“We missed the crowd. That is one of the most special things about playing at Heinz Field, the best fans in the world. We appreciate their support even though they aren’t here.” — Ben.

Ben completed 29 of 41 passes for 311 yards passing, two touchdowns and an interception. James Connor rushed for 106 yards and another score, and Diontae Johnson had eight receptions for 92 yards and a TD and Chase Claypool had 88 yards receiving and a touchdown for the Steelers (2-0).


You can check out the highlight video of Ben’s touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson here.

“I didn’t play well enough. I’ll have better answers when I can look at the film, but I’ve just got to trust myself and trust my guys. They’re in the spots they’re supposed to be. Sometimes you have to make an anticipatory throw and I didn’t do that well enough today. I didn’t connect with guys when they were open. I just didn’t play well enough.” — Ben.

WE INTERRUPT THIS POST FOR SOME GREAT STATS!


Ben has passed Eli Manning for 7th most career passing yards in NFL history!


With today’s win, Coach Tomlin & Big Ben now have the third-most regular season wins by a head coach-quarterback tandem in NFL history, passing Coach Don Shula & Dan Marino (116).


NFL Research @NFLResearch
Ben Roethlisberger had a 100+ passer rating in his first 2 games of a season for the 4th time in his career

The Steelers made the Super Bowl in each of the previous 3 instances. #SteelersNation

We now return to our regularly scheduled post….

From Mike Prisuta, Steelers.com:

What worked for openers worked again against Denver.

The Steelers turned two turnovers generated by the defense into 10 points scored by the offense on the way to a 17-3 halftime lead, and then hung on for a 26-21 victory over the Broncos on Sunday afternoon at Heinz Field.

Safety Terrell Edmunds’ sack of back up quarterback Jeff Driskel on fourth-and-2 from the Steelers’ 17-yard line with 1:51 left in the fourth quarter preserved the Steelers’ five-point lead late.

It was the Steelers’ seventh sack of the game.

Running back James Conner’s subsequent 59-yard burst allowed the Steelers to run out the clock.

The Steelers stayed unbeaten at 2-0 with the decision in […]

Leaders!

“Proud of these men who are leading the way as captains.” — Coach Tomlin, via Twitter.

Check out these adorable fans who are so happy to have their QB back!


“Who do we love? Big Ben! Who do we love? Big Ben!”

“My daughter Harper repping her BIG BEN for Monday Night Football!!! We’re a huge football family and this was the first year she REALLY was into it!!” — Mom Courtney.

“When your pastor says to wear a shirt of what you’re a biggest fan of….We must represent our Steelers, even with our masks on!” — Mom Kayla.

That’s 3-year old Maddox on the left and 7-year old Maverick on the right!

“Keldan said ‘Bring on Monday night!!” — Dad Daniel.

Keldan was ready and so were his Steelers! Keldan, cool Terrible Towel mask!!



Three 7’s is definitely lucky!

“Now I feel like the NFL season is real! Welcome back Ben! It’s time to start our journey to #7!’ — Dad Kevin Schaffer.

8-year old Norma & 5-year old Logan are dreamin’ of a big win!

“We tried to stay awake!! Big Ben!! Go Steelers!” — Mom Wendy.

“Good job Dada!!!” — Bodie.

In the series’ final chapter, Ben makes his return to the field on one of sport’s biggest stages, Monday Night Football. But before he can run out of the tunnel for the first time in a year, he has to prove he can still throw an “NFL pass”. Enlisting the help of some of his teammates, Ben throws more than just one pass worthy of a fresh cut and a trimmed beard. Through a one of a kind training camp experience, and the first time playing without steeler nation allowed to fill the stadium, the 17 year veteran used the primetime game to cement the phrase that’s been ringing throughout the NFL. “He’s back.”

From Teresa Varley at Steelers.com:

Not only was Ben Roethlisberger back on the field on Monday night, leading the Steelers to a 26-16 win over the New York Giants, but after playing his first game in a year, his elbow that required surgery was about the only thing that didn’t hurt him the day after the game.

Roethlisberger said he was sore from simply playing football again, but the arm felt good.

“I was saying today I feel like I was in a car accident. Yesterday I felt like I was in a train wreck. So hopefully tomorrow it will just feel like I fell off a bike,” said Roethlisberger of the progression of how his body feels. “I am definitely sore.

“The good news is my arm is the only thing that doesn’t hurt, so that is good.”

Roethlisberger doesn’t plan on practicing on Wednesday, something that has been the norm for him just to let his arm recover. He also will continue to protect the arm like he did on Monday night when he wore a sleeve on it while on the sidelines to keep it warm.

“My arm feels great,” said Roethlisberger. “We’ll keep the same routine as far as Wednesday rest day and then we will get back into it. Hence the sleeve I wore on the sideline and the sleeve I wore during the game. That’s going to be the biggest thing, make sure it stays warm. For the most part we are going to do everything we can to keep it healthy and warm.”

Roethlisberger had a strong first outing, completing 21-of-32 passes (65.6 percent) for 229 yards, with three touchdowns, no interceptions, and a rating of 117.8. But he is his own worst critic.

“I looked at the way I played, decision making. There was rust early,” said Roethlisberger. “It’s not like I played perfect. I looked at sometimes maybe I got out of the pocket a little too quick or didn’t have the same feel in the pocket early on that I am used to having. I think that just comes with not getting hit, even in practice. Yeah, you have a pocket, you step up, but defenders aren’t hitting you in practice so you lose some of that feel of where you can slide to, where you […]

“I’m so excited, just thankful. I told the guys in the locker room before the game that the reason I came back was because of them. I don’t need to accomplish anything personally anymore. It’s about being with the Defense that I think is as good as any I’ve ever played with; Skill guys that are young and fun to play with; and of course my Line, who I love to death and they love me. They’re the reason I came back to play.” — Ben, immediately after the game.

From FOX Sports, post-game:

Roethlisberger led the Steelers to a 26-16 win over the New York Giants, spoiling coach Joe Judge’s debut. He was 21-for-32 with three touchdown passes in the game.

When asked how he felt taking the first snap of his returned, Roethlisberger replied, “Awesome.”

“I’m blessed. I can’t thank enough people. I don’t have enough time. Obviously starting with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My wife, my family, my friends, the doctors, my teammates. It just feels so good to be out there with them. And I’m just so thankful and blessed with this opportunity,” he said after the game.

The Steelers were down 10-3 when he threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster. He then found James Washington for a 16-yard touchdown with 7 seconds left in the first half.

He would put the icing on the cake for the Steelers in the fourth quarter when he found Smith-Schuster again for the 8-yard score.

Benny Snell led all runners with 113 yards on 19 carries after James Conner left the game with an injury.

You can read more here.

You can watch video of Ben’s post-game interview here.


Ben is the Steelers Digest ‘Player of the Week’:

For most of his Steelers career, he has been the difference, and during a 2019 regular season in which he missed all but six quarters because of an elbow injury it became clear exactly how much of a difference Ben Roethlisberger is.

In the days leading up to the game, Roethlisberger admitted he expected to feel jitters in advance of Monday night’s game against the Giants, and since it had been 364 days since he took a competitive snap in a real NFL game it also […]