Steelers 24, Bengals 17
“It was a divisional game, so it was huge for us to get out here and come to a hostile place with a team playing great football. It was a good one for us. A good test.” — Ben, post-game.
Ben completed 21 of 33 passes for 245 yards with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Jerricho Cotchery.
Running back Rashard Mendenhall added two short touchdown runs, while Shaun Suisham kicked a 39-yard field goal for the other points.
It was Rashard Mendenhall who scored the go-ahead touchdown late in the third quarter. He carried the ball 16 times for 44 yards.
Pittsburgh’s defense came up with two interceptions in the fourth to claim a 24-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in a key AFC North battle.
“It was really windy. That’s the only reason I went with the glove, because you can spin it a little better. It definitely affected some throws, but you know me, I’ll never make excuses.” — Ben, when asked about wind conditions affecting his throws.
Mike Wallace caught six passes for 54 yards and carried the ball two times for 31 yards.
Andy Dalton connected on 15-of-30 passes for 170 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for Cincinnati (6-3), which had a five-game winning streak snapped.
“That was kind of the mentality — ‘Let’s go no-huddle and try and get down there. Let’s answer.’ We take pride as an offense in wanting to be the best. It’s our time to do it, so let’s step up and score. We always want to answer. If I remember right, it was a pretty long drive, converting third downs. That’s huge. It gives our defense a break, wears their defense down, and when you score at the end of it, then it’s good.” — Ben, on the decision to go no-huddle late in the third quarter.
With the score tied at 17-17 midway through the third quarter, the Steelers put together an 11-play, 81-yard scoring drive. Jerricho Cotchery got the march going with a 13-yard catch. Antonio Brown caught a 12-yard pass a few plays later to put the ball at the Cincinnati 40. Isaac Redman followed with an 11-yard run before Wallace added a 12-yard catch to put the ball at the nine. Mendenhall then broke through a leg tackle and rumbled […]
Veterans Day
To Ben and the Steelers, from active military around the world, veterans, and their families here in the US:
“Good morning from Iraq! I’m a US Army soldier, getting ready to finish out my tour in Iraq and was just wondering if you would like to pass on to Ben (and the rest of the team) some of the attached photos of me and my teammates during our travels through the country with my Terrible Towel.
“I’ve been a Steeler fan since I was a kid and never thought I’d get to do the things I’ve been doing for the Army and for our country…I just wanted to share these with you all and hope you enjoy them…One thing I’ve been able to do is follow the Steelers during this deployment and I’m looking forward to getting home and catching the last couple of the season from my home (in Virginia) with my family. Take care and thanks!” — CW3 Thomas Romero, US Army – serving in Iraq
“Ben: You do a good thing to recognize veterans. A prompt from home, especially the home team, boosts morale and gives our guys a huge lift. I was there, I know.” — God bless you, Dan Baker (Wheeling)
“Ben, throughout history men have won and lost great battles. For the ones that are lost doesn’t mean that the war is over so continue doing the amazing job that you do and in the end you will become victorious…I also want to take this opportunity to say I am very grateful for all the support you and the Steelers show our military, going to war is one of hardest things a soldier must face but knowing we have support, helps us to remember why we serve in the first place. God Bless and Go Steelers!” — Veteran Corporal Gregory Yakubik, 1st BN 5th Marines, Charlie Company, United States Marine Corps
“As a retired U.S. Marine Master Sgt., thank you Big Ben for the many days of happiness and relief of stress that your style of play has brought me. You’re one tough dude, keep playing hard and…Go STEELERS!!!” –MSgt. George L. Hall, […]
Ben’s Foundation: Norwood Police Department receives grant
“We’re very fortunate to be in the position that we are able to help these K-9 units. The work that is performed by the dogs and their handlers as well as the bond that is formed is incredible. We’re just thrilled to do our small part.” — Ben, on the mission of his foundation.
Today, Ben announced the fifth grant of the 2011 season from The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at The Giving Back Fund.
The foundation will be distributing a grant to the Norwood Police Department just outside of Cincinnati, OH where the Steelers will play the Bengals this Sunday, November 13th.
The department is seeking financial assistance to purchase training and safety equipment for a canine and training for the handler.
Norwood Police Chief Keith Belleman said, “The Norwood Police Department is proud and grateful to receive the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation grant. This grant will allow the Norwood Police Department to re-institute its K-9 program. If not for the generosity of the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation, this would not have been possible. Mr. Roethlisberger has repeatedly shown his commitment to law enforcement and we couldn’t be more appreciative.”
The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation is distributing grants to police and fire departments in Pittsburgh and in the cities and surrounding communities of each regular season away game for the Steelers in the 2011 season. Last summer, Ben invited police and fire departments in the local areas of those nine cities to submit proposals detailing their needs.
