Scott Brown, ESPN Pittsburgh Steelers reporter All rights reserved.You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information / Your California Privacy Rights are applicable to you. ^ Back to Top ^ © 2023 ESPN Internet Ventures. This provides a unique opportunity for a team that rarely gets blown out.Īnd Big Ben won't be backing down from the chance to test one of the league's best secondaries. The Steelers pride themselves on responding after ugly losses. Roethlisberger will handle some screen passes and quick slants, but his eyes are downfield. Those throws are coming regardless of circumstance. Since then, he's 10-of-26 with zero touchdowns and three interceptions in that area. If the rushing game keeps things balanced, that opens up Roethlisberger to find the passing rhythm he had in the Washington game, when he completed 5-of-6 passes for two touchdowns on the 15-plus-yard attempts. The offense's first five first-down rushes last week went for a total of 2 yards (one play negated by penalty). Roethlisberger is 15-of-32 on those attempts, compared with 7-of-22 for this week's opposing quarterback, Alex Smith.Īfter struggling to run the ball on first down last week, the Steelers will want to establish the ground game with Le'Veon Bell and DeAngelo Williams. Only Ryan Fitzpatrick and Carson Palmer have attempted more. Roethlisberger, who's 17-3 in prime-time games at Heinz Field heading into Sunday night's home game against the Kansas City Chiefs, has attempted 32 passes of 15 or more yards downfield this season. He's trying to score on every drive, and most plays are designed to score. Those turnovers are largely livable because of the overall potency of the offense (save Philly, where the Steelers posted 286 total yards). Big Ben has 18 of them in his last 14 games.Ĭontext is important, because Roethlisberger is constantly trying to stretch the field. With Roethlisberger's impressive spike in yardage and pocket wizardry the last two seasons, the one blemish would be interceptions. Amnesia balances the quarterback universe. What's elevated Roethlisberger's career - and this worked for Brett Favre - is the ability to shrug off bad plays in the name of aggressive football. "We don't quit," said Roethlisberger after the game when asked about whether he thought about leaving the blowout loss for injury purposes. But the throw highlights Roethlisberger's fearless football disposition. The common fan might wonder what Roethlisberger is even doing in the game, let alone stepping into deep balls.ĭarrius Heyward-Bey wrestled for the ball with safety Rodney McLeod, who ended up with the interception. PITTSBURGH - Less than five minutes left, ball's at the 50, Pittsburgh Steelers are getting pounded by 31 in Philly, and Ben Roethlisberger reaches back for a 60-yarder into the end zone. Jeremy Fowler, senior NFL national reporterīen Roethlisberger will keep launching through mistakes: 'We don't quit' You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
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