Post-game:

The Steelers (12-5) lost to the Broncos tonight despite Ben rallying the injury-depleted Steelers from a two-touchdown halftime deficit with 10 points in the final 10 minutes.

“Any loss stings for me,” said Ben during his post-game press conference. “This one’s no different. It’s hard to put it into words right now. It’s a frustrating thing.”

Pittsburgh called tails for the overtime coin toss, and it came up heads. They were nearing field goal range in the final minute of regulation but the Broncos sacked Ben three times on that final drive, forcing a fumble that he recovered.

“We were moving it and we had a shot,” Ben said. “Someone got, it felt like a finger, on the ball and knocked it out. After that, you’re trying to throw a 70-yard Hail Mary and that’s hard.”

Ben finished 22 of 40 for 289 yards with a TD and an interception.


Quotes of the Evening:

“I feel for Ben Roethlisberger. The guy played a courageous game on a sore ankle, escaping the pocket to make a sensational throw to tie the game late in the fourth quarter. It was vintage Big Ben, the right play at the right moment, and I’m convinced somehow, some way, he would have done it again had he gotten the chance in OT. Only he didn’t.” — Clark Judge, CBS Sports Senior NFL Columnist.


“Weekend Warrior: Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Ignoring his physical pain, knowing he could pay a price later in life, Big Ben limped though a fierce pass rush – he took five sacks – to complete 22 of 40, for 289 yards.” — Monte Poole, The Sacramento Bee.



On a positive note…

Ben’s Post-Season Stats:

– He recorded the second most passing yards (289) in a postseason game in his career (337 vs. Jacksonville, 1/5/08).

– He became the second player in franchise history with 3,000 passing yards in the postseason (Terry Bradshaw: 3,833). Ben now has 3,150 passing yards in the postseason. He is the 13th player in NFL postseason history to throw for over 3,000 yards.



You can read more post-game news at Steelers.com