sword Roethlisberger referred to was his scrambling and throwing while on the run.
In the 31-28 loss at Denver, there were instances of the bad plays Roethlisberger sometimes makes while on the move. Sunday in Cincinnati, we saw the good things he can do in those situations.
In the second quarter, Roethlisberger threw a seven-yard pass to Santonio Holmes on third-and-four while being pulled to the ground by Cincinnati defensive lineman John Thornton.
Most quarterbacks are sacked on that play. Roethlisberger converted the first down and the Steelers continued on a scoring drive.
Roethlisberger made a similar play in the fourth quarter. While escaping pressure, he threw the ball back to the middle of the field to Holmes on third down. Again, Roethlisberger kept a scoring drive alive when other quarterbacks would have been sacked.
Roethlisberger makes a lot of those unconventional throws that cause the coaching staff nightmares - at least until they work.
"I'm sure they were going 'No, no, no. Good play," said Roethlisberger.
Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis likened the 6-5, 240-pound Roethlisberger to another quarterback famous for his scrambling ability.
"I told our guys that he is a big, big, big Doug Flutie right now," said Lewis.
Another comparison would be Green Bay's Brett Favre.
Favre takes chances that other quarterbacks wouldn't because he trusts his arm.
It's what makes Favre a great quarterback. But it's also why he holds the league record for career interceptions.
In his first season with Roethlisberger, head coach Mike Tomlin is getting accustomed to seeing Roethlisberger make plays - both good and bad - while the quarterback is on the run.
"I think that we're all getting comfortable with expecting those kind of plays from him, because that is what he is capable of," Tomlin said. "He is tremendously talented and very smart. ... I think, potentially, that's what makes him different than most. He remains calm, and he makes good decisions as those plays break down. I know he had one that he wished he had back, but that's football. "
The one Tomlin said Roethlisberger wished he could have back was the downside of what happens at times when he throws on the move.
In the third quarter, with the Steelers at the Cincinnati 11-yard line, leading 21-6 and threatening to put the game away, Roethlisberger was chased from the pocket and fired a ball back to the middle of the field. Cincinnati cornerback Deltha O'Neal made an easy interception. Instead of at least getting a field goal and taking a 24-6 lead, the Steelers came away with nothing.
His teammates, however, wouldn't want Roethlisberger any other way.
"He threw an interception down there, but Ben makes so many good plays on the run that you can't take those away from him," said offensive tackle Willie Colon.
It's a fine line that Roethlisberger walks on a weekly basis. As long as he continues to play at a high level, it's hard to argue with the results.
With 15 touchdown passes, he's on pace to shatter Terry Bradshaw's team record of 28 in a season. And Roethlisberger's passer rating of 102.2 is ahead of his team record of 98.6 set in 2005.
Roethlisberger is a playmaker. And as is sometimes the case with playmakers, you sometimes have to take the good with the bad.
This season, there has been a lot more good than bad.