Week 16: Steelers 28, Colts 24 – Steelers clinch the AFC North
I’m just proud of the way the guys fought today – all the way to the end. It was team effort today, and it was fun! This was a heck of a game. The Lord blessed us today…this is unbelievable! — Ben, to CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson.
From Brooke Pryer, ESPN.com:
While many were already busy writing the postmortem for Ben Roethlisberger’s career, the 38-year-old quarterback penned an improbable chapter in his comeback with the help of his resurgent defense in a 28-24 comeback win to defeat the Indianapolis Colts.
Roethlisberger helped the Steelers climb out of a 17-point hole with touchdown throws on three consecutive drives as the offense scored 21 unanswered points in 11 minutes.
With the win, Roethlisberger is 3-24 in his career when trailing by 17-plus points, and the 17-point comeback matches the largest comebacks of his career, joining 2017 Week 13 at the Bengals and 2015 Week 15 against the Broncos.
We need to execute the plays no matter who’s calling them and I thought Randy called a good game tonight…we didn’t execute when he called the good plays. — Ben, on the first half.
Sunday marked the first time the club won when trailing by at least 17 points in the second half with Mike Tomlin as head coach. It was the first time since 2002 — and just the fifth time in franchise history — the Steelers came back from a 17-point second-half deficit to win.
The Steelers clinched their first AFC North title since 2017, but more importantly, they halted a three-game skid and avoided becoming the first team in league history to lose four consecutive regular-season games after an 11-0 start.
Roethlisberger rebounded to finish 34-of-49 for 342 yards and three touchdowns, but he started out 11-of-20 for 98 yards in the first half. The Steelers’ first half looked suspiciously like their first-half debacle in Cincinnati, as they dug themselves into a 21-7 hole by halftime.
You can read more here.
You can watch Ben’s post-game interview here.
You can seem more great game photos from Steelers photographers Karl Roser, Jared Wickerham & Caitlyn Epes here.
I’m so thankful that they’re our defense. We want to play offensively for them. They’ve done so much to keep us in […]
Eli Rogers recalls “once-in-a-lifetime experience” with Ben
From Steelers Takeaways exclusive interview with former Steelers WR Eli Rogers:
What are some of the best off-field memories you have of your time in Pittsburgh?
“One recent memory was the opportunity to go to Ben’s house and experience his life an spend time with him. To bond and connect with him as a person. We shared some good times and talks – I’m very thankful for that memory. That always stays in the center of my mind.”
What about that time impacted you so much?
“Just from where I came from – I had my dreams of success. To be able to hang out with a Hall of Fame quarterback – to see how he lived and spend time at his beach house with his family – just seeing where he is in his life. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be able to do that with someone of his caliber. It holds a great magnitude of importance to me.”
Any off-field memories that stand out?
“One memory that I’m sure many Steelers fans remember. It was a Christmas night game versus the Ravens. It was the last drive and we were going no-huddle. Ben hit some guys downfield and we were driving. It was third and 12 and Ben rolled to his right and I made a great catch for the first down. I came across the middle as he was rolling out and he threw it in an area where I could make a catch and I made a great catch. That memory stands out for me.”
You can read their full interview here.
Wednesday’s Q&A with the media
“We all need to perform better, and it starts with me. I have to complete passes, if that’s the call. If it’s run, then we have to get hats on hats, if you will. Once again, you guys are asking questions that if I had an answer to it, we wouldn’t be having these issues. We can’t fix anything until we get out there on Sunday really.” — Ben.
From Teresa Varley at Steelers.com:
The Steelers got off to a slow start last week against the Bengals, heading into halftime already down 17-0, a deficit they couldn’t dig out of.
It wasn’t the first time they have found themselves struggling early on in games, something Ben Roethlisberger knows needs to get fixed, and fixed now.
“It feels like it’s something different every week,” said Roethlisberger. “It’s hard to really nail down one thing, but it’s something that’s very important to us and we need to get fixed now.”
One thing Roethlisberger has been consistent with all season is pointing to himself to improve, whether the team was 11-0 or 11-3. He has taken his share of heat from outside the team walls, but he doesn’t shy away from admitting some of it is deserved.
