From Teresa Varley’s recap at Steelers.com:

Ben Roethlisberger knows there will be a lot of hype on Sunday night, a lot of excitement as they celebrate the championship. And it won’t bother him, instead it will be something that can serve as a motivation to be that team next year.

“I think it’s cool to be a part of,” said Roethlisberger. “You go out there and watch it. You try and channel it to say that needs to be us next year. That’s the way I look at it. It’s the first game of the year. They are the world champs. We’re just trying to get to where they have been. It will be exciting for all of us. I know the crowd will be excited. Sunday Night Football, it’s not a one o’clock game. All those things add up to an exciting night.”

This year will mark the fourth time the Steelers have opened the season against the Patriots, previously doing so in 1979, 2002 and 2015. It’s the third time they are opening against them with the Patriots coming off a Super Bowl win, and Roethlisberger was at the helm when the Steelers opened against the Patriots in 2015, a 28-21 loss.

“They are the best for a reason, coaches and players,” said Roethlisberger. “It’s not like we have had a problem with them. The league has had a problem with them. They’re that dominant. Like I have said before playing them at home is hard enough. To go to their place is almost impossible. I guess the only positive is it’s not an AFC North team.

“No one’s got a win, no one’s got a loss. They are the world champs and we have to go to their place and do our best.”

Roethlisberger, like probably every player in the locker room, will have those first-game butterflies when they take the field. But it’s not nerves, it’s just that energy of a new beginning.

“I think it’s just as much excited nervous, as nervous,” said Roethlisberger. “We are going up there. I am sure they are dropping a banner or whatever they are going to do. What an exciting and awesome opportunity for us all.”

More from Ben here.

It’s an amazing honor because it’s voted on by teammates. It means a lot. It never gets old. With all of the tradition, the people who have been captains on this team, it means a lot to me. — Ben.

From Teresa Varley’s announcement at Steelers.com:

Steelers’ players voted on Monday for the captains and this year’s team captains are Ben Roethlisberger and Maurkice Pouncey on offense, Cameron Heyward on defense and Roosevelt Nix on special teams.

Roethlisberger has been the team’s offensive captain 11 times in his career, including nine consecutive seasons. Pouncey is an offensive captain for the third time, previously selected with Roethlisberger in 2013 and in 2018.

Heyward, who is in his ninth season, is a defensive captain for the fifth consecutive year. This is the first time that Nix has been named the special teams captain.


You can read more here.

“It was a good night for us. Good on a lot of fronts. Good to get Ben (Roethlisberger) in a stadium along with some others and see that group work together. Although it wasn’t a complete body of work, we were able to get him some situational ball. Good night in that regard. I like the energy the guys played with. It’s good to watch them function in a foreign environment. Be prepared to deal with some things that come with playing outside of Heinz Field.” — Coach Tomlin.

From Steelers.com:

The Steelers’ defense opened the scoring on the Titans’ second possession.

Defensive end Stephon Tuitt blasted into the Titans’ backfield on second-and-10 from the Tennessee 4-yard line and dropped quarterback Marcus Mariota for a safety.

The subsequent free kick set the Steelers up at their 42 with 9:06 left in the first quarter.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took advantage of the good field position and directed a nine-play, 58-yard drive in 4:41 that ended with a 17-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. Running backs James Conner and Trey Edmunds each converted third-and-1 rushes into first downs on the march.

Roethlisberger finished 8-for-13 passing for 63 yards and a touchdown in his three series, his first work of the preseason.


You can read more & see highlights from the game here.

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