And Ben was named Steelers Digest Player of the Week!

“I told guys before the game, ‘Just go out and have fun. When you come back in here, you should have a bunch of texts on your phone saying that it looked like you guys had fun. I want the world to see the Pittsburgh Steelers having fun and kicking butt’. I thought it looked that way tonight.” — Ben.

From Bob Labriola at Steelers.com:

One year ago against this opponent at Heinz Field, Ben Roethlisberger passed for over 500 yards and threw six touchdown passes in a performance that was historic in some ways and merely magnificent in others while guiding the Steelers to a big win that served as something of a springboard for the team through the middle portion of its schedule. He couldn’t possibly manufacture an encore against these same Indianapolis Colts, right?

Maybe not statistically, but in terms of significance and magnificence, Roethlisberger came awfully close. He finished by completing 24-of-39 (61.5 percent) for 364 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions, and a rating of 126.4. He also ran once for 13 yards to convert a third down. Roethlisberger had seven completions for 20-plus yards through the first three quarters during a game in which he completed passes to six different receivers, two of whom had over 100 yards, and three of whom caught at least one touchdown pass. And this 45-10 victory over Indianapolis was significant because it followed a loss in Seattle, and December is no time for losing streaks for a team fighting for a playoff spot.

Roethlisberger is the Steelers Digest Player of the Week.


You can read more & watch highlights of Ben’s game here.

You can also watch Ben’s post-game Q&A here.

You can check out a few game photos here.



More….

Colts writer Steve Andres wants to know why it was so hard to hit Ben Roethlisberger?

The Post-Gazette’s Ron Cook says Ben starts and finishes for the Steelers.

And last but not least:

This is a great throw says Whitney Medworth at SB Nation!

….and share the photos with us!

If you plan to, or already have made yours a Steelers Style Christmas, then show us!!

We’d love to share your photos with the rest of Steeler Nation right here on Ben’s website.


Whether it’s indoors (trees, wreaths, a special ornament, the Family Christmas card or even yourself!) or outdoors, send ’em to us and we’ll post them in Ben’s Christmas album and do a special post right here later this month.

And if you have a pet in the holiday spirit too, we post those too!


Email your holiday photos to BigBen7website@gmail.com.

First there was Benjamin Jr. at his dad’s golf tournament last summer (check out that form!):





And now check out lil’ Miss Baylee, future star of the LPGA tour:

“I took the test this morning, I was told I could practice. That is all I know. I don’t know the results of the test, but I was told I could practice. Until Coach Tomlin announces something different, I will be ready to practice.” — Ben.

More from Ben, via Teresa Varley, on the importance of taking head injuries seriously, the Steelers red zone performance and that he has always had confidence in Markus Wheaton –

Roethlisberger self-reported his injury on the sidelines late in the fourth quarter of the Steelers-Seahawks game, stating that he didn’t feel any of the symptoms that come with a concussion at the time. He left the game in favor of Landry Jones, but said he is moving forward with the mindset that he will play this Sunday night against the Indianapolis Colts at Heinz Field.

“I would assume so,” said Roethlisberger in regards to playing this week. “I guess if you are allowed to practice, you can play. I will go out there today and be ready to go.”

Roethlisberger said it was important for him to self-report the injury, something he admits he might not have done as a younger player, even if it helps one player at the earliest level to the NFL realize the importance.

“We are blessed to be able to stand on a big platform and reach a lot of people. If you can touch or reach one person, I feel like it’s a successful day. So many young kids, middle school, high school or college, it’s tough to fight through a concussion. And it was tough when I first got in the league. It probably still is. But it’s not smart. That’s the one part of your body you shouldn’t mess with. You really shouldn’t.

“We need to be smarter as football players. It’s hard because people ask me how long I want to play. And I say I don’t want to think about the end because I am cheating the right here and now. In a way it’s kind of the same thing. You don’t want to think about after football with your head, but you have to. You have to think about the type of man, husband and father you want to be when you are done playing, because […]

“I literally just got done with taking the test….I did go into the protocol, took the test today, I don’t know the actual results, I think they have to send them to a third party or another doctor to look at. They make the final determining factor but I felt good taking the test.” — Ben.

Excerpts from his appearance courtesy of 93.7 The Fan this morning:

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger says he has played through a lot of injuries, but a brain injury is not something to mess with.

“I have played through many injuries but the brain is not an injury you want to play with,” Roethlisberger said.

Roethlisberger says he was diagnosed with a traumatic ocular migraine. He says he has just finished concussion protocol at the Steelers facility.

“I didn’t feel right, it doesn’t make you less of a man or a football player to come out of the game,” he said.

Ben said that his peripheral vision looked as if he was looking through water.

“It was a big hit, got the wind knocked out of me, and I was on the ground, Roethlisberger said. “I felt okay, just felt like it was a big hit.”

Roethlisberger said Dr. Maroon told him “Ben we can’t let you go back out there,” because vision problems could lead to not protecting himself.

“When you’re done you want to be a husband or father, and if I have these brain injuries it’s not worth it,” Roethlisberger said.

The Steelers are coming off a tough 39-30 loss at Seattle which really puts them in a tight spot for the playoffs.

It was also a tough ending for Ben who took a blow to the head late in the 4th quarter which kept him from finishing the game.

“I switched helmets 7 or 8 years ago, and haven’t had a concussion since I switched helmets. I’m so glad I did that.”

Ben also talked about Tomlin’s decision to kick the field goal in the 4th quarter rather than go for the touchdown, “he’s the head coach, he makes the decision, we ride with it.”

Ben was asked about the difference between settling for field goals instead of touchdowns in that situation and why it’s so important to find the end zone once […]

Ben was not available for any post-game interviews due to undergoing the NFL’s concussion protocal.

From Teresa Varley at Steelers.com:

Ben Roethlisberger, who left the game in the closing minutes to undergo concussion protocol, finished with 36 completions for 456 yards and one touchdown. The 456 yards are the most allowed by the Seahawks in team history.


You can read more here.



Other reads from the game:

Bob Labriola – Steelers at 6-5 after 39-30 loss


Ed Bouchette – Steelers fall short in seesaw game in Seattle