It might seem silly to make every game a referendum on Ben Roethlisberger, but let’s be honest here: Every game is a referendum on Ben Roethlisberger.
That’s what happens when you’re 39, you’re struggling in a new offense, you’re losing your freedom within that offense and you’re the only player in the NFL to appear on the injury list with not one but two injuries (Roethlisberger was listed with hip and pectoral injuries).
Nationally and locally, the big story leading up to Sunday’s visit from the Denver Broncos once again was a thousand versions of “How much longer for Big Ben?”
Well, based on how Roethlisberger and the offense performed in a 27-19 victory, the best answer might be, “At least a little bit.”
Coach Mike Tomlin was responding to a question about whether the win might build momentum, but he easily could have been talking about his quarterback when he said, “Time will tell the story.”
Roethlisberger had his best game of the season, going 15 of 25 for 253 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 120.9 passer rating.
He wasn’t perfect, by any means. He lost a fumble for the second consecutive week. He also threw a terribly ill-advised pass late in the second quarter with the Steelers clinging to a 10-6 lead. Denver linebacker Alexander Johnson had nothing but grass in front of him but dropped the ball.
Who knows what happens if Johnson makes that play?
That said, if you’ve been among those making the case that Roethlisberger still can function in a balanced offense, this game provided a solid piece of evidence.
The Steelers ran the ball 10 more times than they passed it, the first time that’s happened since a 38-7 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 18 of last season. And whaddya know: Roethlisberger suddenly had more time to throw; the middle of the field opened up; and the Steelers put together several impressive drives.
Unlike in Green Bay, Roethlisberger made some of his best throws at key moments. The idea that his arm is shot is false. He can still deliver a good ball. Whether he can do it consistently remains a major question, but to compare his arm strength to that of Drew Brees last season or a late-stage Peyton Manning is ridiculous. People who make those comparisons are either delusional or lying.
For the second consecutive week, Roethlisberger delivered a perfect touchdown pass down the right sideline to Diontae Johnson on the game’s first drive, this one 50 yards. Couldn't have been a better throw.
He also found Chase Claypool for some big plays. On one, Roethlisberger’s eyes lit up when he saw linebacker Von Miller on Claypool — as big a mismatch as you will ever see — and hit Claypool in stride. Claypool raced 59 yards to set up the late second-quarter touchdown.
Roethlisberger went to the way-back machine on his 18-yard touchdown strike to Claypool to give the Steelers a 24-6 lead late in the third quarter. He looked off a safety to his left, then fired a bull’s eye into the end zone.
“Coach Canada, heck of a play call,” Roethlisberger said, tossing a bouquet to his embattled coordinator. “And the line gave me great time.”
That’s another reason for optimism, if you’re so inclined. The line has now improved two weeks in a row. Credit both Canada and Roethlisberger for sticking to the run game. Roethlisberger said several runs came off run/pass option plays, with him choosing the former — and that meant giving the ball to rookie star Najee Harris, who had 23 carries for 122 yards.
The Steelers kept pounding Harris, including several times on first and second downs when he’d put them in a manageable third-and-short situations.
Denver nearly made a monster comeback in the fourth quarter, slicing a 24-6 deficit to 24-19 with 5:46 left on a 39-yard pass from Teddy Bridgewater to Courtland Sutton.
That’s when Roethlisberger replicated some of his clutch throws from the Buffalo game, killing time and setting up a field goal. Those points meant the Broncos needed a touchdown and a two-point conversion to tie it. They got neither.
This feels kind of like a 17-round prize fight for Roethlisberger, who wound up grabbing his ribs after one hit Sunday and appeared to injure his throwing hand on another play. Make no mistake, though, he won this round, and the banged-up Seattle Seahawks are just ahead.
Will the good times last?
To borrow Tomlin’s words, time will tell.