“I don’t blame them,” said Roethlisberger. “When you play like poo, you should get talked about like that. I need to play better. If I’m not giving them a reason to talk good, then I’m giving them a reason to talk badly. That’s all on me. I need to play better.
“When you’re not winning, truthfully, at the end of the day, that’s my determining factor of if I played well or not. Did I win the football game? Because that’s all that matters to me. Am I not completing enough passes? Am I missing the right play call? There’s a myriad of issues, in my opinion, that aren’t helping us win the game. It can be something different all the time. I just have to play well enough to help us win a football game because, at the end of the day, that’s all that really matters.”
Roethlisberger said on Wednesday the players gathered for a meeting, mainly just offensive players, just to talk and ‘express where we are and what we need to do moving forward.’ He stressed it wasn’t a panic meeting after losing the last three games, but […]
Week 15: Steelers 17, Bengals 27
“I will never stop believing in these guys or this team. We’ll just push forward.” — Ben, post-game.
From Mike Prisuta, Steelers.com:
The Steelers’ losing streak has reached three consecutive games and the AFC North Division championship remains up for grabs after Monday night’s 27-17 loss in Cincinnati.
The Steelers fell to 11-3.
“I’d say that I’m not consistent enough, which affects the offense, because the ball is in my hand every play.” — Ben.
The Bengals improved to 3-10-1.
The Steelers would have clinched the division championship with a victory.
They have failed to score at least 20 points in four consecutive games.
“We better get it figured out, and I think we can.” — Ben.
A Black & Gold Christmas
“I thought I’d share this year’s version of my Steelers Christmas tree. It is definitely Ben-centric, as it features a photo ornament of Ben, as well as two of the Wendell August ornaments that benefit Ben’s foundation.” — Scott Juba.
@_BigBen7 was correct about the matching PJs. Same thing happened at my house. Haha! Merry Christmas from our family to yours! #Christmas2019 #HereWeGo #Steelers
@_BigBen7 who needs elf on a shelf when we have Ben on a shelf?! Go Steelers!
“Me and my wife do these trees every year. She is a Steelers fan and I’m a Browns fan. It gets pretty exciting during football season! lol!” — Mike Davis.
Go Steelers! We will support black and yellow when they’re winning or losing all day and even for bedtime. Lol! #bigben7
The next @_BigBen7? Just a growth spurt away. #HereWeGo
“My sister saved a spot for Ben at the TOP of our tree!” — Elle Infalvi.
Had a little time on my hands so decided to decorate my steelers tree (ornament tree less branches made to show ornaments better) had to showcase my new @_BigBen7 @WendellAugust ornaments front and center.
Feliz Navidad a todos los @RegiosdAcero
The G.O.A.T. goes up top @_BigBen7
Open grant season is winding down….
But there’s still time for your agency to complete & enter a grant request during the final days of the 2020 grant cycle for the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at The Giving Back Fund.
This marks the 14th season of grants for Ben’s foundation. The majority of the grants distributed will help police and fire department K-9 units to purchase dogs and dog safety vests, but other types of K-9 specific needs will be considered.
This year, Ben has opened up the eligibility to include all towns and communities in the United States and invites police and fire departments to submit proposals detailing their needs.
The Foundation began accepting proposals on September 1st, and will continue through the remainder of the year. Grant announcements will be made after the season.
The mission of the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation is to support K-9 units of police and fire departments throughout the United States with a particular emphasis on support for service dogs in Pittsburgh, PA.
In addition, Ben’s foundation has hosted a number of events to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, his high school alma mater, and other organizations close to his heart.
Ben’s foundation has distributed in excess of $2.2 million since 2007, $1.8 million of which has specifically benefited K-9 programs.
Full grant guidelines and application cover page are available at https://www.givingback.org/ben-roethlisberger-foundation-application-2020/.
Applications and supporting documents must be mailed and postmarked between September 1st and December 31st.
For more information about the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation or The Giving Back Fund, please contact Jessica Duffaut at www.givingback.org.