For more information:
Check out Ben’s Foundation page here and the Giving Back Fund’s website here.
Also Today:
ESPN‘s Jamison Hensley has compiled his Mid-Season All-Division Team for the AFC North today and has Ben as his pick for quarterback:
“Quarterback: Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers. He’s on pace for 4,679 yards passing and 27 touchdowns. Roethlisberger isn’t just the best quarterback of the division. He’s the best quarterback in the AFC right now.”
Mike Wallace, Brett Keisel, LaMarr Woodley, Ike Taylor, Troy Polamalu and Antonio Brown also made his team!
You can check out the rest of his picks here.
And:
Ben speaks out for teammate Ryan Clark
From Teresa Varley, Steelers.com:
Safety Ryan Clark was fined $40,000 by the NFL for his hit on Ravens tight end Ed Dickson in Sunday night’s loss to Baltimore. This is Clark’s second fine in two weeks after being hit with a $15,000 fine for a late hit against the Patriots, which he understood because it was out of bounds.
This time, though, he feels he did nothing wrong.
Clark’s teammates, including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, agreed that the hit was legal.
“It’s unfortunate,” said Roethlisberger. “You never want to see one of your guys get hit, especially for that much money. I went back and watched it. If you slow it down and watch it, it’s about as picture-perfect of a tackle you can make. His head was down right across the chest and the back of his helmet maybe grazed the bottom of the receiver’s face mask. Someone needs to stand up and do something like De Smith. He is our player guy, stand up and do something for our players.”
Wide receiver Hines Ward was hit in the game by Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, a play that wasn’t penalized and knocked Ward out of the game with a stinger. Roethlisberger was asked if the Steelers receivers get the same treatment as their opponents, although it was later learned Lewis was fined $20,000.
“Who hit Hines?” Roethlisberger sarcastically asked. “I don’t know if there was a fine. Was there a fine anywhere else? Who knows? You have to be careful how much you comment on that stuff.”
You can read more here.
Ravens 23, Steelers 20
A sample of post-game thoughts from around the web –
From Mike Bires, Beaver County Times:
Unlike six other times this year when the Steelers fought off injuries and won, that wasn’t the case Sunday night.
Roethlisberger, who was 7-1 against the Ravens at Heinz Field, appeared to have rallied the Steelers when he threw a 25-yard TD pass to wide receiver Mike Wallace with 4:59 left to play. That gave the Steelers a 20-16 lead, a lead the defense failed to protect.
On this night, the Steelers (6-3) just couldn’t win as they’ve done so often when hit by injuries.
The Steelers did get back linebacker James Harrison, who was playing for the first time since fracturing his right eye orbital in an Oct. 2 loss in Houston. Against the Ravens, Harrison recorded three sacks, including one in the fourth quarter that appeared to turn the game around.
Six plays later. Roethlisberger threw to Wallace for the go-ahead score.
But this game wasn’t over.
Later in the fourth quarter, with just 2:24 on the clock, Flacco drove the Ravens 92 yards for the victory.
You can read more here.
“Every loss stinks to me.” — Ben, when asked if this loss was more “gut-wrenching” than others.
From Ethan Rothstein, SBNation.com:
Ben Roethlisberger looked like he had the Pittsburgh Steelers on their way to a win on Sunday Night against the Baltimore Ravens. Unfortunately Joe Flacco led a late comeback, leaving Roethlisberger’s statistics relevant in the winning department only for his fantasy owners.
Roethlisberger completed 20 of his 37 passing attempts for 365 yards and a touchdown while adding an additional 61 yards by way of three scrambles out of the pocket.
Ben Roethlisberger, statistically speaking, has been having the best season of his career so far in 2011. He’d been averaging a shade under 300 yards per game, along with 18 touchdowns, heading into Sunday night’s affair.
In Week 9, Roethlisberger faced the only team that’s been able to shut him down, the Baltimore Ravens and their 3rd-ranked pass defense. They certainly didn’t shut him down, but at least they held him out of the win column.
You can read more here.
“He won the game. […]
Ben: FedEx NFL Air Player of the Week
Top honors for Week 8 went to a duo from teams representing Pennsylvania – Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers won FedEx Air Player of the Week, and LeSean McCoy of the Philadelphia Eagles won FedEx NFL Ground Player of the Week!
Ben completed 36 of 50 passes for 365 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the Steelers’ 25-17 win over the New England Patriots. His total passing yards were the most of any quarterback on the weekend.
LeSean McCoy rushed for 185 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries in the Eagles’ 34-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys. His ground yardage total was the highest of any player on the weekend.
Junior Achievement has partnered with FedEx and with Ben’s win, they win! $2,000 will be donated to Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania.
Thank you fans!!!
You can check out NFL.com for all the FedEx Players of the Week so far.